Have you just moved to Chicago and are not sure about recycling practices? Our community has recycling programs in place, including both Blue Carts and a Recycling Center. The following list will help you know what can be recycled through these resources.
- Glass jars and bottles
- Aluminum cans, foil and pie tins
- Tin or Steel cans
- Cereal boxes, paper towel rolls
- Cardboard (flatten all boxes)
- Plastic bottles and containers (# 1-5, 7 accepted)
- Junk mail, magazines and catalogs
- Telephone books
- Paper bags
- Office paper and file folders
- Newspaper and inserts
- Beverage cartons (milk, juice, soy cartons)
- Beverage carrier stock: plastic rings and cardboard carrying cases
- wrapping paper (no bows or ribbons, please)
- paper greeting cards
Certain items are not able to be recycled and are listed below.
- Clothes and linens
- Plastic or metal hangers
- #6 Plastics (polystyrene or Styrofoam)
- Diapers or feminine products
- Construction debris (bricks, wood, cement, etc.)
- Paint or spray paint
- Unnumbered plastics (toothbrushes, toys, hoses, cereal box liners, etc.)
- Loose plastic shopping bags (bring those back to retailers for recycling)
- Hard, reusable plastic bottles (like Nalgene or baby bottles)
Ideas on recycling and other earth-saving trends are available here.
