What Reduce Waste Chicago does

Reduce Waste Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The organization operates a community-event-driven model to help Chicagoans reduce waste through three pillars: collecting reusable, repurposable, or difficult-to-recycle items; inspiring best practices in schools, businesses, and individuals; and advocating for policy that shifts waste responsibility from residents to producers. Core offerings include recurring Reuse & Recycling Pop-Ups at venues such as Beverly Unitarian Church and Northcenter Town Square, the annual flagship Sustainability Market, and the seasonal Holiday Lights Collection which expanded from 17 to 26 Chicago wards in 2025-26 with 45 drop-off locations.

The organization does not sell products or technology; instead, its "supply chain" is a network of 20+ downstream partners — including Cradles to Crayons, Working Bikes, Open Books, SCARCE, Share Our Spare, Conscious Costume, Elgin Recycling, and WasteNot Compost — who handle sorting, redistribution, and processing of collected material. Logistics for the Holiday Lights Collection rely on WasteNot Compost's electric cargo van to transport material to Elgin Recycling. Volunteer labor from 300+ active volunteers and an Associate Board underwrites the operational capacity.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (processed via the Givebutter platform), corporate sponsorships (WasteNot Compost, Chicago Waldorf School, Martin, Lindsay LaPointe / ReLaPointe, Tamales Express, Open Water, and others), and foundation grants including a $5,000 award from the Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program. Cumulative operational impact includes 80,000+ pounds of material diverted from landfill across 60+ events since inception, with 14,801 pounds of holiday lights alone over five years. Geographic reach covers the city of Chicago, with civic-channel partnerships across 14 named alderman offices and bilingual (English/Spanish) program materials.

Name

Reduce Waste Chicago

Legal name

Reduce Waste Chicago

Website

https://reducewastechicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reduce Waste Chicago is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 that hosts community collection events, drop-off locations, and educational programs to divert reusable, repurposable, and hard-to-recycle material from landfills across 26+ city wards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Waste Reduction Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Other Waste Collection (562119), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Collection Events & Programs (EUAIAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG), Bulky Item & White Goods Collection (EUAIAAAH), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA), Bulky Waste & White Goods Drop-Off/Transfer (BPALABAE)

Keywords

• Community waste collection
• Recycling events
• Reuse programs
• Nonprofit sustainability
• Landfill diversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from Chicagoans supporting waste reduction initiatives. Donations are processed through Givebutter platform.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from local businesses and organizations supporting specific programs like the Holiday Lights Collection and Sustainability Market.
3. Grants: Foundation and corporate grants including $5,000 from Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program to support program expansion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reduce Waste Chicago is a nonprofit that organizes community collection events across Chicago where residents can drop off items that can be reused, repurposed, or are difficult to recycle through standard municipal programs. Its core offerings include Reuse & Recycling Pop-Ups at scheduled locations, an annual Sustainability Market, and a seasonal Holiday Lights Collection program supported by a network of drop-off sites and reuse partner organizations.

Product overview

Reduce Waste Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of waste reduction services centered on community collection events. The core offerings include Reuse & Recycling Pop-Ups (scheduled collection events at various Chicago locations), the annual Sustainability Market (a large community event featuring multiple collectors, costume swaps, and eco-vendors), and the seasonal Holiday Lights Collection program. The Accepted Items Program maintains a dynamic list of materials accepted across events. The organization operates through a network of reuse and recycling partners, leveraging volunteer support and corporate sponsors to reach all 50 Chicago wards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reuse & Recycling Pop-Ups Scheduled community events where Chicagoans can drop off items that can be reused, repurposed, or are difficult to recycle through standard municipal programs. Events feature multiple partner organizations at individual tents collecting specific material streams.
• Sustainability Market Annual large-scale community event bringing together local eco-focused businesses, artists, and organizations. Features material collections, a Halloween costume swap, live music, and food vendors, all promoting sustainable living.
• Holiday Lights Collection Seasonal campaign collecting broken holiday string lights for responsible recycling. Operates through drop-off locations across Chicago wards and partners with WasteNot Compost for pickup services and transportation to Elgin Recycling.
• Accepted Items Program Curated list of acceptable materials for collection events, maintained in both English and Spanish. Includes household items for reuse, repurposing, or recycling, with color-coded status indicating acceptance at each event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,000+ pounds of material diverted from landfill
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• WasteNot CompostcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Transportation and logistics partner for Holiday Lights Collection program. WasteNot Compost collects lights from their customers and transports all 4,227 pounds to Elgin Recycling using their electric cargo van. Also offers broken holiday lights pickup through their member shop.
• Chicago Waldorf SchoolsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Reduce Waste Chicago programs and Sustainability Market events.
• Elgin RecyclingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnd recipient of collected holiday lights for proper recycling processing.
• Conscious CostumesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Sustainability Costume swap partner. Adult, children and pet costumes are accepted at events, then donated to Conscious Costume for additional swapping.
• Cook County Sheriff's OfficesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree and anonymous prescription drug take-back program collecting and destroying unwanted or expired prescription drugs (human or pet).
• Cradles to CrayonssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerClothing and shoes collected at events are separated and distributed to organizations across Chicago.
• Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (CCRx)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReusable educational materials and art supplies made available to teachers and community members.
• Danielle Cares for ChairssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlastic bread tags are recycled and sold to purchase wheelchairs for people in need.
• EcoShipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLightly used packing and shipping materials collected and distributed for free to individuals and small businesses for reuse.
• FreshLens ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTuition-free photography program for under-resourced Chicago students. FreshLens students and teachers provide event photography for Reduce Waste Chicago.
• Got SneakerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollects athletic sneakers, cleats (rubber only), lifestyle/casual sneakers and hiking footwear.
• Lions Club (via SCARCE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsable glasses collected for the Lions Recycle For Sight Program.
• Nowhere CollectivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious art materials collected for their community of remakers.
• Open BookssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSellable books in good condition (fiction, nonfiction, craft books, cookbooks, children's books) accepted for redistribution.
• SCARCEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBooks, crayons and other school supplies made available to teachers and community members.
• Share Our SparesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaby essentials, hygiene and feeding supplies, small and large gear supporting health and development of children ages 0-5.
• Trash People of Logan SquaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreat co-conspirators collaborating to collect a variety of materials for reuse and recycling.
• Working BikessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsed bikes given new life and redistributed as tools of empowerment in local and global communities.
• Various Chicago Alderman OfficessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor1st Ward (Ald. Daniel La Spata), 19th Ward (Ald. Matt O'Shea), 25th Ward (Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez), 30th Ward (Ald. Ruth Cruz), 32nd Ward (Ald. Scott Waguespack), 33rd Ward (Ald. Rossana Rodriguez), 35th Ward (Ald. Anthony Quezada), 39th Ward (Ald. Samantha Nugent), 40th Ward (Ald. Andre Vasquez), 46th Ward (Ald. Angela Clay), 47th Ward (Ald. Matt Martin), 48th Ward (Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth), 49th Ward (Ald. Maria Hadden), 50th Ward (Ald. Debra Silverstein) serve as drop-off locations for Holiday Lights Collection.
• Tamales ExpresssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFood vendor at Sustainability Market providing authentic tamales and aqua frescas.
• Open WatersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free canned water at Sustainability Market events.
• Flat Can RecyclingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Sustainability Market collecting large-scale household items and chemicals.
• Rebuilding ExchangesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollects door and cabinet hardware, wall hooks & latches at Sustainability Market.
• That's Not GarbagesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollects orange plastic subscription bottles at Sustainability Market.
• The Struggling Black Girl Magic ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollects skates, skateboards, manual scooters and parts at Sustainability Market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cradles to Crayons: Cradles to Crayons is a nonprofit that collects children's clothing and baby essentials for redistribution—the same streams Reduce Waste Chicago collects at pop-ups and routes through Cradles to Crayons as a partner.
• Working Bikes: Working Bikes is a Chicago nonprofit that collects and refurbishes used bicycles for redistribution—the same material stream Reduce Waste Chicago captures at events. Working Bikes is also a Reduce Waste Chicago partner.
• Open Books: Open Books is a Chicago nonprofit that resells donated books—the same material stream Reduce Waste Chicago collects at events and is also a partner.
• Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (CCRx): CCRx is a Chicago nonprofit that redistributes reusable educational and art supplies—the same material streams Reduce Waste Chicago channels at events, and is also an explicit partner.
• SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education): SCARCE is an Illinois-based nonprofit that runs education and reuse/recycling collection events very similar to Reduce Waste Chicago's Pop-Ups, including the school-supply and book streams Reduce Waste Chicago also collects. The organizations are already co-listed as partners.
• EcoShip: EcoShip is a Chicago-area nonprofit that reuses packing and shipping materials—a direct material-stream parallel to Reduce Waste Chicago's pop-up collections. EcoShip is also a Reduce Waste Chicago partner.
• Got Sneakers: Got Sneakers is a national sneaker-recycling program that Reduce Waste Chicago uses as a destination for athletic footwear collected at events. Same collection-event model, larger scale.

Others

• Elgin Recycling: Elgin Recycling is the end-destination processor for Reduce Waste Chicago's Holiday Lights Collection and a core partner. It is a downstream supplier rather than a peer, but materially determines the viability of the e-waste/holiday lights program.

Broad incumbents

• The Recycling Partnership: The Recycling Partnership is a national nonprofit that funds and scales residential recycling programs. While far larger and U.S.-wide, it pursues a similar mission of expanding material diversion and could be both a peer and a potential future funder for Reduce Waste Chicago.

Regional players

• WasteNot Compost: WasteNot Compost is a Chicago social-enterprise waste hauler that already serves as Reduce Waste Chicago's logistics partner for the Holiday Lights Collection. It operates the collection/transport side of specialty waste handling in Chicago.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reduce Waste Chicago