Chicago to have curbside recycling by 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has vowed to have citywide recycling by 2013. Chicago has had a decade of failed attempts at such endeavors.

Last summer Emanuel vowed to use both private contractors as well as city employees, in an effort to keep costs low. And Emanuel has gone on record as saying thanks to competitive bidding that the entire city should expect curbside service by 2013.

The city's current curbside recycling program only covers 241,000 households, leaving 359,000 without any recycling pickup. A number of households previously without the blue carts received some in the last two months.

Prior to opening service coverage up for bidding, citywide recycling service costs were estimated at $6.3 million. But the mayor's office reports that post-competition prices are down 35 percent to $4.1 million at present, a 10 percent greater savings than initially projected, lowering per-cart hauling prices from $4.77 to $2.38.

The recycling competition is between two private sector companies: Sims Municipal Recycling and Waste Management and Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation workers. The competition results will be released this summer along with an evaluation of planned services and costs, according to the mayor's office.