|
|
Reduced Waste & Industrial Pollution
Blue Cart Separate Collection Program
Recycling diverts waste from landfills while providing a supply of materials to local businesses. The City of Chicago is currently expanding its Blue Cart Recycling Program, which utilizes single-stream processing technologies. The program will be rolled out to all City residents who are serviced by the Department of Streets and Sanitation by the end of 2011. Learn More >>
Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance
It is estimated that 40 percent of the City’s municipal solid waste can be attributed to construction and demolition debris. In 2006, the City of Chicago passed the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance, which required all major demolition and construction projects within the City limits to recycle a minimum of 50 percent of their waste beginning in 2007. Since the ordinance took effect, 397,359 tons of generated debris were recycled, which amounts to an 87 percent weighted recycling average per project. Learn More >>
Chicago Waste to Profit Network
The Chicago Waste to Profit Network is a collection of more than 80 local manufacturing firms actively seeking ways in which the waste of one company can become the feedstock for another. The members of the network, which include large companies such as Mittal Steel and Baxter Healthcare along with small local recyclers and seven City departments, meet regularly to identify and implement what the network calls “by-product synergies.” The program has already diverted over 22,000 tons of waste from area landfills, reduced 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide and resulted in several innovative new products. Learn More >>
Material Exchange Website
In October 2007, Chicago launched the Material Exchange Website for City construction projects to facilitate the reuse of excess soil, stone, fence and construction and demolition material between City departments and sister agencies. For example, the Chicago Park District saved an estimated $132,000 at its Stearns Quarry project by reusing clean clay intended for the landfill. Lean More >>
|
|
|
