■ Developer named for Mars-Wrigley site PAGE 7
FREE Vol. 38 No. 40
October 2, 2024 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyNews
@AustinWeeklyChi
@austinweeklynews
Sharing her ‘Westside Stories’ page 3
Recycling, reusing and redeeming plastic
Two years in, Redemptive Plastics creates job and volunteer opportunities By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter
Trash is turned into treasure at Redemptive Plastics, a nonprofit based in Austin that recycles plastic into usable pieces such as benches and fences. According to city of Chicago calculations, only 9.6% of the city’s waste was recycled in 2022. Redemptive Plastics strives to change that statistic. While the group started off recycling laundry detergent bottles from local laundromats, today they get their plastic from The Green Beer Project, a Chicagobased non-profit that partners with local breweries to collect the plastic tops on a six-pack of beer, also known as a PakTech. Redemptive Plastics picks up the plastic from a hub station, brings it back to their studio then sorts hundreds of pounds of tops by color. “It’s a labor of love,” said Amanda Campagnoni, who oversees communications for Alt_Chicago, the nonprofit leading Redemptive Plastics. This is when Redemptive Plastics offers opportunities for volunteers. See PLASTICS on page 8
ALICE TOLKIN/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
The new “Hoop Dreams” court in Garfield Park, 3705 W. Jackson Blvd.
Holding court, courting dreams ‘Hoop Dreams’ basketball court honors landmark film, inspires West Side kids By CHARLES THRUSH Block Club Chicago
A new basketball court in Garfield Park honors the 30th anniversary of the landmark documentary “Hoop Dreams” while hoping to inspire a new generation of young athletes.
The stars of the 1994 documentary — Arthur Agee Jr. and William Gates — joined city officials Saturday to unveil the “Hoop Dreams” basketball court at Garfield Park, 3705 W. Jackson Blvd. The court includes six new baskets and a bright blue and See BASKETBALL COURT on page 8
Make a difference by spending time with pets waiting for their new homes. Learn more and get started by scanning the QR!