Along with the normal Goodwill and thrift store outlets, Evanston and nearby is home to some of the region's leaders in recirculation. Since 2011, Evanston has been home to the Rebuilding Exchange (born as Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse). And since 2020, The Wasteshed has been co-located with the Rebuilding Exchange on Hartrey south of Dempster. Nearby in Skokie, we have Books4Cause to recirculate books, and in Chicago The Recyclery Collective provides routes for refurbishment for old or no longer loved bikes.
This is a great interview regarding the connection between increased "circularity" and reducing greenhouse gases.
Updated May 2024, this is a material-by-material guide for how & where to handle waste — from everyday plastics and metals to unusual and hard to recycle items. Please submit corrections or additions to our Beyond Waste team.
The Solid Waste Authority of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) maintains a very comprehensive regional directory of where to recycle. It is searchable by item name and category.
Chicago Environmentalists is a Chicago-based group that compiles great tips about sustainable living. They host an excellent, searchable directory of recycling and reuse opportunities, and a map of sustainable businesses from the Chicago point of view
Earth 911 is a global directory of recycling and reuse options.
Notes from our first community workshop on March 19, 2023 at Rebuilding Exchange.
This is the presentation given at the outset of the Waste Less Workshop. It contains some background as well as the questions we used to structure our conversations in the workshop. Put in full screen mode if you want to see the animations correctly.
22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, and just over half of that ends up in Lake Michigan. Help end that by supporting a bill in the Illinois Legislature to ban styrofoam foodware.
Many local organizations and programs that reduce waste welcome volunteers, including Evanston Repair Café, The Rebuilding Exchange, Evanston School Children's Clothing Association, The WasteShed, and The Recyclery.
Although Climate Action Evanston is a volunteer organization, we have expenses. Increasing our revenues allows us to budget to do more. If you wish you can target donations to a specific program or programs.
We are looking for people to lead an initiative to bring (and return) reusable bags at Farmer's Markets in Evanston this season. Volunteer to staff a table and drum up support, so we can reduce plastic waste and encourage.
