December 2019 Eco-Extraordinaires

Check out this month’s local leaders in green.

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

Pumpkin Smash Hosts Bring Sustainability to Community Halloween Celebrations

On November 2nd, SCARCE was joined by dozens of organization in bringing the annual Pumpkin Smash to our respective communities. Big kudos go out to all the people and organizations that took part in the 6th annual Pumpkin Smash including hosts and volunteers. They include public works agencies, churches, school groups, environmental commissions, non-profits and more. Thanks to our collective efforts, residents in over 51 communities, including several outside of Illinois, had the option to drop-off their pumpkins for composting after Halloween. Together, we diverted over 123 tons of organic waste from landfills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, returned water back to our soil, and spread awareness about composting. Thank you to everyone involved – you are creating a brighter future for people and the planet!

Local Government Leaders: Village of Barlett, Village of Carol Stream, City of Elmhurst, Village of Lisle, Village of Villa Park, City of West Chicago Environmental Commission, Westmont Environmental Improvement Commission, Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission, Madison County, Chicago 19th Ward Alderman O’Shea, City of Elgin, City of Evanston, Kane County, Village of Glencoe, Village of Gurnee, Village of Hoffman Estates, La Grange Park Sustainability Commission, Sustain Libertyville Commission, Village of Libertyville, Village of Mount Prospect, City of Park Ridge, Will County, Village of Skokie, St. Charles Natural Resources Commission, Village of Westchester, Village of Western Springs, Village of Wilmette, Village of Winnetka, Chicago Southland Green Committee, City of Newton (MA) Recycling

Organizations & Schools: Hinsdale South High School ECO club (Darien), Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South AP Environmental Science classes, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Elmwood Elementary (Naperville), Naperville Park District, First United Methodist Church of West Chicago Green Disciples, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Cary Park District, University of Illinois Extension – Cook County, Chicago Master Gardeners, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, Christopher Elementary School (Christopher), Pushing the Envelope Farm, College of Lake County Sustainability Club and CLC Engineering Club, Grayslake Library, Grayslake Central High School, Woodland Intermediate School (Gurnee), Tamblyn Family Farm, Mundelein Park District, Roosevelt Middle School (River Forest), Lewis University Physics Club, Tinley Park Park District, Dunwoody Nature Center (Atlanta, GA), College of William & Mary (VA), Lafayette Memorial Park & Mausoleum

Haulers & Composters: Groot Industries, Waste Management, Lakeshore Recycling Systems, Republic Services, Roy Strom, Homewood/Nuway Disposal, St. Louis Composting, Midwest Compost, Chicago Botanic Garden, Thelan Sand & Gravel, Organix Recycling, Midwest Material, Christianson Farms Premium Compost Supplier

Milton Township Joins Year-Round Cooking Oil Collection

In mid-November Milton Township officially began collecting liquid cooking oil for recycling. They join nine other locations around DuPage County collecting cooking oil from the public year-round. By providing recycling, community members have a responsible method to dispose of cooking oil. This prevents dumping in storm drains, protects pipes from clogs, and creates a cleaner burner fuel. Hooray Milton Township!

Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills Offer Food Scrap Composting to Residents

Just earlier this fall, the villages of Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale both began offering food scrap composting curbside for residents. Both are an opt-in, subscription based program through their waste haulers and run seasonally April-November. They join seven other towns in DuPage County that offer curbside food scrap composting to their residents. Way to go!

Pop-Up Cooking Oil Drop-off Sites Help Make Recycling Easier for Residents

Each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving a handful of towns provide a temporary drop-off location for residents to recycle their used cooking oil. In addition to four permanent collection sites, the towns of Elmhurst and Roselle offered residents the option to drop off cooking oil locally making it easier for their residents to properly dispose of leftover or expired cooking oil. This event was first organized by SCARCE in 2013 and helps prevent sewer clogs and protect water quality after a holiday that may have some families deep-frying turkeys in upwards of 4 gallons of vegetable oil. Thank you to both the permanent and pop-up locations for providing this service over the holiday weekend!