Greetings! 
Happy Holidays!
This has been a phenomenal environmental year for Illinois! Everyone has a reason to celebrate. So many schools and businesses have been taking steps to reduce their carbon footprints and make an impact on the world around them. The response has been overwhelming, and
the support from you has been great!
We wish you a very "GREEN" Holiday season!
Environmentally yours,
The SCARCE Team
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 Recycle Electronics Before the End of the Year!
Mark Your Calendars!
Electronics Recycling Programs
ending December 31, 2009!
December 12
Addison Twnshp, Public Works, 411 W Potter, Wood Dale, 8am-Noon
December 19
Downers Grove Twnshp, Public Works Bld, 318 E Quincy, 8am-Noon
December 5
Bloomingdale Twnshp, Annex Bldg, 123 N Rosedale Rd, 8am-Noon
Wheaton, Wheaton Public Works, W Liberty, 9am-Noon
Monday - Friday (call to verify last date for drop-off)
Hanover Park, Public Works Facility, 2121 W. Lake St., 8am-4pm, 630-372-4200
Monday - Friday (call to verify last date for drop-off)
Glendale Heights, Public Works Facility 1635 Glen Ellyn Rd, 9am-3pm, 630-462-7418
1st & 3rd Monday (until 12/21)
Wood Dale, 269 W. Irving Park Rd., Noon-3pm
ACCEPTED ITEMS:
TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cameras, computers/laptops, copiers, cords, discs, electric typewriters, fax/adding machines, hard drives, keyboards, mice, monitors, PDAs, printers, scanners, small kitchen appliances, radios, speakers, stereos, telephones, zip drives.
Do you need information other RECYCLING? Go to:
DuPage County Recycling Guide and Recycling Services.
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 A Brown Cow or a White Cow - Which Gives Better Milk?
Recent news has brought to light the chocolate vs. white milk controversy in schools. Several schools/districts in the area have stopped serving their students chocolate milk. Arguments have ensued on both sides of the issue: Does chocolate milk contribute to obesity or is the loss of calcium intake due to less students drinking milk more important?
With rising concern about the dehydration of our kids during the school day, this controversy makes a difference. Marilee Sprenger's research (Sprenger, 1999) showed that poor behavior increased during the second half of the day in middle school because students make poorer choices when they become dehydrated throughout the school day.
Some students in Lake Forest School District 67 had independently approached their principal last year to conduct a study to find out. Many students as well as teachers contend that if kids cannot buy chocolate milk they will simply bring other sugared beverages like juice or sports drinks.
This information becomes notable in actual numbers as SCARCE goes into schools to conduct Waste Audits. Schools use the Waste Audit information to help reduce the amount of natural resources which are going to the landfill. Some of those wasted natural resources are recyclable materials, but the majority of them (usually more than 50%) are food scraps. Just this past month, SCARCE conducted a Waste Audit at a small elementary school where over 30 lbs. (approx. 4 gallons)
of white milk was collected from the garbage because, as the 6th graders told us, the milk just doesn't taste good. DuPage County funds us to do Waste Audits. To schedule one, call 630.545.9710 or email ecoed@sbcglobal.net.
It is important to find solutions to these and other lunchtime problems because the impact is felt on many levels. To learn more about Waste Audits, click on the link for SCARCE.
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 To Hand Sanitize or Not to Sanitize?
That is the Question Plaguing Flu-Infested Schools
With the threat of influenza and H1N1, many schools have opted to use hand sanitizers to try to prevent the spread of germs. This has raised a number of questions about the safety of the sanitizer. Concerns have arisen about the high alcohol content and flammability, as well as the possibility of poisoning younger students who may put their hands or fingers in their mouths. Specific arguments and cases have been identified in several articles. It is a difficult situation for schools who need to consider all aspects of the issues.
For news articles, click on the links. Chicago Tribune - Hand Sanitizer vs Soap or Swine Flu Updates-Center for Disease Control or Chicago Tribune-Hand Sanitizer.
If you need more information about the flu, the DPC Health Department has provided this link, H1N1-A Guide for Parents.
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  Make it a BPA-free Zone
As you are searching for gifts in this holiday season, be sure to avoid products containing Bisphenol A. Studies (link: Dr. Urvashi Rangan-director of technology policy at Consumers Union) are now showing that BPA has been linked to sexual problems, so the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences are funding a study to see what kind of health threats are posed to the public in general.
"BPA is a chemical used primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. People, including children, are exposed to BPA in food and beverages when it leaches from the internal epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and also from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles and baby bottles. In 2008, NTP and NIEHS concluded that there is evidence from animal studies that BPA may be causing adverse effects. But researchers are uncertain about whether the changes seen in the animal studies would result in human health problems. For this reason, NIEHS identified BPA as a priority area." (link:NIEHS - BPA).
Some pizza boxes are coated with BPA so as you plan your class' pizza party, ask your pizza supplier if their boxes are lined with BPA.
Some ways to avoid BPA is to buy/use
- unlined stainless steel water bottles
- reusable plates and cutlery
- glass/stainless steel food storage containers
Plus, using reusable things helps the environment by keeping throwaway items out of the landfill.
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  Is That Holiday Packaging Recyclable?
After all of the festivities and gift opening are done, a huge pile of used wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, boxes and other packaging are left behind. What to do with it all? Is it recyclable?
Here are a few guidelines to help:
Recyclable:
Non-metallic wrapping paper (NO bows, ribbons, strings, glitter)
All boxes and other paper
Plastics: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #7 (NOT styrofoam or #6)
All Aluminum (including rinsed off foil/foil pans used for cooking)
Metal cookie tins
Glass bottles from wine, beer, juice, etc.
Check your town's website for Christmas tree recycling (all decorative items removed from trees)
NOT Recyclable:
Bows, ribbons, strings, glitter
Shrink wrap/plastic wrap
Waxed paper
Plastic bubble packaging
Tinsel, garland
Styrofoam - not in residential recycling bins
Christmas lights (must be removed from trees along with ornaments, tinsel & garland)
Cooking oil for deep frying turkeys, etc. - do NOT take to Household Hazardous Waste facility
Something to think about from Earth911: "If every American family wrapped just 3 presents with reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields."
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Institute Day - February 26, 2010
Water Conservation: Water Quantity & Quality Issues
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
5 CPDUs
Water, water everywhere, but... What do you actually know about our water? How does it get here from Lake Michigan? How do we clean it? Are we really cleaning it? Why is stormwater management in the news? It's truly eye-opening!
Get on the bus with us & go to the DuPage Water Commission and Woodridge Green Valley Wastewater Treatment Facility. Learn to use our watershed and groundwater flow models.
Our workshops are jam-packed, fast-paced and filled with the resources, activities and ideas you need to make this come alive for your students while staying aligned with the Illinois State Learning Standards.
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Back by Popular Demand
SCARCE Summer Teacher Workshops
Information Coming Soon!
Hold the dates in June 2010:
Shed Those Watershed Blues - June 17 & 18
Where is Away? - June 21 - 25, plus 1/2 day in July
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Grants & Other Opportunities
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The National Gardening Association
3 Different Grants Available
Due Dates: January 10, February 6 & March 1, 2010
The National Gardening Association offers a variety of grants throughout the year.
- 2010 Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award
- 2010 Mantis Award
- 2010 Welch's Harvest Grant
Click on the link to find out more Kids Gardening Grants 2010.
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IL Zero Waste Schools Grant Program
Deadline: January 29, 2010
The Illinois DCEO has just posted the details and application for the Zero Waste Schools Grant.
If your school is trying to become "waste-free," where virtually all waste generated at the school is reduced, reused, or recycled, then you need to look at this grant.
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IL Biodiversity Field Trip Grant
Deadline: January 31, 2010
The Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Application is available at the DNR web site. Take your students on a field trip to study some aspect of Illinois' natural or cultural biodiversity.
Should you have any questions, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126.
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| 3Rs - Ripples Recommended Reading |
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
By: William Kamkwamba
Ages: MS and up
This is the inspiring true story of a 14 year old boy living in Malawi, Africa who literally changed the world around him with a dream and a library book. In 2002, when his family was wondering how it could survive, William decided to find a way to provide electricity to his family and, eventually, his village by using the scraps of things he could find around him and a book telling him how to build a wind mill. It is an amazing story. Click on the book to take you to William's website.
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Santa Claus Is Green!: How to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas
By: Alison Inches
Ages: 4 - 8 years
"Santa Claus is having a green Christmas! In the spirit of Christmas giving, Santa shows boys and girls that they can give to others while giving back to the Earth -- and have fun while they're doing it! Simple things like riding bicycles to the store rather than taking a car, turning the tree lights off during the day and before bedtime, taking the tree to the community mulching center, using discarded newspapers for gift wrap, and making decorations and presents for one another rather than buying new ones, are all ways that kids can help Santa have a green Christmas."
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Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life
By: Linda Sivertsen & Tosh Sivertsen
Ages: MS and up
This guide was written for teens by an 18 year old and his mother. a lot of useful tips and information together, and while it focuses on things that individuals can do on their own, it doesn't shy away from taking a look at bigger and more systemic environmental issues.
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The Big Green Purse
By: Diane MacEachern Ages: HS and up
How can a PURSE change the world? Just read this book to find out how the power of our purchasing really does make changes, and we can exercise that power toward good for the earth. "The more money you spend on green products, the more you encourage manufacturers to reduce pollution, save energy and water, use less packaging and protect natural areas."
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We are excited that Fave Crafts has offered to help us provide you with a monthly craft(s) made from reused and/or recycled materials. Below are some craft/gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. We hope you enjoy this new feature!
Check out their website, FaveCrafts.com.
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Puzzle Piece Reindeer/Wreath
Gather up spare puzzle pieces from incomplete or mixed-up puzzles (this always seems to happen with young kids). Paint the puzzle pieces green if you want to make a wreath. Use several different colors for a varied look. Allow to dry and glue together into a circle, layering the pieces. Tie a red bow at the bottom and hang with an ornament hanger or a ribbon. For the reindeer, paint the pieces brown and create a head by layering several together. Glue 1-2 pieces for each antler. Add a red pom pom for the nose and googly eyes.
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We wish you all an inspirational and joyful holiday season. The good you have already done can be, and that which you continue to do gives us a hopeful future.
We'll see you again in the New Year!
The SCARCE Team
Scarce Environmental Education | | |
DuPage County |
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SCARCE Green Gift Guide
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Still looking for that perfect gift?
Click on the link or the picture to take you to the products that we like.
SCARCE Green Gift Guide
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