I live on the Northside of Chicago and up cycling waste is fairly easy and also almost sexy in our culture here. A lot of people put items on top of their trash cans that might be valuable to someone else. Shoes, baskets, furniture, garden tools, windows, and many other items. I have built or repurposed these things many times.
My idea concerns all the brown bags of leaves/yard waste that get put out. You could totally pick them up, compost them, and sell it back to the homes you got them from. All the while diverting organic matter from the landfill.
Also, with a little creativity, the glass could be transformed into other products. Most of the glass is single pane, old storm windows.
More recent I thought of a pumpkin pick up service or something. So many whole, uncarved pumpkins get put in the trash while they are still firm and nice. They could be collected and value added into edible food products for the community.
Similarly, my roommate collects uneaten and unused apples which are almost daily sent to the waste bin from local school lunches. Many of them are bruised or blemished, but he makes them into apple cider and sauces. We are experimenting with dehydrating the slices and making an apple spice tea. Obviously the possibilities are endless here.
Perhaps the strangest occurrence I have seen opportunities to capitalize on waste is with potted plants. I have rescued many living, but usually sick, house plants. They are often time beautiful specimens otherwise. Either a home visit plant doctor, or a rescue and resale option is possible. Seriously, almost Everytime all that is needed is a pruning, worm castings/compost, and water. I'm talking 15ft tall banana-like palms in pots, just sitting in the garbage.
Also, I love the sunchoke idea!
