5418 W Belmont Ave • 773-628-7874 • Ward30@cityofchicago.org
Going Green! Tips from the Youth Committee
There are multiple ways to adopt environmentally friendly practices in our every day life.
Recycling
by Sandra Beltran, Summer 2026
The City manages the recycling collection program, and collection schedules vary depending on your home address. You can check it out here! If your recycling bin is ever lost, stolen, or damaged, our office is here to help. Call or stop by the ward office to request a replacement, and the City will deliver a new bin directly to your home.
A very important part of protecting our environment is knowing what can and cannot be placed in your recycling bin. Recycling the right items helps reduce contamination, improves the efficiency of the recycling process, and ensures more materials can be successfully reused.
See examples below:
✅Glass ❌Clothes
✅Plastic ❌Styrofoam
✅Papper ❌Electronics
✅Aluminum ❌Battarys
✅Cardboard
✅Metals/tin
See video for more examples!
*Note: You should throw items individually because plastic bags can NOT be placed in the recycle bin.
Food Scrap Drop-Off
by Sandra Beltran, Summer 2026
Green bins are for food scraps and other compostable materials.** Composting keeps food waste out of landfills, where it would otherwise produce harmful greenhouse gases like methane. Instead, those food scraps are transformed into nutrient-rich compost that helps enrich soil, supports healthy plant growth, and contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Find a location here.
Holiday Tree Recycling
by Sandra Beltran, Summer 2026
Each year after the holidays, Alderwoman Ruth Cruz offers a Holiday Tree Pickup Service to help residents dispose of their natural Christmas trees with ease.
Natural Christmas trees can be difficult to dispose of because they are too large for regular recycling collection and are not accepted in curbside compost bins. Through the City of Chicago's annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program, collected trees are chipped into mulch that is made available to residents free of charge while supplies last.
As part of this effort, our office coordinates holiday tree pickups for residents who may not be able to transport their trees to a designated drop-off location. Before setting out your tree for pickup or dropping it off at a recycling site, please remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, tree stands, plastic bags, and other decorations.
For information about Holiday Tree Recycling locations, program dates, and pickup details, visit the City's Holiday Tree Recycling webpage or contact the 30th Ward Office for assistance.
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Don’t Let Your Environment Go Down the Drain!
by Kevin Rzepka , Summer 2026
Little did you know, keeping some smaller household plumbing items up to date can be vitally important for your environment too! And no, it doesn’t necessarily mean spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the latest appliances, but rather little things such as replacing old showerheads and leaky faucets, which can drastically decrease the amount of water you use. In fact, according to the World Wildlife Fund and the US EPA, older showerheads can use 2.5 gallons per minute or more while newer, more efficient models use 2 gallons per minute or fewer. Although one might think that those numbers aren’t much far apart, it is estimated that by replacing your showerhead, the average family can save 2,700 gallons of water every year, the amount of electricity needed to power a home for 11 days, and more than $75 in energy and water costs each year!
The same goes for your faucet, where even if one leaks at a rate of one drop per second, it can waste more than an estimated 3,000 gallons of water per year. That’s why it’s so important to fix your leaky faucet even if it just drips! More specifically, when using a faucet for water to brush your teeth, turn the tap off when brushing, as you can save as much as 3,000 gallons of water per year. That way, you don’t just save on your water bill, but also save the environment.
But what about those expensive appliances I mentioned earlier, like TVs, microwaves, and stereos – how can I help protect the environment without being able to spend money on newer, more efficient models? Oftentimes when we use those appliances, which are all idle electronics, they use energy even when switched off to keep display clocks lit and remote controls working. As a result, even when you think they’re turned off or losing very little electricity, they are still running your electricity bill and impacting the environment! So, what could you do? Well you could switch off power strips, unplug electrical devices when unused, or if possible, go into settings and turn the screensaver/ambient feature off. That way, the power saving feature could kick in and turn off the TV (or other idle electronics) after a period of
inactivity. Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a huge difference, especially when everyone works together.
Sustainable Transportation and Reducing Waste
by Pavle Bumbic , Summer 2026
Use transportation sustainably. Transportation is a significant contributor to pollution. One way we can help reduce pollution is by using cars more reasonably and increasing our use of greener alternatives, such as biking, walking, and public transportation.
Reduce waste. One of the best ways to protect the environment is to reduce our consumption of products such as single-use plastic bottles. Instead, we can switch to reusable stainless-steel bottles. This can help reduce plastic waste and limit our exposure to microplastics, which can negatively affect our health.
Our planet is increasingly polluted, and we all have a responsibility to take action to protect it. By making small, sustainable changes in our daily lives, we can help create a cleaner and healthier environment for ourselves and future generations.
Donate, Don’t Throw Away
by Sandra Beltran , Summer 2026
We encourage everyone to donate unwanted clothing instead of throwing it away. Donating clothes helps reduce waste and gives items a second life with someone who may need or enjoy them.
Thrift stores are a great option for giving your gently used clothing a new home. Consider donating to:
* **Salvation Army**
* **Savers Thrift**
* **Unique Thrift**
* **Village Discount Outlet**
These stores accept clothing donations and place items on their shelves for others to purchase and reuse.
Donation boxes are also available in many public locations, making it easy to drop off unwanted clothing and other items.
Finally, Give N Receive Ink is a nonprofit organization that the 30th Ward has proudly collaborated with on multiple community events and clothing drives. Through these partnerships, clothing and other essential items are provided to residents and community members who need them.
Supporting organizations like Give N Receive Ink is another great way to keep clothing out of landfills while helping neighbors in need.
Before throwing something away, consider one of these options!
Organize a Community Clean-Up
by 30th Ward Staff , Summer 2026
Want to help make your neighborhood cleaner and greener? Organize a community clean-up with your neighbors, friends, or local organizations! Gathering together to pick up litter, clean public spaces, and care for our neighborhood is a simple way to make a meaningful difference. Every clean-up, big or small, helps create a cleaner, healthier, and more welcoming community.