April 2021 Eco-Extraordinaires

Check out this month’s local leaders in green.

Do you know a local organization or person that deserves some green kudos? Email [email protected] to explain who you think should be one of our next Eco-Extraordinaires.

Lane School Students & Teachers Create Video to Promote Bread Tag Collection

Students in 2^nd– 5^th grade at The Lane School in Hinsdale created a fun video to share during the school’s morning school-wide video announcements to promote their bread tag collection for SCARCE. The video, titled “TAG! YOU’RE IT!” was filmed by District 181 speech-language pathologist Maureen Laschober, who is always looking for opportunities for students to practice their public speaking skills.  She learned about the bread tag collection on SCARCE’s website and thought it was a great way for students to give back during this challenging year. Physical education teacher Dan Ozga reached out to local businesses to help with the collection and students practiced their phone skills to say “thank you”.

City of Wood Dale Awarded Earth Flag

In March, the City of Wood Dale was presented with an Earth Flag by SCARCE and DuPage County. The City’s environmental advisory committee, Wood Dale for a Greener Tomorrow, led the charge for earning the award, which recognizes communities and organizations that have made dedicated efforts to protect the environment. The City’s green initiatives include an annual community recycling event and holiday light recycling programs, upgrading municipal buildings and streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs, and educating residents on proper recycling, composting, and eco-friendly water practices at their annual open house. Among many other eco-friendly practices, the city also uses eco-friendly Beet-Heet deicer on their roadways. Congratulations and keep up the great work Wood Dale!

Wheaton Christian Grammar School Earns Earth Flag & Selected as Illinois Green Ribbon Schools Nominee

Congratulations to Wheaton Christian Grammar School on earning the Earth Flag from SCARCE and DuPage County! WCGS began pursuing the Earth Flag certification during the 2019-2020 school year. Students are very involved in their sustainability efforts. The Creation Care Club initiated zero waste days, collected plastic bottles caps for a recycled bench, and cares for a community garden. The Robotics Team created and placed over 100 garbage, compost and recycling containers around the school. Junior high students participated in litter clean-up days and help re-seed the school’s prairie and students in 3rd-8th grade can participate on a projects council to design and maintain sustainable projects that benefit well-being and the learning environment. If that weren’t enough, the school itself is quite sustainable with an active energy monitoring system, geothermal heating and cooling, and a smart irrigation system and much more. Not only has Wheaton Christian Grammar School earned the Earth Flag, their accomplishments also earned them the Illinois Nomination for the national Green Ribbon Schools award. Well done!

City of Warrenville Offers Food Scrap Composting for Residents

The City of Warrenville recently approved a new waste hauling contract that includes a food scrap composting option. Residents with a yard waste toter subscription may also include food scraps with their yard waste materials. Composting food scraps prevents greenhouse gas emissions, reduces water pollution, saves space in landfills, and redirects nutrients and water back to our soils. Westmont joins twelve municipalities in DuPage County that offer food scrap composting at the curb. Warrenville joins 13 other communities in DuPage County that offer residents a food scrap composting option. Learn more about their program here. Way to go Warrenville!

Resident Dan Hebreard Raises Over $500 for SCARCE in Birthday Fundraiser

Big thanks to Dan Hebreard for choosing SCARCE for a birthday fundraiser! Dan set his fundraising goal at $200 and thanks to the support of friends, family and more has raised over $500 to support SCARCE’s environmental education and resource conservation efforts. Learn how you can do a birthday fundraiser on Facebook.