Chicago Recycling Coalition Says Stop Using the Blue Bag

In a surprising move in the ongoing effort to improve the city's woeful recycling program, the Chicago Recycling Coalition has begun advising citizens to stop using the blue bags.

"Stop using the blue bag," their January 2007 newsletter, What Goes Around, advises. "Never worked, still doesn't."

"Start using one of the many city and private drop-off sites for recycling, although it may mean finding a friend with a car."

"If you're lucky enough to get a blue cart in 2007, use it -- and encourage your friends and neighbors to recycle, too! If not, contact your alderman to ask that the program expand quickly citywide."

The Coalition is clearly trying to create a tipping point to their already building momentum to oust the blue bags in favor of a source-separated alternative.

I suspect only the most die-hard recyclers will heed their words to drive their recycling to the nearest facility, but the CRC is probably right in guessing that abandoning the blue bag immediately is a wash in its net effect on recycling.

Bring on the buckets!

Chicago (Finally) Opens Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Goose Island

I drive over Goose Island nearly every day and have been wondering when this new facility would open. Apparently, it did sometime recently to seemingly little fanfare. It's at 1150 N. North Branch Avenue.

Good thing, too. I've got gobs of old paint, some fertilizer, and a mercury thermometer I've been wanting to get rid of properly. But, the only opportunities before this were random, 2-times-a-year events or driving to the far south side.

Here's the scoop:

Overview
Hours
What They Take & What They Don't
FAQs
More

UPDATE: The links I originally posted went dead. Here is a new link with information about the Goose Island drop-off site.