Your first question on the average number of pounds of trash produced by Illinois residents has a rather shocking answer. My sources say that we produce about five pounds of trash per person per day. To put trash production in perspective from a volume standpoint, every 10,000 people generate enough waste in a year to fill an acre ten feet deep. Though I will continue to pursue the answers to the rest of your questions, I would like to refer you to another source of valuable information. Since you appear to be interested in recycling I feel it is only fair that I give you my personal point of view on the subject.
Recycling is far from the best way to reduce the amount of waste put into landfills.
From a waste minimization standpoint, recycling should be considered as a last resort. That is not to say it is without merit. However, from a global viewpoint recycling is not a method of pollution prevention, it is merely another means of waste management. Pollution prevention should really begin at the source. Recycling does not address source reduction.