Eco-Extraordinaires November 2020

Village of Clarendon Hills Presented with Earth & Water Quality flags by DuPage County and SCARCE

Congratulations to the Village of Clarendon Hills on earning the Earth Flag and Water Quality Flag from SCARCE and DuPage County. The Village went above and beyond to show their dedication to protecting the environment and clean waterways through a variety of efforts. They are the first municipality to earn both certifications. Some examples of the work they did include hosting their first community recycling event, facilitating environmental programs for Walker Elementary and Hinsdale Central High School, and collaborating with a the Village of Westmont on the Richmond Education Garden & Apiary. The Village is in the process of a downtown revitalization project that features green infrastructure and includes signage to educate visitors about eco-friendly practices. Hats off to you Clarendon Hills!

St. James the Apostle Catholic School Awarded Earth Flag

In October, St. James the Apostle Catholic School in Glen Ellyn was awarded the Earth Flag by SCARCE and DuPage County for their commitment to sustainability – and it was long overdue! The school began working with SCARCE during the 2019-2020 school year and completed their certification requirements just before schools closed down and the shelter-in-place order went into effect. We are so happy to have been able to finally present them with their Earth Flag in a socially-distant outdoor ceremony at the school with the 5th grade students, who helped lead the way during the certification process. Their efforts included improving their recycling program, educating students and teachers on proper recycling and eco-friendly practices, hosting an Earth Day prayer service and focusing on the environment during Catholic Schools week. Every student at the school also participated in a lunchroom waste audit. Fantastic work St. James!