BLUE-BAG CHICAGO RECYCLING PROGRAM TO BE CHUCKED!
13-YEAR OLD CITY OF CHICAGO RECYCLING PROGRAM CONTROVERSIAL, LARGELY INEFFECTIVE!
Back in 1995, many larger cities and suburbs throughout North America had recycling programs well underway. Chicago was behind at that time - so they introduced their own recycling program.
Unlike in many cities, where recyclables were sorted curbside by the homeowner - with separate glass, paper, and yard waste bins, Chicago encouraged use of one larger plastic "Blue Bag," into which ALL recyclables were to be co-mingled for later separation at a municipal sorting facility.
The program drew fire from the start.
Many blue-bagged recyclables were contaminated by other household garbage. Poorly-trained city payrollers at sort facilities failed to properly separate different types of recycled trash. Sorting contracts went to political insiders. And some trash was improperly diverted directly to out-of-state landfills without separation.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley spearheaded the original Blue Bag Recycling Program. Now, he will end it - by 2011 - in favor of blue trash carts to keep recyclable material separate from plain old garbage.
However, Mayor Daley was no where to be seen when the Blue Bag program was terminated, effective the end of this summer. Instead, Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Michael Picardi announced the Blue Recycling Cart program.
Tests to several thousand Chicago households have been quite successful. The carts are easier to use, according to many homeowners, and participation rates are far higher than they ever were under the older Blue Bag system.
The City of Chicago plans to distribute 92,000 Blue Recycling Carts this summer, and another 140,000 per year between next year and 2011. The $8 Million program price tag is being paid for by a State of Illinois grant.
See today's story in The Chicago Tribune by Kristen Kridel and Laurie Cohen.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
