Get the lowdown on Chicago's Blue Bag Recycling Program Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Chicago Sorting Center, 3757 W. 34th St., during a new event, Veggie Bike and Recycle.

A co-production of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and EarthSave Chicago, Veggie Bike and Recycle is the offspring of Veggie Bike and Dine, an annual bike tour of independently owned restaurants specializing in vegan fare around Chicago and the inner-ring suburbs. A vegan meal consists entirely of plant-based foods and excludes meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, or any other animal products.

"We're excited to partner again with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation in this ambitious effort to push bicycling and conscious food, while raising the awareness of Chicago's recycling initiative," said Chris Brunn of EarthSave Chicago.

Veggie Bike and Recycle begins with a nine-mile bike ride departing at 11:30 a.m. from Daley Plaza, 100 N. Dearborn Street. Sign in at the Chicago Sorting Center begins at 12:15 p.m. A one-hour tour from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. takes participants around a glassed-in gallery allowing them to see the tons of paper, plastic and aluminum collected and converted into new products every day. After the tour, a seven-mile bike ride continues to Lao Sze Chuan, 2172 S. Archer Ave., for a prix fixe Szechwan vegan lunch (price to be determined) starting at 2 p.m. The event concludes at 3 p.m. with a two-mile bike ride from Lao Sze Chuan to Daley Plaza.

Space is limited to 60 people for the Chicago Sorting Center tour and 40 for the lunch at Lao Sze Chuan. Registrants may participate in any or all portions of the Veggie Bike and Recycle, which includes the bike ride, tour and lunch. When registering, participants must specify which portions they wish to attend in an e-mail to register@earthsavechicago.com before Dec. 9. For event registration information, please visit www.earthsavechicago.org.

Veggie Bike and Recycle is part of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's 2006 Top 10 Initiative to expand activities which elevate bicycling within our culture by celebrating bicycling's vital relationship to food, shopping, entertainment, work, recreation and daily life. The event is also included in Chicago Bike Winter, an annual event that promotes winter bike riding. For more information, please visit www.bikewinter.org or www.biketraffic.org.