What Your City Does: Land Use Pollution doesn’t just affect our air and water; it affects our land, too. Garbage dumps, littered vacant lots, abandoned industrial sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals—all of these are considered a form of toxic waste. Not only an environmental danger, ground pollution also damages Chicago’s economy. Many business and factories have relocated to the suburbs to avoid the costs of site cleanup. As a result of this urban sprawl, the number of City jobs has declined and many valuable natural spaces west of Chicago have disappeared. To combat these problems, the City of Chicago has implemented several cutting-edge recycling, landscaping, and redevelopment programs. Each is designed to reclaim damaged land, revitalize the City, and reduce ground pollution.   Recycling   Brownfields Initiative   Greencorps Chicago Recycling The City of Chicago oversees a comprehensive recycling effort with specific programs tailored to the needs of City residents, businesses, and public agencies. Efforts include Blue Bag Recycling as well as the Chicago Housing Authority Buy-Back Recycling program in which residents are paid for their recyclables. In addition, to help Chicagoans dispose of harmful household products, the City has created Hazardous Household Waste Collection and Used Motor Oil Recycling guidelines and facilities. These programs are designed to help REDUCE the amount and toxicity of trash discarded; encourage the REUSE of containers and products; repair what is broken; and encourage residents to RECYCLE, which includes buying products with recycled content. top Brownfields Initiative “Brownfields” are abandoned industrial and commercial lands that may be contaminated with hazardous materials. Examples include old gas stations and former steel foundries or paint factories—often considered environmental and economic blights in a community. Most brownfields are difficult to sell and reuse because environmental testing and cleanup can be costly and time-consuming. But in 1993, the City of Chicago established the Chicago Brownfields Initiative to acquire, assemble, and rehabilitate properties, returning them back to productive use. The Brownfields Initiative links environmental restoration with economic development by cleaning up brownfields and improving policies to promote private redevelopment of these sites. top Greencorps Chicago The mission of Greencorps is to improve the quality of life in the City by offering Chicagoans a community landscaping and job training program. Citizens can take advantage of workshops, plant materials, technical assistance, and educational programs to improve employment prospects and beautify public spaces. Greencorps Chicago works through community organizations, such as schools, libraries, block clubs, and churches, providing them with free workshops and assistance in maintaining long-term gardens or landscapes. And on Plant Distribution Days, groups like these can receive seeds for annuals and vegetables, perennials, and bulbs free of charge! top Find Out More For details on any of these programs, check out the Chicago Department of Environment website.   back to What Your City Does >>   continue to Green Construction >> Introduction | Investigate Biodiversity | YBC | Meet the Scientist | Explore Global Diversity | Events and Programs | Take Action! | Teaching Biodiversity | Biodiversity Exhibition | Credits We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.. — Aldo Leopold Ecologist and Author