This week, the City of Chicago begins collecting recyclable materials from an additional 67,000 households as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2013 citywide expansion of the blue cart residential recycling program.

The blue cart recycling program provides bi-weekly recycling collection services to residents who live in single family homes, two-, three- and four-flat buildings. The expansion will include 340,000 households and is scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2013. To ensure a smooth transition during the expansion, each of the six city service areas will undergo a gradual expansion of households receiving new recycling services.
Working with aldermanic offices, Chicago Public Schools and community groups, the City has also launched a citywide recycling education campaign. The campaign includes media relations, direct-to-consumer outreach, social media engagement, numerous community education meetings and advertising.

In October of 2011, Mayor Emanuel implemented a managed competition for recycling services in an effort to create efficiencies and reduce operational costs to taxpayers. In one year, the competition decreased recycling costs by $4.7 million and paved the way for the citywide recycling expansion.

The next expansion will take place in April, when approximately 64,000 households are scheduled to receive blue cart services. Residents who live within the boundaries of the April expansion area will begin receiving carts on April 15, and collection services will begin as early as April 29. To view the service map, visit www.cityofchicago.org. For more information about the blue cart recycling program, visit www.chicagorecycles.org. Or dial 311.