Emanuel To Expand Recycling Program To Entire City

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 20, 2013 11:35PM

All of Chicago's 340,000 households will finally have the option to recycle trash by the end of the year under an expansion plan announced Wednesday by the Emanuel administration that will keep the "managed competition" between the Streets and Sanitation Department and private waste management companies in place.

Phase One of the rollout will begin March 11 to 131,000 homes in the Rogers Park and West Ridge, downtown, the Near West side and South side. The second service area will receive recycling service beginning April 29, with expansion to the rest of the city ending by fall.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel championed the announcement by saying, "Chicago will no longer be a tale of two cities when it comes to recycling." But it will stay a tale of two cities with regard to who picks up the recyclables, thanks to the managed competition that will stay in place between Streets and San and private companies. The Emanuel Administration said the competition saved the city $4.7 million in it first year and projects an annual investment of $19.2 million in the project, compared to $31.1 million if handled solely by Streets and San.

You can view a map of the recycling expansion here.