Compost your leaves. This fall, the City of Chicago is offering discounted compost bins for $30 at two locations. On October 13th and 14th, you can buy them at North Park Nature Center's Harvest Fest (5801 N. Pulaski Rd). If you can't make it to the Harvest Fest, you can pick one up at the Center for Green Technology (445 N. Sacramento Blvd) on Wednesdays from 10am - 4pm or Saturdays from 9am - 12pm through November 10th.
If you're in Illinois but outside of Chicago, contact your county offices. Solid waste agencies are usually county-run, and they are the ones likely to have compost bins at reduced prices. I'm not sure how other states handle it (i.e., if solid waste is regulated at the county level throughout the US), but I've found that you have to get to the right agency before you can get good information.
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