Chris Heisler’s phone has been ringing more than ever now that  it’s illegal for e-waste–including MP3 players, video game consoles, TVs and other electronics– to go into Illinois landfills under a state law that took effect Jan. 1. Heisler is the director of recycling for Recycle Tech Solutions, a Chicago-based e-waste recycler, located in...
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Geek is the new black, and your ideas for how data can be mashed up to make useful mobile apps for Chicagoans can bring you a monetary award. A hackathon brings together idea generating creative types with techies who can code the ideas into workable apps. Check out this one, and win big, for...
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As Gov. Pat Quinn announced his plan to start construction on Chicago’s third airport in Will County “as fast as humanly possible,” one local farmer in Peotone,  where the airport is slated to be built 45 miles south of Chicago, is preparing for the worst case scenario—losing his family farm. Lee Deutsche, whose farm...
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The Chicago Plan Commission last week unanimously approved what would be the first sulfur processing facility in the city. But at least one commissioner had reservations, stating that he hoped he wouldn’t regret his vote since he doesn’t know what the facility could do to the environment or residents living near the Port of...
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A new bill requiring public water suppliers to notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency before their water supply hits unsafe contaminant levels unanimously passed a key environmental state panel earlier this month. The Illinois EPA proposed the bill to correct any contamination problems before they become a larger issue, said John Cross, the agency’s...
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