DECEMBER 2009 UPDATE:
The Chicago Manufacturing Center and City of Chicago have teamed up to create a Waste to Profit Network. In its first year of operation, 60 projects resulted in 115,811 tons of greenhouse gas emissions being kept from the atmosphere, 204,177 tons of waste diverted from the landfill, 37 jobs retained and $18.5 million saved by its companies. The Network’s main focus is diversion of waste for use as materials to create new, innovative products. In 2009, three new projects have shown excellent progress.

In addition, the City began implementing the recently executed intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the reuse of soil and rubble, generated by the City during City construction projects and reused in the city.

 

 

Reduced Waste & Industrial Pollution

MITIGATION STRATEGIES

1. Reduce, Reuse or Recycle

Reduce, reuse and recycle 90 percent of the city’s waste by 2020 = .84 MMTCO2e reduction*

2. Shift to Alternative Refrigerants

Promote use of alternative refrigerants in air conditioners and appliances = 1.16 MMTCO2e reduction*

3. Capture Stormwater on Site

Manage stormwater with green infrastructure = .1 MMTCO2e reduction*

*MMTCO2e (million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent) is the term for the quantity of any greenhouse gas, including carbon dioxide, methane and others, translated CO2 by weighing it by its relative global warming potential. A reduction of 1 MMTCO2e is equivalent to removing nearly 185,000 cars from the road.

Reduced Waste & Industrial Pollution Consultants:

Boston Consulting Group

Chicago Manufacturing Center

Julia Parzen

Stormwater Management Working Group

Chicago Park District

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Chicago Transit Authority

Public Building Commission