Come to the Green Side


ATHLETIC SHOE RECYCLING PROJECT
November 22, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Local Drop-off Sites, Recycling

Bring your old athletic shoes to the collection bin at the Hoffman Estates Community Center & Ice Arena (CCIA) and prevent thousands of shoes from taking up space in our landfills.  The CCIA is located at 1685 W. Higgins Road.

The Hoffman Estates Park District is sponsoring this event with the Chicago Wolves and the Solid Waste Agency of Cook County (SWANCC).  

Shoes must be clean athletic shoes with no metal. Please no Vans, dress shoes, cleats, sandals, or boots.

Through this program, old athletic shoes collected will be shredded at Nike’s Oregon facility and made into “Regrind”, a material that goes into making new sports surfaces and fields, such as basketball and tennis courts, soccer and football fields and running tracks. Additionally, Nike donates sports courts, tracks and fields to communities world wide to encourage kids to be more physically active.



GET YOUR OLD REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER HAULED AWAY FOR FREE–AND EARN $25!
November 15, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Recycling

If you have an old, working refrigerator or freezer that is between 10 and 30 cubic feet and is easily accessible with a clear path for removal, ComEd will pick it up for free!  And pay you $25 per applicance! 

  • You must be a current ComEd customer.
  • Room air conditioners are accepted at the same time although no rebate is available for those.
  • Each customer is limited to two appliances and one air conditioner.
  • The customer must be 18 years or older.
  • The program is first come, first served.

refrigeratorCall 1-888-806-2273 between 7am-8pm M-F and 9am-5pm Saturday for more information.  Or schedule a time online.



WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BUSINESS WASTE?
October 11, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Environment, Green Tips, Recycling

Illinois EPAFor the average household, there are multiple, advertised environmental fairs, hazardous waste collections, dropoffs and recycling events that are all FREE.  For the average business it can be difficult to find a way to be green and operate economically. 

The Illinois EPA has one way to help.  They have set up an Industrial Material Exchange that allows businesses to post both the materials they have available for recycling or materials they would like to obtain for their own uses.  Check  out the website here.



RECYCLING SMOKE DETECTORS
October 4, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Hazardous Wastes, Recycling

Smoke detectorSince most smoke detectors contain small amounts of radioactive materials, they are not readily accepted at most hazardous waste dropoffs.   Federal regulations stipulate that all smoke detector packaging must contain the company’s mail back address so that they may be disposed of properly.  Please call the company for instructions on mailing the detctors back properly.

BRK ELECTRONICS:

Accepts BRK and First Alert smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  Will accept 4 for free and then charge $1 per additional unit.
www.brkelectronics.com
1-800-323-9005

Based in Aurora, IL

For more info:  www.epa.gov/radtown/smoke-detector.html



SMALL ELECTRONICS RECYCLING WITH HOFFMAN ESTATES
September 27, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Local Drop-off Sites, Recycling

HE village hallIn coordination with Recycling Avenue, the Village of Hoffman Estates is sponsoring a small electronics dropoff at the Village Hall.  Take your used laptops, ink cartridges, cell phones, digital cameras and MP3 players to 1900 Hassell Road.  They are open Monday 8:30 to 8:00, Tuesday through Friday 8:30 to 5:00 and Saturday 9:00 to noon.  The time frame for accepting electronic items is indefinite.

Items not accepted are computer monitors, towers, fax machines, TVs, DVD players or any other large electronic. 

For more information, please visit www.recyclingavenue.com



COMMUNITY SHRED DAY
September 13, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Local Drop-off Sites, Recycling, Upcoming Events

Shredding eventState Representative Fred Crespo, in conjunction with AT&T Illinois and the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce, is giving you the FREE opportunity to shred those old documents and paperwork in your home or office.  

The shredding will take place at Rep. Crespo’s  Constituent Service office at:
1014 E. Schaumburg Road
Streamwood

September 26, 2009 from 9:00 to Noon

There is a limit of three boxes per constituent.

For questions, or to RSVP, please call Rep. Crespo’s office at 630-372-3340.



HANOVER PARK RECYCLING EVENT
September 6, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Recycling, Upcoming Events

Recyling EventHere’s your chance to participate in a one-stop dropoff of many of the recyclable items in your home!  The Village of Hanover Park and the Hanover Park Environmental Committee are sponsoring a major recycling event to be held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Pack up your car and take your items to the Hanover Park Municipal Complex at 2121 W. Lake Street in Hanover Park.  All items are either recycled or donated to charity.  As a thank you for participating, all cars will receive one free CFL bulb while supplies last.

Accepted items are:
-  Bicycles in working, usable condition
-  Personal documents for shredding.  3 boxes maximum.  No businesses.  Paper clips and staples okay.
-  Motor oil and antifreeze
-  Eye glasses, hearing aids and keys
-  Scrap metal
-  Large lead acid batteries from cars, sump pumps, SLAs and boats
-  American flags
-  Cell phones and ink-jet cartridges
-  CFL bulbs
-  Clean, usable clothing for children and adults
-  Fire extinguishers
-  Household office equipment and electronic items.  (Computers, monitors, TVs, VCRs, stereos, microwave ovens, video game equipment, etc. )  All items in this category are recycled. 

Unaccepted items are:  Large appliances, air conditioners, water heaters, garbage disposals, propane tanks, compressed air tanks, smoke detectors, radioactive materials, ammunition, explosives, hazardous wastes, household batteries, paint, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical waste of any kind, business waste or regular garbage.

For further information and to volunteer, contact 630-550-5005.



DOCUMENT SHREDDING FOR OUR SWANCC COMMUNITIES–HOFFMAN ESTATES AND ELK GROVE VILLAGE
August 16, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Recycling, Upcoming Events

shredded documentsWhat:  Document cross-shredding event for SWANCC residents.  Proof of residency in a member community is required.

Documents include:  bank statements, medical forms, personal files, retired tax forms, receipts, etc.  Remove large metal clips and binders.  Staples and paper clips are acceptable.  Documents should be put in a box or bag.

When:  Saturday, August 29, 2009.  9:00 to 11:00  a.m.

Where:  Elk Grove Village Hall
                 901 Wellington Ave.

Info:  www.swancc.org or 847-724-9205



REUSE A SHOE–A NEW WAY TO GET RID OF YOUR OLD GYM SHOES!
August 2, 2009, 7:00 am
Filed under: Local Drop-off Sites, Recycling

Old ShoeAre your closets full of everyone’s old gym shoes now that school is almost here?  Has it been difficult to make yourself throw away all of those old pairs of running shoes?   The Schaumburg Township District Library is happy to help. 

We are sponsoring a used athletic shoe dropoff at the library for the week of August 17-23.  Drop-off bins will be available at the Central Library in Schaumburg and at the Hanover Park and Hoffman Estates Branches.   All shoes will be donated to Nike who will turn them into Nike Grind, a material used in sport’s surfaces, parks and playgrounds.

We will accept:  running shoes, gym shoes, walking shoes and court shoes 
We will NOT accept:  shoes with metal eyelets, zippers, batteries, cleats or spikes.  No other kind of dress or casual shoe will be accepted.   

So, clean out your closets, basement and garage and help us clean up the environment!



WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE STYROFOAM PACKING PEANUTS?
June 16, 2009, 7:52 pm
Filed under: Local Drop-off Sites, Recycling

styrofoam peanutsHow many packages have you opened only to have those pesky stryofoam peanuts come spilling out?  As a packing material, these peanuts act as a great cushion but, in order to keep them out of a landfill, it is necessary to reuse them.  In Schaumburg Township these peanuts can be taken to Pak Mail.  They are one of the Peanut Hotline Collection sites and are  generously accepting peanuts from the public–as well as conducting a Cell Phones for Soldiers program.  So, take your peanuts and phones to:

Pak Mail
2511 W. Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL   60194
847-594-3355