Chicago's first citywide recycling program still faces challenges 30 years later

Chicago launched its first citywide recycling program, the Blue Bag, in December 1995 and discontinued it in 2008; the city's reported waste diversion rate has remained around 9% in recent years.

Chicago launched its first citywide recycling effort, the Blue Bag program, in December 1995 as its initial attempt to collect recyclables across the city. The program was criticized for requiring residents to buy bags and sort materials, and it was gradually replaced by curbside blue carts and other changes before being discontinued in 2008. Over subsequent years the city adopted new contracts and a formal Chicago Waste Strategy to revise how recyclables are collected and processed. Despite those changes, recycling and waste diversion rates have stayed low compared with several peer cities. Key points: - The Blue Bag program began citywide on Dec. 4, 1995 and was officially ended on May 2, 2008. - The Blue Cart curbside system replaced parts of the Blue Bag approach and today serves roughly 625,000 residences. - Chicago reported a waste diversion rate of about 9.4% for 2023 and 2024, and 9% for the first 11 months of 2025. - Recent steps cited in reporting include a citywide Chicago Waste Strategy, changes in contractor rules on contamination, and a new material recovery facility operated by Lakeshore Recycling Systems. Summary: Chicago’s early Blue Bag program is part of the city's recycling history and is often referenced in discussions of public trust and program design. City records show diversion rates have remained low, even as the municipal system moved to blue carts, new contracts, and updated sorting capacity. Efforts to adjust rules and infrastructure have been reported, but the next major procedural or policy step is undetermined at this time.