Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

Mission: Our goal is to engage the community's participation in the three R's of Reduce, ReUse, Recycle - at home, on the street and in local businesses

EESP will promote organized recycle/waste events, make presentations and post media alerts to encourage re-use and zero waste reduction practices. We are not complacent about how recycled materials are handled once households do their part, so join us in the effort to reduce waste at its source. 

Join in Clean & Green/ Earth Day events in April and the annual Edgewater Yard Sales in May.  

Utilize the Blue Cart or Recycling Bins for your building. 

The following were the original goals of the Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle plan. Shown in bold the current status
  • Blue Cart expansion;   Chicago expanded Blue Cart pick up to the entire city
  • Education on the three R's via social media, events, presentations; Flyers, facebook & newsletter tips
  • Support & encourage shopping at local re-use businesses;  Reminders in newsletters & facebook posts
  • Standard yard waste pick-up will be championed (with city and then private haulers); Not standard yet
  • Recruit & train Recycling Block Captains and a specific EESP Chair to help support them; Done (Meg Ramir)
  • Add recycle bins for mid rise+ buildings; City ordinance passed with fines for non compliance-1/1/17 
  • Support passing recycling measures (e.g. food compost pick up legislation; plastic bag ordinance) Completed
The problem now is the lack of end stream processing areas either in the U.S. or other countries. China has stopped accepting the large amounts  of materials they had recycled in the past.  We need to focus on the profit factor for people and businesses to participate in recycling and plants/jobs to actually provide the service within our borders.
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BALOONS ARE NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY - LET'S PROMOTE ALTERNATIVES

Balloons Blow, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to educating people about the dangers released balloons can have on animals, people and the environment. The group points out that all released balloons always return back to the ground as litter. Animals like birds, whales and sea turtles can die after swallowing balloons. Mylar/foil balloons can cause power outages and spark fires. Plus, helium is a nonrenewable resource.
The group suggests environmentally friendly alternatives to balloons: e.g. banners, pinwheels or wildflower seed bombs.
A number of cities have laws to regulate the number of balloons that can be released at once or limit the release of certain types of balloons or sky lanterns.​
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STOP TRASHING THE BEACHES   
Thanks to photographer and Edgewater resident Michael Courier for documenting and bringing attention to the litter problem at Osterman Beach. What can we do to stop people from littering?  Click the link for striking photos of Edgewater Beaches on & after Memorial Day 2019:
 #protectourbeaches #nature#nomoreplasti http://www.michaelcourier.com/…/stop-trashing-chicago-bea…//
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Members of Resource Conservation Team 
Name                                         Emai
Jen Walling                             jwalling@ilenviro.org
Meg Ramir                               megramir@sbcglobal.net
Allen Stryczek                         allen.stryczek@sbcglobal.net
Special Waste Reduction Initiative Group (2019---->):  Killian Walsh; Renee Patten. Michael Courier