January 2020 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.

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Earns Restoration Award

In November, Chicago Wilderness presented the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County with the platinum Excellence in Ecological Restoration Award for their work at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville. Once a farm, Springbrook Prairie has been revived over decades of work to be a regionally significant large grassland habitat and nature reserve. It is also home to a recently restored stretch of Spring Brook Creek #2, one of DuPage County’s highest quality streams. Well-managed natural areas benefit people and wildlife and help communities be more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Hip-hip-hooray for our forest preserves!

Thanksgiving Cooking Oil Pop-ups Collect Over 440 Gallons for Recycling

As part of an annual effort to protect waterways and pipes from cooking oil pollution, SCARCE and several community partners coordinate special holiday pop-ups for residents that may be frying a turkey come Thanksgiving. The goal is to increase awareness about cooking oil recycling and make it convenient for residents. This year, six locations were open special hours for residents to drop-off cooking oil for recycling on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Together, over 440 gallons of cooking oil were collected for recycling into biofuel. Pop-up hosts and partners in 2019 included the Downers Grove Sanitary Treatment Center, Glenbard Wastewater Authority, Elmhurst Public Works, Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility, City of Roselle, and the Wheaton Sanitary District. Thank you for your dedication!