Chicago Dumps Its Blue Bag Recycling Program

Date: October 24, 2006

Source: News Room

Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago has officially pulled the plug on the city's much criticized blue bag recycling program in favor of a single-stream (blue cart) approach that is favored by most other cities. Despite the city's best efforts and enormous expenditures, a 2003 city study showed that participation in the program was only about 13.3%. Originally intended to divert 25% of the city's household waste from landfills, studies showed that the actual rate was only about 8%. Under the old program, residents were expected to place recyclables in special blue bags that were collected along with regular trash. Most citizens evidently lacked the ambition to obtain the bags, did not understand the program and often failed to properly segregate recyclable material.

For more information, visit: egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do.

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