To know Ken Dunn, from his compost-stained baseball cap to his compost-stained pants, is to know that he charts his own course. Decades before the term "sustainability" entered the zeitgeist, Ken was pursuing equality and justice, though not through political means. He describes his mission on the home page of The Resource Center--Chicago's only non-profit recycler--which he founded more than 25 years ago:
"The Resource Center's model of improving society is most simply: to discover resources, both human and material, whose value has been overlooked, and bring them together in a creative way to make a sustainable project into an element of sustainable community."
MELA's 2nd Annual Polaris Award
Goes to Ken Dunn
While regional and municipal recycling attempts have waxed and waned, Ken and his organization have--like the North Star--remained constant in their approach to serving the people of Chicago. They employ people living near their recycling facilities while managing to turn more than 99% of what they pick up into new products. In addition, the Resource Center is responsible for:
Four drop-off recycling facilities in the City of Chicago
Commercial and residential collection programs that serve two museums, three universities, 20 schools, 7150 single-family homes, and 500 apartments and businesses with comprehensive recycling services each week.
City Farm, a sustainable organic farm wedged between Division and Clybourn not much more than a stone throw away the Chicago Loop. The farm sells its superior produce primarily to local chefs and to the public from an on-site market stand.
A full-scale composting facility at 1325 E. 70th Street. Among the components are composting education and even composting bins made of recycled materials.
The Perishable Food Recovery Program , which seeks to reduce the amount of edible food that is wasted in the Chicago area by directing it to local food programs.
2007 Conference Information
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