Resources and Frequently Asked Questions for Multi-Unit Recycling

What Can Residents Do?
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. Additional information for residents, such as suggestions and ideas on how to increase recycling in your unit or building and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to waste and recycling, can be found by clicking on the links below.

If you live in or own a building with five units or greater (referred to as a ‘multi-unit building’), you are served by a private waste hauler for pick up of both trash and recycling. A source-separated, single stream recycling method, similar to Chicago’s Blue Cart program used for single-family homes and buildings with four units or less, is recommended for multi-unit buildings.

What are building owners, governing associations and/or condominium boards required to do for their residents?
The Chicago High Density Residential and Commercial Source Reduction and Recycling Ordinance (Chapter 11-5 of the Chicago Municipal Code) requires building owners, governing associations and/or condominium boards to offer residents an effective recycling program. In some buildings, these entities hire a property manager whose responsibilities may include fulfilling this requirement. An effective recycling program is defined by the following:

1. Source separation of at least three recyclable materials (such as newspaper, glass and plastic). This means that recyclable materials are separated from other solid waste before the point of collection and kept separated until they can be recycled. In special cases, a waste service can collect only two materials if the building also implements two waste reduction measures in the building or their office, such as using energy saving light bulbs and reusing supplies.If your building does not currently recycle, one of the easiest things you can do is call your hauler today and request source-separated (such as single stream) recycling services.
2. Each building must maintain a written recycling plan detailing its program and make it available to all residents. At a minimum, the plan should include:
   • The three recycled materials and any source reduction measures your landlord uses.
   • How to prepare recyclables and what happens to them once the waste hauler picks them up.
   • A summary of the education program.
   • The contract with the waste hauler.
   • Semi-annual waste hauler quality reports and any reports of contamination.
3. Each building must implement an educational program that informs new residents, and at least annually all residents how to participate in the building’s recycling program including what can be recycled, how to prepare it and where to take it. Residents must also be notified about changes in the recycling plan 10 days before they happen.

What if my building doesn’t have a recycling program?
In many cases, although you want to recycle, your building may not have an effective recycling program or one that is convenient to use. Click here to learn how you can start or improve a recycling program in your building, determine if your building’s program is effective, and challenge other residents to reduce and reuse to minimize the building’s waste.

How Do I Complete a Recycling Plan for my Building?
Document or plan the specifics of your building’s recycling program by filling out this Recycling Plan and calculating how much waste and recyclables your building generates.

Whether you have one already or are just beginning, you will learn about the specifics of your building’s current program by filling out this Recycling Plan and calculating how much waste and recyclables your building generates. It will also help you to become compliant with the Chicago High Density Residential and Commercial Source Reduction and Recycling Ordinance, which requires that each multi-unit residential building maintain a written recycling plan.
Recycling Plan and Waste Generation and Recyclable Collection Worksheet

Who provides recycling services to multi-unit buildings in Chicago?
This list provides the names and contact information of vendors that provide waste and recycling services to multi-unit residential buildings across the City.
Vendor Contact List

How does the size of a building affect its recycling program?
Learn about how each building’s unique characteristics affects recycling programs.

Implementing a recycling program will vary as each building has its own unique characteristics. Typically, buildings of the same size share similar characteristics which can either offer obstacles or opportunities to recycling. Before fully implementing a program, it’s important to plan the recycling program around these characteristics.

• Recycling in Small (<40 Units) Residential Buildings
• Recycling in Medium (40 to 100 units) Residential Buildings 
• Recycling in Large (>40 Units) Residential Buildings

The market will operate indoors at The Glenwood Bar, 6962 N. Glenwood on
the following Sundays from 9:00am to 2:00pm
January 8, February 12, March 11, April 1, May 6 and May 20th.

For more information and a list of vendors, please visit
www.glenwoodsundaymarket.org.

The Chicago Center for Green Technology’s Green Tech U Program has been developed in response to the increasing demand for educational opportunities regarding green technology and sustainability.

Whether you’re a homeowner or practicing professional, Green Tech U’s workshops and seminars provide you with the opportunity to increase your knowledge of green technology, sustainability and public policy, meet people with similar interests, and expand your personal and professional networks.

Visit chicagogreentech.org for more information and to view the full Winter/Spring 2012 calendar of events and workshops.

Drop off your old holiday string lights at any of the participating locations, listed below, during their normal office hours from December 7, 2011 – January 31, 2012. The lights will be collected and each part will be recycled by Elgin Recycling. If you have questions, please call Elgin Recycling at 847-741-4100.

Edgebrook Ace Hardware
5423 W. Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

North Community Bank
5241 N. Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wright College Campus Center
4300 N. Naragansett
Chicago, IL 60634
7:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Southwest Senior Center
6117 S. Kedize
Chicago, IL 60629
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

2012 is the 70th Anniversary of the original Victory Garden effort, and with your help The Peterson Garden Project is doing it again. In 1942, Chicagoans led the Victory Garden movement by building 500 community gardens and 75,000 home gardens, and growing 40% of the city’s fresh produce.

Your help today means we’ll be able to jump right in with training our volunteers in the winter, secure materials for 4 new gardens, teach our “grewbies” (new gardeners) and work with local high school students to grow vegetables from seed. You’ll be able to plant those seedlings in our new community gardens as soon as it thaws!

By making a gift today, you’ll join our One Percent for Victory Campaign and help us build 5 large community gardens, teach 7500 people how to grow their own food and devote 5% of our plots to nutrition programs.

One thousand gardeners is just the start of a new gardening revolution.

Please make a tax-deductible gift today for a summer’s worth of fresh, safe, organic food.

Your tax-deductible gift right now will feed a family! Go to www.petersongarden.org and click on Donate Now.Thank you for making a gift and supporting community gardening in Chicago!

Sincerely,

LaManda Joy
and the Peterson Garden Project Leadership Team:
Les, Lindsay, Leah, Mark, Patrick, Maribeth, Leigh, Ellen, Debbie, Jim, Sue, Sally, and Xan

To read more about Uncommon Ground, please visit: http://www.uncommonground.com/.

The Market will feature many of your favorite vendors from the Andersonville Farmers Market. Some of your favorites include delicious baked goods & breads, sustainably-raised meats, cheese & eggs, produce (fall & spring markets) and other local treats.

Credit, debit, & Link cards accepted.

For more information, please contact 773/728-2995

The Chicago Green City Market’s indoor market is located at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr. in Lincoln Park). Free parking is available in the Diversey Harbor parking Lot off of Cannon Drive. The following CTA bus routes stop near the Nature Museum: 22 Clark, 36 Broadway, 76 Diversey, 151 Sheridan, 156 LaSalle. The closest train stop is the Fullerton Brown, Purple, and Red line (walk east on Fullerton to the Museum).

Please visit website for more information at www.greencitymarket.org.

Our water is a precious and limited resource. Remember to use only the amount of water you actually need. Look for ways to conserve water in and around your home and place of work.

• Turn it off: You could save hundreds of gallons a month by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Repair leaks in your sinks and toilets. Even repairing a slowly dripping faucet can save 5 gallons a day. A leaking toilet can waste up to 50 gallons of water a day. (Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without the toilet being flushed, you have a leak to repair!)
• Reduce shower times.
• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer with full loads, instead of several partial loads.
• Use a broom or rake when cleaning leaves or other debris from your lawn, driveway, or sidewalk instead of water from a hose.
• Water only the landscape, not the streets, walks and driveways.
• Defrost food in the refrigerator instead of under running water.
• Keep a water jug in the refrigerator rather than waiting for cold water from the faucet.
• Use the toilet as a toilet, not a wastebasket.

What are some longer term water conservation measures for me to consider?

• Install water-saving fixtures and appliances in your home, including washing machines, clothes washers, faucets and shower heads.
• Plant native landscaping in place of turf lawns.
• Disconnect your downspout and direct your downspout to landscaped areas.
• Catch rain in a rain barrel for later use on your landscaping.
• Water your lawn during early morning or evening hours.

Download the PDF here.

GreenNet knows that the needs of a community garden are different then those of a home gardener. Material is needed in larger quantities and tools and furniture need to be able to stand up to heavy use.

The Index of Services, lists what urban gardeners need. From permits to trainings to compost, it’s in here!

Service Provider Descriptions give contact information and a brief description for each vendor or organization and note if those materials are provided through a government agency, a non-profit ora commercial company.

We would like your comments and additions to this guide so feel free to contact GreenNet at the address or e-mail on the cover to provide updates and other services you would like to see listed.

Good luck with those gardens!