Supporting Information

Composting is the decomposition of yard and fruit/veggie food scraps by worms and bacteria. FAQs about compost bins.

2009 Chicago Waste Characterization Study and Waste Diversion Study Results In 2009, the City of Chicago, Department of Environment contracted with CDM to perform a Waste Characterization Study and a Waste Diversion Study (the Studies). The Waste Characterization Study details the quantity, sources and composition of the city’s waste stream. The Waste Diversion Study measures the city’s current diversion rate and estimated our maximum reasonably achievable diversion rate.

2013 Water and Sewer Main Projects Water and Sewer construction projects for 2013 by start date of project.

Abandonded Service Station Program Learn about Chicago's Abandoned Service Station Program.

About the Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Brief history of Chicago's Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility.

Air and Natural Resources Chicago is home to vibrant urban forests, prairies, and wetlands. Through continuous restoration, outreach, and research efforts, the city prioritizes protection of these natural areas.

Alternative Fuels As part of its ongoing effort to improve air quality, the City of Chicago is working with the Chicago Area Clean Cities (CACC) coalition and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles—vehicles powered by "clean" fuels such as compressed natural gas, E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), propane and biodiesel—in Chicago area fleets.

Anti-Litter Classroom Activity This activity will help students develop a positive attitude against littering. Students will develop solutions to help reduce littering.

Basement Flooding Partnership The BFP is a new partnership between the City of Chicago and neighbors who wish to reduce the risk of basement flooding during heavy rains.

Blue Cart & Recycling Drop-off Center Recycling: Accepted Materials List of materials that are accepted in the Chicago Blue Cart Program & Recycling Drop-off Centers.

Blue Cart FAQs Frequently Asked Questions about the Blue Cart Program

Blue Cart Schedule and Maps

Brownfield Funding Opportunities

CFL Recycling and Disposal Information about how to handle and recycle compact fluorescent lightbulbs, also called CFLs.

Calumet Area Land Use Plan

Changes to Battery Recycling Program

Chicago Area Clean Cities CACC is one of 83 Clean Cities coalitions across the country. The City of Chicago coordinates CACC, whose members represent governments, businesses, educational and research institutions, fuel providers, utilities and environmental organizations.

Chicago Brownfields Initiative Brownfields, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), are “abandoned, idled, or under-utilized industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.”

Chicago Conservation Corps' Environmental Leadership Training Program Find out how you can become a C3 Leader.

Chicago Conservation Corps' Student Clubs C3 Student Clubs provide a great opportunity for students.

Chicago Green Homes Program Overview The Chicago Green Homes Program (CGHP) is a voluntary certification program for Chicago homeowners, residential builders, and developers looking to incorporate sustainable design into their residential building. The CGHP provides a flexible framework for innovative construction, while promoting environmental awareness and sustainable living throughout the City.

Chicago Green Homes Program: Resources Helpful websites for the Chicago Green Homes Program

Chicago Landscape Ordinance FAQ

Chicago PAH Background Study In 2001, the City of Chicago conducted a background study investigating certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) concentration levels within City limits.

Chicago Recycling Guide: A to Z Chicago's A to Z Guide to Recycling

Chicago Recycling Guide: All Materials Chicago Recycling A to Z

Chicago Recycling Guide: T

Chicago Recycling Guide: U

Chicago Recycling Guide: V

Chicago Recycling Guide: W

Chicago River Corridor Development Plan

Chicago's Blue Cart Residential Recycling Program

Chicago's Soil and Rubble Exchange In order to facilitate the reuse of excess construction materials and further the City’s goals of recycling, the City launched www.chicagosoilandrubblereuse.com.

City Hall's Rooftop Garden Chicago’s most famous rooftop garden sits atop City Hall, an 11-story office building in the Loop. City Hall and the adjacent Cook County building appear to most people as one building spanning a city block bounded by LaSalle, Randolph, Clark and Washington streets.

Clean Indoor Air Ordinance (No Smoking) Chicago's Clean Indoor Air Ordinance

Commercial Composting

Commitment to Green Printing

Composting in Chicago

Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling

Creative Living in the City Lecture Series The 2013 Walter Netsch Lectures are organized and curated by Friends of the Parks. Friends of the Parks is the only citywide, independent park advocacy organization working on behalf of all Chicago neighborhood parks, playgrounds, the lakefront and forest preserves.

Diesel Retrofit Program The City of Chicago is retrofitting a portion of the City's diesel-powered fleet using oxidation catalysts (catalytic converters). The City plans to retrofit the entire diesel fleet over time, pending funding availability. The retrofits will improve air quality while reducing the risk of health problems related to diesel exhaust.

Doing Our Share for Cleaner Air: Idling Reduction Information Regarding Cleaner Air through Idling Reduction

Downspout Disconnection

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Links Page

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Get involved in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs.

Environmental Permit Fees

Environmental Rules and Regulations

Filter Strips

Find a Residential Recycling Drop Off Center

Going Green Department of Revenue Green Efforts For Noticing

Green Design Green designs and ideas that we can all use to help use water more wisely.

Green Industry Job Training The program offers trainees the opportunity to experience a new field of work. Not only do trainees learn through hands-on experience in our community garden and other environmental projects, but they are also placed in internships with green industry companies, which frequently lead to permanent jobs once their training is completed.

Green Taxi Program Green Taxi Program is a program that helped the taxi industry purchase cost-effective hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, which moved the City closer to reaching carbon emission goals as set out in the Chicago Climate Action Plan, and provided passengers with trips in modern and environmentally sustainable vehicles.

Groundwater Ordinance In 1997, the Chicago City Council passed a groundwater ordinance prohibiting the installation of new potable water supply wells.

Harbor Permit Review Process

Home composting

Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Accepted Items This page contains information about Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facilities.

Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Overview Overview of the Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility

How to Dispose of Latex Paint Helpful hints about what you can do with your leftover latex paint.

How to Dispose of Latex Paint Information regarding the disposal of your leftover latex paint

Illinois Site Remediation Program The Illinois Site Remediation Program (SRP) is a voluntary cleanup program for brownfield sites administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA).

Invasive Species Threat of invasive species.

LMO - 2 Reports

Low-Cost Education and Weatherization Program The Low-Cost Weatherization and Education Program (LCWEP) aims to prepare, educate and train Chicago residents in low cost weatherization techniques. C3 volunteers are trained in low-cost home weatherization techniques. Volunteers then train their neighbors and distribute and install weatherization kits.

Lurie Garden in Millennium Park Designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel, this five acre garden pays homage to the City's motto, "Urbs in Horto" (City in a Garden), which refers to Chicago's transformation from its flat and marshy origins to a bold and powerful city.

Muti-unit Residential Recycling 5 Step Process Starting or improving an existing recycling program can be done in 5 steps.

Neighborhood Inspection Follow-Up Conference Calls

Open Space Section

Permeable Alleys

Permeable Paving

Plastic Bag Recycling Frequently Asked Questions Have questions about the plastic bag recycling ordinance? See the list of frequently asked questions here.

Pollution Prevention Unit

Practical Assistance - Disability Resources Practical Assistance is assistance provided to help an individual obtain a service or benefit. Assistance may include completing forms such as the circuit breaker, filing applications such as the RTA Reduced Fare application** and writing and/or explaining a letter or formal document.

Private Sector Recycling

Procurement Fundamentals 2012 The City of Chicago's Guide to Procurement Fundamentals

RecycleBank Program In August 2009, the City partnered with RecycleBank to conduct a field test involving approximately 10,000 households in its Blue Cart Recycling program areas.

Recycling for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings If you live in or own a building with five units or greater (referred to as a 'multi-unit building'), a private waste hauler picks up your trash and recycling. The City recommends that they use a source-separated, single stream recycling method, similar to Chicago's Blue Cart program.

Recycling in Chicago There are many opportunities for recycling in Chicago. Find out how you can start recycling.

Recycling in Commercial Offices Information about recycling in commercial office spaces

Recycling in Commercial/Retail Spaces Information about recycling in commercial and retail spaces in Chicago

Resources and Frequently Asked Questions for Multi-Unit Recycling As a resident in a multi-unit building, you understand that you have a responsibility to recycle in your unit and participate in your buildings recycling program.

Retrofit Chicago Multi-Family Residential Partnership

Seasonality Chart Find out when your favorite fruits and vegetables are in season.

Soil and Rubble Reuse Soil and Reuse, when it is appropriate, the City of Chicago will reuse soil and rubble instead of disposing of it in a landfill or quarry.

Sustainability Section

Sustainable Chicago 2015 Building on Chicago’s legacy in sustainability and innovation, Sustainable Chicago is Mayor Emanuel’s road map for accelerating sustainability throughout Chicago. Comprised of 24 interlocking goals over 7 categories, Sustainable Chicago allows for clear tracking of results until the plan’s completion in 2015. From increasing energy efficiency to renovating parks to improving stormwater management, achieving these goals will increase the city’s liveability, expand economic development and job creation, and elevate Chicago’s rank as a world-class city.

Tips to Help Prevent Litter

Transportation

Underground Storage Tanks

Useful Green Links This page contains many useful links to Green sites

Water With the Lake Michigan to the east and the Chicago River winding through the heart of the city, Chicago maintains valuable water resources. Preservation of the lakeshore ensures clean drinking water and beaches while restoration of the Chicago River will open the city’s next recreational frontier under the Mayor's leadership. Explore the links below to learn more about water in Chicago and how you can help protect and conserve it.

Water Conservation

Water Conservation Tips

Water Education Campaign

Water Treatment Treatment makes the water safe for people to drink.

Water Well Survey In 2007, the former Department of Environment (DOE) conducted a potable well survey to determine if active potable wells exist in and nearby the city limits. Information was obtained from the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) regarding all confirmed records of wells installed within the City limits of Chicago and 200 feet beyond.

What Can I Do to Conserve and Manage Water? Chicago was built in this very location because of its access to water. Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes hold one-fifth of the Earth's fresh water.

What Happens to Items Taken to the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility

What is Single Stream Recycling

Why Do People Litter?

Zero Waste Chicago