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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2019 Activities
Waste Reduction: EESP is working on a strategic initiative to improve our waste reduction efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  We hope to collaborate with the Chicago Recycling Coalition, a new re-created city Department of the Environment and other partners that can help us help our city to move forward in this important area.  Renee Patten & Killian Walsh are coordinating the effort.  To participate contact Renee at: patten.renee@gmail.com 

Annual Edgewater Yard Sale: Saturday June 1 at 9:00 am. Over 200 homes & businesses participated.

​ 2019: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM RECYCLING INITIATIVE

Some of the world's largest consumer-goods companies are trying to tackle the globe's plastics problem by offering people an alternative to recycling. Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, PepsiCo and others are partnering on a project called Loop, in which their products, like detergents and shampoos, would all be sold in reusable packaging. After using the products, customers put the empty containers in a Loop tote on their doorstep. The containers are then picked up by a delivery service, cleaned and refilled, then shipped back out to consumers. Details of this innovation were announced on January 24, 2019 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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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, including banners, pinwheels and wildflower seed bombs.
A number of cities that have enacted balloon legislation. Several cities in New Jersey, including Atlantic City, and several cities in Massachusetts, including Nantucket and Provincetown, have banned balloons. Other places have laws that 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 our own Edgewater Beach on & after Memorial Day: #protectourbeaches #nature#nomoreplastic
http://www.michaelcourier.com/…/stop-trashing-chicago-bea…//
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Committee Members of Resource Conservation Category (Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle)

Members                                                                       Name                                         Email
CoChair                                                                          Jen Walling                             jwalling@ilenviro.org
Vice Chair & RBC EESP Administrator                          Meg Ramir                               megramir@sbcglobal.net
Member                                                                          Allen Stryczek                         allen.stryczek@sbcglobal.netto edit.