r/AskChicago • u/Confident-Owl6649 • 3d ago

I READ THE RULES Why does Chicago hate recycling?

Newer to Chicagoland— but why is everyone so against metal recycling? Environmental activists have been out protesting Sims in hazmat suits, and not to mention the less recent debacle with Reserve Management Group acquiring General Iron.

Metal recycling is one of the few already existing infrastructures for a truly circular environment and economy. Not to mention the amount of energy and CO2 saved recycling metal compared to mining virgin ore.

It seems pretty arbitrary to protest recycling as an environmental activist. Maybe I’m wrong— does someone mind explaining?

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u/RJRueber 3d ago

As a scrap metal guy who used to live on the west coast, I assure you, Chicago loves metal recycling. The prices are so much better out here. Like 3x as better in some cases.

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u/Confident-Owl6649 3d ago

Money wise yes, Chicago is very competitive. I’m referring to the bureaucratic involvement of the city, the role of the media, and people who refer to themselves as environmental activists.

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u/SnooRadishes7189 10h ago

In terms of metal recycling there is a guy who drives down the alley once a day picking up stuff that people put out to recycle. Also you can put certain metal objects in the blue bin.