CHICAGO GOING‘ BACK TO BASICS’ TO BOOST RECYCLING

Chicago is launching a “back- to- basics” campaign to boost a recycling rate that has dropped to just 4.5 percent on the Southeast Side and 9 percent citywide since the rules were changed to “Go Bagless.”

Waste Management, the private waste hauler that handles recycling in the 7th Ward, is simplifying the rules by asking 1,700 local homeowners to recycle only three categories of items: paper, aluminum and plastic.

That “back- to- basics” approach is being articulated in a “Dear homeowner” letter and will be reinforced during a March 9 town hall meeting hosted by Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Charles Williams, Waste Management officials and the local ward superintendent.

If the “back- to- basics” approach succeeds in boosting 7th Ward recycling rates, it could be expanded citywide.

“It can be overwhelming for people if they start getting into all of the ‘ don’ts.’ Then maybe they don’t want to do it,” said Streets and Sanitation spokesperson Sara McGann.

“If we just stick to the basics, we can see if we can increase the rate that way.”

The city also plans to implement a new system for tagging carts to better explain which prohibited items were inside, prompting Waste Management crews to bypass those carts in favor of city pickups. That forces Chicago taxpayers to pay twice.

Finally, City Hall will follow up by putting up door hangers and, in some cases, knocking on doors to engage homeowners in a conversation about recycling habits.

“You have to throw everything you can at the wall to see what sticks and try and ingrain it into our culture. We’re doing that,” McGann said.