CHINATOWN — The city’s blue cart recycling program will soon make its debut in Chinatown.
But first, city officials will distribute thousands of Chinese-language fliers to residents notifying them of the program and workers in the 25th Ward will also go door-to-door telling residents how to use the carts.
“In the coming weeks we will be walking around in Chinatown with speakers in Cantonese and Mandarin. We’ll be talking to as many residents as possible and explaining why recycling is important and what they should be doing,” said Vince Sanchez, chief of staff for Ald. Danny Solis (25th).
Residents with curbside garbage service will have their blue cart emptied the same day as the trash. Those with alley garbage service will have their blue carts emptied during the week of collection. A program FAQ can be found on the city's Streets and Sanitation website.
The blue carts will be delivered beginning Oct. 7.
The first pickup is scheduled for residential addresses north of Cermak on Oct. 21. For addresses south of Cermak, pickup begins Oct. 28.
The service will continue every other week.
Neighborhood leaders are hoping the recycling program will help solve a residential and commercial garbage problem that’s left the trash in the streets.
Sanchez said he is organizing a follow-up meeting to last month’s forum, where civic and business leaders discussed ways to keep streets and alleys clear of trash.
One of the proposed solutions include re-installing waste baskets along busier streets and having businesses pledge to keep from overflowing.
“We need everybody to be on the same page. We have to set it up as a group project. It’s a real issue that we need to have businessmen and community there to help,” Sanchez said.
Anyone with questions about blue cart recycling is encouraged to visit the 25th Ward office at 1800 S. Blue Island Ave., to call 311, the city’s Blue Cart Recycling Hotline at 312-744-5702 or the 25th Ward office at 773-533-4100.
