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The Blue Cart Recycling Program is currently being phased into the Chicago Recycling Program and is to replace the Blue Bag Program over the coming years.
The Blue Cart Program was initially started in parts of the 19th Ward in April of 2005 as a test program. The entire l9th Ward has been in this program since February of 2007, and they have had an 80% participation rate.
The Blue Cart Program, like the Blue Bag Program, will be available for buildings that have four units or less.
Other Wards have recently been included as part of this test program expansion.
A section of our 48th Ward has been included in this expanded program. At the end of November residents in our Ward who reside in the 60640 zip code, which is basically south of Bryn Mawr Avenue, have been included in this program.
It was anticipated that residents in the 60660 area code, north of Bryn Mawr, would be included in this program starting in the first half of 2008. This has now been pushed back to the latter half of 2008.
I asked if this meant July or December and the response was that it would be closer to the end of 2008. The reason is the cost associated with supplying the new dumpsters. I even questioned with the significant rise in the Citys budget why the dumpsters could not have been included since this is a more profitable program. The response was that the cost of the dumpsters were not part of the budget increase.
The new dumpsters will be blue rather than black, and they will have a special decal on them.
When the program is initiated there will be a list of allowable materials that can be recycled which pretty much includes everything but #6 plastics, and plastic grocery bags.
I have placed a summary of the Blue Cart Program at the front that provides a list of acceptable recyclable materials and responses to often asked questions.
When the program is initiated a notice will be placed on each building announcing when the Blue Cart Program will be initiated in our area. About a week later one Blue Cart will be left at the front curb side of each building that will be under this program. The building owner/residents is to relocate the Blue Cart to be with the other trash receptacles serving that building.
This will add one additional dumpster for each building. If a resident realizes they do not need as many black carts, the unwanted black cart(s) are to be turned upside down and these will be removed. Also, if additional blue carts are needed these can also he requested through your alderman, or directly through Streets and Sanitation.
The schedule for pick-up will be:
Normal garbage will be picked up weekly.
Recyled trash will be picked up every other week.
Yard Waste will be picked up weekly from April through November, and should be placed in bags next to carts.
Complete cleaning of recycled containers is not necessary; however, I did state that this should be recommended especially in warm weather months to eliminate the occurrence of bugs/rats/etc.
Until the program is initiated there are recycle drop boxes available at 6441 N. Ravenswood, and other locations which are shown on the back of the card that is also available.
Streets and Sanitation contact person: Chris Sauve (312)744-4616
Overview of Recyling Program: www.bluecartschicago.org
About the carts and what to put in them: www.chicagorecycles.org