January
2010
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Green Bulletin
Upcoming Environmental Events |
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This newsletter was created by SCARCE and funded by the DuPage County Board.
Robert Schillerstrom, Chairman
DuPage County Environmental Committee Members:
Jeff Redick, Chairman -- Linda Kurzawa -- Michael McMahon
Debra Olson -- Rita Gonzalez -- Anthony Michelassi _________________________________________________________________________ | |
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United Nations: 2010 is the Year of Biodiversity
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"The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity.
It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives.
The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity."
The launch of the International Year of Biodiversity will be held on January 11, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. To find out more about the campaign or to locate other happenings throughout the year, just click the link, International Year of Biodiversity.
For more information about biodiversity and the 2010 objectives, log onto Count Down 2010
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SCARCE in the News
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 Thanks to Channel 7 ABC News for Recognizing
SCARCE's Book Rescue
On December 4th, ABC aired a story about the Book Rescue and Super Crayons Programs in its "Live Green with ABC7" segment. Click on the links to view the ABC7 Book Rescue Video Clipor the ABC7 Book Rescue Article. ___________________________________________________ The Book Rescue is now taking ALL TYPES & LEVELS of Books
including COLLEGE BOOKS & TEXTBOOKS! |
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IL Composting Grant Applications Accepted Beginning January 4
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The Illinois state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced a new grant program aimed at increasing composting in the state.
The Food Scrap
Composting Grant program will be administered by DCEO and will assist
entities with the acquisition of equipment for sustainable projects
that will increase the long-term volume of organic material being
composted in Illinois. For more information on the Food Scrap Composting Grant program visit www.illinoisrecycles.com or call 217-785-2006.
Also click on DCEO Composting Grant
Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com
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DuPage Environmental Summit - Jan. 7th
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Preserving Open Space & Green Infrastructure in the Built Environment
Krasa Center at Benedictine University, Lisle
Thursday, January 7, 2010 - 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This summit is for anyone interested in preserving the green, open space in DuPage County. There will be presentations by industry experts, professional exhibits and networking opportunities. Summit is FREE of charge and open to the public, however, registration is requested. For more details or to register, call, fax or email Carrie Thompson at 630.428.4500x10, cthompson@theconservationfoundation.org or (fax) 630.428.4599. Click on the link to download a brochure, DPC Environmental Summit BrochureFor directions and a campus map, click the link Bendictine UnivLunch may be purchased on campus for $6/person.
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Willowbrook Wildlife Center Can REUSE Your Christmas Tree
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Help the Animals by Providing Havens with Your Old Tree
Willowbrook Wildlife Center will take your Live Christmas Trees - they are actually being REUSED within the preserve.
- All Ornaments and Lights MUST be Removed - No Tinsel or Garland
Please call before bringing your tree - 630.942.6200 ext. 0.
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Non-Profits Helping One Another Meeting - Jan. 14th |
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Locking Arms to Continue the Cause
Meeting at SCARCE, 799 Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn
January 14 - Noon to 2:30 p.m.
Do you work at a non-profit organization? Are you always looking for support?
We've got an event for you!
You are cordially invited to a non-profit outreach meeting at SCARCE.
Join us for lunch and discover the many ways we can help each other.
This is a great opportunity to increase awareness about services
provided by other non-profit organizations and how to better serve our
communities. Here's to a new year filled with collaboration between
DuPage County non-profit organizations!
Date: January 14, 2010
Location: SCARCE, 799 Roosevelt Road, Building 2, Suite 108, Glen Ellyn
Time: noon - 2:30 pm (lunch provided)
RSVP: ecoed@sbcglobal.net or call 630.545.9710
Enjoy Lunch Network with Other Non-Profit Orgs Bring Your Organization "Wish List" Remember to Bring Your Business Card
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EPA FY 10 Proposal for Source Reduction Assistance Grant
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 Due Date: February 4, 2010
State and local governments, tribes, universities, school districts, and non-profits are eligible for this grant program.
The purpose of these awards is to support environmental projects that reduce or eliminate pollution at the source.
For more information, use the link SRA Grant Program 2010
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"Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice" Video Contest
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Due Date: February 16, 2010
The
EPA is sponsoring a video contest highlighting the 3Rs with the title
"Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice." Cash prizes are available for 1st,
2nd, 3rd places and (2) Student Winners (13 to 18 years old).
For all of the details, click the link EPA "Three Rs" of Consumer Waste
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Put Your Best "Carbonless" Foot Forward in 2010
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 We Can All Make a Difference!
As more and more reports surface which discuss the harmful effects of many of our actions on the Earth, there are many little things that each one of us can do that add up to make a big difference. Many of them, though seemingly small, have a big impact.
The EPA has a new website designed to help GREEN your home. Just choose a room in the house and a page of suggestions will appear. The tips range from simple things like those listed below to suggestions for choosing flooring and VOC-free paints and furniture. Click on EPA Green Homes.
- Turn off the lights, TV, computer monitor when you don't need them
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or doing dishes (don't leave it running the whole time)
- Check to see if your toilet is leaking
- Don't leave your car idling when it is parked
- Change any old incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs (or better yet, LED bulbs)
- Use a programmable thermostat and keep the winter temperature at or below 70 degrees
- Plan your errands to accomplish several in one trip
- Check tire pressure so they stay properly inflated
- Keep your car tuned up in good working order
- Shop for locally grown and made food or other items
- Use both sides of the paper - we print off many internet items that later end up in recycling - use the back side of a used piece of paper for such printing
- Download and use ECOFONT- this font has small holes in the letters and using 20% less ink (this saves you $ and makes recycling paper easier)
Want more ideas? Here are a few sites for you to check out:
Green Energy Sustainability
Earth 911
Global Stewards
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Don't Let VAMPIRE Energy Suck Your Wallet Dry...
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Start the New Year by Getting Rid of the Vampires and Phantoms that Haunt You!
Americans spend over $3 BILLION a year on electronics that are turned OFF! Click on the chart found in Good Magazine to see what energy the average electronic uses when it is turned off.
As energy bills skyrocket, there is a way to take control of your usage. Plug your electronics into a power strip and then plug that into your surge protector. Leave the surge protector on, but turn the power strip off when not in use. This will stop the electricity from continuing to flow while still protecting your electronics from electrical surges.
To measure just how much electricity is used by a particular electronic device, you can use a Kill A Watt. The Kill A Watt is an energy meter which measures the amount of electricity used by an appliance. Try plugging in your cell phone charger without the cell phone plugged - it's a clear case of Vampire Energy!
Kill A Watt information.
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Senate Bill 1919 - Making the Water Safer
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SB1919 - The Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act
Governor Pat Quinn signed this Act which goes into effect January 1, 2010.
"It provides that except for medications contained in
intravenous fluids, syringes, or transdermal patches, no health care
institution nor any employee, staff person, contractor, or other person
acting under the direction or supervision of a health care institution,
may discharge, dispose of, flush, pour, or empty any unused medication
into a public wastewater collection system or septic system."
You can help keep our water clean! It is good to remember that no one should flush or pour their old medications down the drain where they will end up in our water. DuPage County has provided FREE prescription and OTC medication drop off.
The Rx Box Program
Unwanted medicine excluding regulated medicines/controlled substances can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
- DuPage Sheriff; 501 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton
- Carol Stream Police Department; 500 N. Gary Ave.
- Bloomingdale Police Department; 2015 Bloomingdale Rd.
- Lisle Police Department, 5040 Lincoln Ave.
- Burr Ridge Police Department; 7660 County Line Rd.
- Addison Police Department; 3 Friendship Plaza
- Wood Dale Police Department; 404 N. Wood Dale Rd.
- Glendale Heights Police Department; 300 Civic Center Plaza
- Schaumburg Police Department; 1000 W. Schaumburg Rd.
- Lemont Police Department; 416 Main St.
- Oak Brook Police Department; 1200 Oak Brook Rd.
- Wheaton Police Department, 900 W Liberty
To Drop Off Medication:
Remove old/unwanted medications from their containers and put in a ziploc-type bag. If the medication is liquid, leave it in its container, but be sure to block out any personal information from the label.
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It's Tax Time Again!
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Tax Credits for 2009 Energy Efficient Items
Here is the Federal Government's site for 2009 tax credits related to energy efficiency changes you made to your home or business as well as appliance/others items you may have purchased.
Energy Star Tax Credits for 2009
Courtesy
of the US Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR Program
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Recycle Your Old Computer
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Recycle that Old Refrigerator for FREE
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Plus, receive $25 for your appliance
 Do you have an old refrigerator that is no longer needed or just keeping the soda cool? Consider recycling it with ComEd.
Those old, inefficient refrigerators which were made without current energy saving standards may be costing you more than you know. According to ComEd, that old appliance could be using up to 5 times more energy than a new one and costing over $150 more in electric bills.
If you are a ComEd customer, they will
- Pick up your refrigerator or freezer (or old room air conditioner) for FREE
- Pay you $25
- Dismantle and recycle of as many of the refrigerator parts as possible and properly dispose of any remaining parts
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Contact
Us |
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Our Team
Kay McKeen, Director
Steve Kenny * Linda Knapp * Shefali Trivedi * Katie O'Brien * Erin Kennedy
Kris Salmen * Carol Richart * Sue Tripp * Sam Knapp * Nicole Johnston
Environmental Education Programs are operated
by SCARCE
(School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education)
website: www.s-c-a-r-c-e.org
This newsletter is part of the Teacher Training Program funded by DuPage County.
Our Professional Development Provider Number: 100363
The mention of a specific product or company is not an endorsement by DuPage County's Environmental Education Program.
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