What’s your favorite Smart Recycling post? Here are a few of ours.
Smart Recycling from A to Z
Tips/Articles
Christmas Tree & Holiday Light Collection Locations and Dates (2023/2024)
Are you looking to mulch a live Christmas tree or recycle holiday lights? Scroll down to see the… Read more »
Letter R and the “R-Word” Checklist
Think Resource Not “Waste” We know that recycling is more than tossing things into the blue bin. In… Read more »
ABC’s of Smart Recycling – Green Living 2023 (M-Z)
Recycling topics from M-Z
Trash into Treasure!
Crafty ideas for re-use projects you CAN do. Build yourself a family of critters using corks. Corks, pushpins,… Read more »
Get Your Students Involved in the 2021 Pumpkin Smash!
Just as last year, this year the Pumpkin Smash continues in the spirit of protecting the good health… Read more »
Participate in World Car Free Day
Wednesday, September 22 is World Car Free Day. In our car-dependent world, we often don’t even think about… Read more »
August is National Crayon Collection Month!
If you know SCARCE, you know we’re all about the little things that add up. Namely the small,… Read more »
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money with Energy Efficient Home Upgrades
The need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change is urgent. What can… Read more »
Three Ways to Get Your Students Involved in the Pumpkin Smash
This year the Pumpkin Smash continues in the spirit of protecting the good health of our entire planet…. Read more »
Are Energy Vampires lurking in your home?
October is National Energy Awareness month. Help our planet and your wallet by rooting out the energy vampires… Read more »
Light Pollution Harms Life on Earth but the Solutions are Simple
When was the last time that you looked up at the sky to count the stars? If you… Read more »
A Buffet of Resources to Fight Food Waste
Stocking up on food so you can do fewer grocery runs these days? Learn how to make your… Read more »
Fast Fashion is a Bad Deal for the Planet
Did you know that the average adult in the U.S. buys about 70 articles of clothing each year?… Read more »
4 Habits to Start for Plastic Free July
Plastic pollution is a global issue with plastics being found everywhere from the Mariana Trench to rainfall and… Read more »
Outdoor Water-Smart Practices to Fight Climate Change
About 30% of the average American household’s water consumption is used outdoors. More than half of that is… Read more »
7 Eco-friendly Tips to Stay Cool this Summer
Summer heat can have us all cranking the AC to stay cool but whoa! What an energy suck… Read more »
Growing Green: Are you watering with a toxic garden hose?
Do you consider yourself an eco-conscious gardener? Perhaps you compost. You use a rain barrel. You’ve got native… Read more »
Recycling During COVID-19
Doing your part to reduce the spread of coronavirus effort extends all the way to your recycling. Believe it… Read more »
April showers bring….seasonal flooding
As many a homeowner knows, flooding is a major issue in the midwest. Not only does it impact… Read more »
5 Energy Saving Tips for Earth Hour
On March 28th people worldwide will turn out the lights for Earth Hour, a grassroots movement that is… Read more »
Simple Water and Money-Saving Tips for Fix a Leak Week
Did you know that over 1 trillion gallons of water is wasted each year in the U.S. due… Read more »
Holiday Clean Up, Green Up: How to Avoid Dumping the Decorations
The holidays have come and gone and now it’s time to put away the decorations. Don’t let your decorating… Read more »
Plant a Tree, Save the Planet
In 2020, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd. In honor of this momentous… Read more »
Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Ideas
Holiday shopping can feel overwhelming so to help we’ve put together a list of ideas to make eco-friendly… Read more »
Upcycled Craft: CD Snowman
Are you looking for a simple winter craft for your classroom? Consider this simple and fun way to… Read more »
Upcycled Craft: Weaving with Plastic Bags on a Pizza Box Loom
Thank you to former SCARCE team member Jane Hiller for sharing this craft! You can use plastic bags… Read more »
5 Common Recycling Mistakes and their Zero Waste Swaps
November 15th is America Recycles Day. In honor of the day, do an annual recycling check-up to make… Read more »
How to Recycle Contact Lenses
SCARCE does NOT accept contact lenses or packaging. According to the CDC about 45 million Americans wear contact… Read more »
Repel Mosquitoes with a Dragonfly Garden
Summer is in full swing. That means more time enjoying the outdoors at BBQs, the beach or pool,… Read more »
What to Do with Locker Leftovers
Instead of throwing away unwanted school supplies, consider organizing an eco-friendly collection to help others in need. In… Read more »
Is Your School Air Aware? An Indoor Air Quality Primer
May 7th is World Asthma Day, part of Air Quality Awareness Week April 29th-May 3rd. Asthma is an… Read more »
Recycling FAQ: Medical Equipment & Supplies
SCARCE does NOT accept used medical equipment or supplies. Please reference the resources in below. If you have… Read more »
Eco-Friendly School Fundraiser: Seed Sale
Are you tired of fundraisers that promote unhealthy foods or wasteful products? Check out this opportunity for a… Read more »
Hot Topics: January 2019
Hot Topics highlights eco-news from the past month worth another mention. Click through for links to the original stories…. Read more »
10 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Backyard BBQ
Just in time for BBQ season, these tips will help you declare independence from trash at your next… Read more »
Hot Topics: July 2018
Hot Topics highlights eco-news from the past month worth another mention. Click through for links to the original stories…. Read more »
Projects & Programs for Schools
Whether it’s a field trip, community project, or school-wide initiative you want to tackle give us a call… Read more »
Recycling FAQ: Binders
As we head into our busiest season we thought we would highlight something that we get a lot… Read more »
Food Waste Reduction Teaching Resources
Tackling food waste is one of the best things you can do to conserve resources and combat climate… Read more »
Recycling FAQ: Trophies
SCARCE does not offer trophy recycling. Scroll down for a list of programs offered by other organizations. Nowadays,… Read more »
Conduct a Litter Audit at Your Next Clean Up
Similarly to a lunchroom waste audit, a litter audit helps you get a more informed picture of… Read more »
Hot Topics February 2018
Reduce Your Climate Change Impact In 10 Minutes Or Less: Opt Out of Phone Book Delivery Thanks to… Read more »
Wipes Clog Pipes! ‘Flushable’ is Not What it Seems
Despite what their labeling may claim, ‘flushable’ wet wipes are wreaking havoc on our sewer systems. Though they may… Read more »
Let’s Resolve to Feed Kids: Start a School Food Share
Resolve to Take Action this Year to Combat Hunger and Food Waste at Your School SCARCE has worked… Read more »
Hot Topics January 2018
A selection of environmental news and things-to-know. Scroll down to view each brief synopsis, click the title for… Read more »
Shovel More, Salt Less: Eco-Friendly Snow and Ice Management
The winter season is in full force as we enter the new year. As the burden of snow… Read more »
Green Resolution: Reduce the Size of Your Waste
A new year marks a time for many of us to set a goal for the upcoming… Read more »
Holiday Recycling Wrap-Up
How to Waste Less and Recycle Right this Holiday Season During the holidays the average American throws away… Read more »
What NOT to Put in With Your Yard Waste
Just as it is important to recycle properly so as not to contaminate the recycling stream (and potentially… Read more »
It’s Energy Awareness Month – Just in Time to Prep for Cold Weather
With the cold, darker months approaching, October is the perfect time to gauge your energy use. We have… Read more »
Ideas to Highlight Energy Awareness Month at School
Kids and adults alike often take for granted the fact that we can flip a switch, plug into… Read more »
Wondering What to Do with Your Eclipse Glasses?
Despite how scarce eclipse glasses seemed to be, millions of them were produced and sold in advance of… Read more »
Eco-Service Collection Projects for Your School
Help the Earth & Stay Engaged Planning activities to keep your eco-club active and engaged all year can… Read more »
Beat the Heat Without Breaking the Bank – or the Environment
Looking for ways to reduce the impact summertime air conditioning has on your wallet and the environment? There’s… Read more »
Eco-Friendly Tips for Back-to-School Shopping
Can you believe it’s already time for back-to-school preparations? Before you hit the stores to stock up for… Read more »
Is Your Driveway Toxic? What to Know Before You Seal
Re-sealing your asphalt driveway is an important step to make it last longer. Making things last as long… Read more »
How to Retire Old Glory: Respect the Flag and the Environment
Lots of people fly the American flag to show their appreciation for our country’s history and freedoms. If… Read more »
Looking to Donate? Read This!
Summer is upon us and that means school, classroom and home clean-outs. All those clean-outs translate to SCARCE’s… Read more »
Get your Students Buzzing about Pollinator Week
National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can… Read more »
Tips for an Eco-Friendly Father’s Day
Father’s Day is just around the corner. There are plenty of opportunities to have an eco-friendly day and… Read more »
Ditch the Disposables, Go Strawless
Did you know that in the U.S. alone we use and discard 500 million plastic straws every… Read more »
Take Action to Reduce Air Pollution for Asthma Awareness Month
Asthma affects 1 in 13 people in the US. Whether or not your life has been impacted by… Read more »
8 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Garden
1. Use a Lead-free hose You read that correctly. Most garden hoses contain lead. It is used as… Read more »
Hot Topics March 2017
A handful of important articles from the news and other environmental organizations from the past month. Scroll down and… Read more »
Learn to Be Idle-Free: A Jumpstart for Clean Air & Healthy Lungs
SCARCE wants to help your organization be Idle-free. Eliminating vehicle idling promotes healthier air, healthier kids, and saves… Read more »
5 Simple Ways to be Kind to the Earth
February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. It presents us with the opportunity to focus on being kind… Read more »
New Year’s Resolutions: New Year, Greener You
Many of us make New Year’s resolutions with the goal to better our lives in some way –… Read more »
Hot Topics December 2016
A handful of important articles from the news and other environmental organizations from the past month. Scroll down and… Read more »
Key Collection Unlocks Inspiring Environmental Programs
SCARCE is known for collecting certain things – books, school supplies, crayons – but we also have a… Read more »
Trim Your Waste with Holiday Light Recycling Programs
Each year around the holidays it’s the same routine: pull out the decorations, untangle the lights, and test… Read more »
Green Books for Your Classroom: The Water Factory, The Curious Garden, Winnie Finn Worm Farmer
The Water Factory by John Sheaffer Clean water is everybody’s concern. This book will help you and… Read more »
Recycle Cooking Oil into Fuel and Prevent Costly Sewer Clogs
The holiday cooking season is approaching. If you’re planning on deep frying a turkey, or anything else for… Read more »
Hot Topics November 2016
A handful of important articles from the news and other environmental organizations from the past month. Scroll down and… Read more »
Lunchroom Food Sharing Programs Curb Waste and Feed Kids
This is Part 2 of a series. Read Part 1. The new Illinois food donation law for schools allows… Read more »
Fluorescent Bulbs: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Good: Fluorescent bulbs and CFLs save energy. They are 75% more efficient than a regular incandescent bulb and… Read more »
Eco-Extraordinaires October 2016
Roselle Hosts First Recycling Extravaganza The Village of Roselle held their first-ever community Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, September… Read more »
Eco-Extraordinaires September 2016
District 45 Composts! In an effort to reduce their waste, Villa Park School District 45 is introducing commercial… Read more »
#PickUp5 Litter Clean-up Initiative
Litter. It’s ugly. It’s dirty. Nobody likes it but everyone sees it around their neighborhood, school, or workplace…. Read more »
Keep your kids safe from Coal Tar!
Spring is in the air. Time to get out there and clean up our yards from winter…. Read more »
