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Chicago Recycles

We are excited to announce Chicago's new Recycle Coach education app, bringing local waste and recycling information directly to city residents! The new mobile and smartphone app, available to the City via a partnership with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and Recycle Coach, advises residents on waste and recycling schedules, and proper waste management to decrease contamination at material recovery facilities, increase the diversion of materials from landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Chicago residents may use the Recycle Coach widget below to receive customized waste and recycling information specific to where they live, including
  • Collection and event calendars
  • Updates on service changes
  • Comprehensive database on what is and isn’t recyclable, including local disposal information for common and uncommon items
  • Additional educational content, including useful recycling tips and weekly recycling quizzes

The City's residential Blue Cart program provides bi-weekly recycling services to single-family homes and multi-unit buildings with four or fewer units.  Blue Carts are serviced by the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) along with the City’s recycling contractor. Check out the new story map to see the journey of your recyclables from the point of pick-up! You’ll see where the recyclables go to be sorted, the tonnage of recyclables collected, and the destinations for processing into new materials.

To see a full-screen version of the storymap click here.

Food scrap drop off containers

Through the 2021 City of Chicago Waste Strategy, a comprehensive waste and materials management plan, DSS is working to decrease waste disposal and associated negative environmental impacts; reduce costs and increase efficiency; maximize economic investment and workforce development opportunities; and address social and environmental justice inequities. Check out our Chicago Waste Progress Update and stay tuned to this site for new programs and opportunities!

One of the goals of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan is to increase resident awareness on recycling and sustainability through targeted and equitable education for Chicagoans. When residents commit to daily recycling, it brings the following BENEFITS to our city and our world.

  • Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.
  • Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
  • Recycling prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials.
  • Recycling saves energy and reduces the need to harvest new materials.