Blue Cart Households can enter a description of an item or a photo to receive guidance for proper cart placement, and for disposal options of materials not accepted in either the Black or the Blue carts that require special handling (e-waste, chemicals, etc.).

When placing materials in your Blue Cart, break down cardboard boxes to save space in your cart, but please do not crush cans or cartons as that makes them more difficult to sort. Common contaminants to avoid are aerosol cans, lithium ion batteries, and tanglers such as hoses and plastic bags and other film plastic. These items should never be placed in your Blue Cart, as they cause safety hazards and operational problems at material recovery facilities (MRFs).

Note: private haulers servicing 5+ unit residential buildings are required to accept most common household objects such as aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, aseptic cartons, rigid plastic bottles and containers, cardboard, and paper from their residential recycling customers; a detailed list is provided at the Chicago Recycling Ordinance in section 11-5-080. Please check with your building owner or property manager office for information specific to what your building’s recycling program accepts. Materials that have drop off options provided apply to all Chicago residents.

Discovery Zone