Park District struggles with low recycling rates
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The same Flood Brothers truck in Legion Park empties garbage and recycling into the same truck hopper last month. Photos courtesy of Michael Caplan
For years, Albany Park resident Michael Caplan says he's watched trucks snake through Legion and River parks emptying garbage and recycling carts into a single hopper.
Why it matters: The city contracts with Flood Brothers to collect and process garbage and recycling bins separately.
- But park users contaminate blue bins with so much non-recyclable junk that only about 15% of waste actually gets recycled, city officials told Axios.
- That still beats the city's dismal 9% residential recycling rate.
Driving the news: Folks are expected to flood local parks for the July Fourth holiday and leave lots of trash behind.
How it works: Flood Brothers picks up recycling and garbage bins on separate routes.
- But when recycling route drivers discover more than 10% contamination in a blue bin, they leave it and flag it for the next scheduled garbage pick-up.
Yes but: Caplan says he's never seen a truck pick up just recycling or just garbage over two years of walking his dog in the parks three times a day. He says trucks always pick up both.
- "As far as I can tell there's no distinction between the two bins," he says. "The whole thing feels performative."
The intrigue: Last year, Chicago spent nearly $1 million on the parks' recycling program.
- But the district doesn't keep track of how often bins are rejected for contamination.
What's next: Park officials say they're "planning a campaign to encourage park patrons to recycle properly and reduce contamination."
- They're also urging Flood Brothers to affix magnetic signs to their trucks to indicate when the truck is collecting recycling.
Monica's thought bubble: During recent peeks inside park recycling bins, I've spotted lots of cans and bottles, but also poop bags, old food, diapers and plastic bags.
- It's clear that we park users have a part to play in improving the situation, so let's keep garbage where it belongs.