Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) introduced the new Recycle Coach education app, bringing hyper-local waste and recycling information directly to city residents. The new mobile and smartphone app, available at no cost to the City via a partnership with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and Recycle Coach, advises residents on waste and recycling schedules and proper waste management to decrease contamination at material recovery facilities, increase the diversion of materials from landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
鈥淓asier access to information on how and where to recycle is one of our key strategies to increase recycling and waste diversion participation in Chicago,鈥� said Mayor Brandon Johnson. 鈥淭hanks to a significant partnership with the IEPA, the new Recycle Coach app brings these answers to city residents鈥� fingertips through a simplified, yet comprehensive resource bringing us one step closer to achieving our climate action goals.鈥�
Chicago residents can access the Recycle Coach tool at chicagorecycles.org, and input an address to receive customized waste and recycling information specific to where they live, including:
- Collection and event calendars
- Updates on service changes
- Comprehensive database on what is and isn鈥檛 recyclable, including local disposal information for common and uncommon items
- Additional educational content, including useful recycling tips and weekly recycling quizzes
鈥淭he Illinois EPA is excited for the City of Chicago to participate in this program, which offers innovative technology that will provide residents with advanced tools to allow them to increase and improve recycling,鈥� said Illinois EPA Director James Jennings. 鈥淎s more communities participate and the program is fully implemented, the amount of recyclables properly diverted from Illinois landfills will be expanded significantly.鈥�
鈥淭his additional tool will help residents make more informed waste management decisions and actively participate in reducing household waste through recycling efforts,鈥� said DSS Commissioner Cole Stallard.