Earth Day has passed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep the eco-friendly activities going! There are plenty of things we can do in our everyday lives to help reduce our carbon footprints and make our environment safer and healthier.
First of all—RECYCLE! Chicago hasn’t gotten to the point yet where every home has a separate recycling bin (although a pilot program has been initiated in some wards), but there are recycling drop-off centers stationed around the city where residents can dispose of their used recyclables. Just collect your plastics, papers, cardboards, aluminum cans, glass bottles, junk mail, and newspapers, and take them to the recycling center nearest you.
Single-family households and occupants of two-, three- and four-flats in the city have the option to participate in the Blue Bag Program. Residents can obtain the specialty “blue bags” from local grocery or home improvement stores (free bags are available at Dominick’s, Whole Foods and Walgreens, and larger bags can be purchased), then deposit your recyclables it the “blue bags” and put out with your normal trash. City garbage collectors will take it all to a sorting center where the blue bags are picked out for recycling.
Certain items need to be recycled separately because they contain hazardous toxins. For example, dry cell batteries (e.g. Duracell, Energizer, Alkaline, Lithium, etc.) can be taken a Walgreens or Chicago Public Library branch. Old computers, cell phones, compact fluorescent light bulbs, household chemicals and other harmful substances can be brought to 1150 North Branch (Tuesdays 7am – 12pm, Thursdays 2 – 7pm and the first Sat. of every month 8am – 3pm) for proper disposal.