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May 2009
FEATURED GROUP Lindy’s Landing Restaurant 115 Park Street in Wauconda After management at Lindy's Landing realized that they were going through 400 Styrofoam to-go containers per week, they decided to look into more environmentally-friendly options. In doing so, they found several other ‘green’ products that are great alternatives to daily use disposable items. One of their favorite new ‘green’ products is corn cups and lids that take the place of products commonly made of plastic. They also found disposable utensils made of corn byproducts. These cups, lids, and utensils are made of corn and are completely biodegradable. The solution to the to-go container issue is a recycled paper product that is also biodegradable. Although customers are a little apprehensive to use this non-traditional looking product, once they realize that they are environmentally friendly, they actually comment on how much they appreciate it.
TIPS FOR LIVING GREENER
As we get ready for warm weather, we should also think about how much water we use. We tend to think of water as a never-ending resource. But in many areas of the world, clean water is in short supply. Let’s not be wasteful of this vital part of our lives!
PLANT A TREE! Did you know that 10 trees will offset the carbon dioxide output of one US citizen for four months? Plant just 8 trees and you’ll cancel out four year’s worth of garbage. Even 4 trees will carbon-neutralize your washing machine for six years! A single tree will absorb one ton (yes, a whole ton) of carbon dioxide over its lifetime! CHECK YOUR APPLICANCES!
GO GREEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD CLEANING! We all need to clean our homes and cars, but we now have a choice as to the products that we use. The next time you’re in a store, consider buying the brand that is made from healthy, natural ingredients. It might cost a bit more, but it is better for the environment and better for you! What you breathe in and touch in the cleaning process can be harmful to your health. Fumes and residue can cause lasting ramifications on you and your family. Please consider ‘going green’ in your cleaning products – you’ll be happier and healthier if you do! HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL WASTE COLLECTION SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) will be sponsoring residential mobile HCW (Household Chemical Waste) collection events between now and October. If you are cleaning your basement, garage, or shed and have unwanted HCW items such as driveway sealer, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, lawn and garden chemicals, old gasoline, household cleaners, CFLs, unused medications/ prescriptions, alkaline and rechargeable household batteries, etc., take a look at the mobile collection event schedule posted at www.SWALCO.org. These events are for Illinois residents only and there is no charge. All mobile events are held on Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M., unless otherwise noted. You do not need to reside in the community where the collection takes place in order to participate. The next HCW mobile collection event is: Saturday, June 6 from 8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. at Lake Zurich Middle School (former North Campus), 66-100 Church St ., Lake Zurich , IL You can also bring your HCW to one of SWALCO’s Year-Round Drop-off Events at their Gurnee facility. An appointment is required. See www.SWALCO.org for more details. LATEX PAINT COLLECTION EVENT The Village of Wauconda will be hosting a Latex Paint Collection Event at the 3rd Annual Public Works Open House on Saturday, May 23rd from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. Earth Paints Collection Systems will be there to collect any unwanted latex paints. Help keep unwanted latex paint out of our landfills. All latex paint will be accepted in any condition and will be recycled into new customer product. For more information on latex paint recycling please visit www.EarthPaintsCS.com. A small collection fee will apply per container: Quart-$1.50, 1 Gallon-$2.50, 2 Gallon-$3.50, 5 Gallon-$8.00.
LINKS
Here are a few new interesting websites to look at to get more facts or tips:
Pollution prevention: www.epa.state.il.us/p2/ Encyclopedia of ways to go green: www.chicagogreenworks.com Green cleaning products: www.greenseal.org Help for businesses to go green: http://ofee.gov/janitor/index.asp'
Here are LINKS from our previous newsletters to get more facts, tips, or to learn about what’s going on in our area:
National:
www.thedailygreen.com http://becomegreen.info/
For Kids: www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/Activities/FunScience/Green www.epa.gov/students
Our Area: http://www.lakecountyil.gov/STORMWATER/default.htm united partnership - keepin it green
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There
are other more conventional products used at Lindy's such as
recycled brown paper bags, paper towels and copy paper. Although
buying more eco-friendly products does cost more, this is an
investment the management of Lindy's is willing to make. But it
doesn't necessarily cost more to be eco-friendly. In the past,
Lindy's served both glass bottles and aluminum cans at their outside
beach deck, but because glass on the beach is not allowed,
everything served in glass needed to be poured into a plastic cup.
As of last summer, they no longer serve products that come in glass
bottles outside because it results in twice the waste - the bottle
and the plastic glass. Now you can only purchase beverages that come
in aluminum cans that can be recycled. They also encourage guests
who purchase beverages like soda and mixed drinks that are served in
a plastic cup to re-use their cup instead of throwing it away and
getting a new cup every time they need a refill. All of the steps
that Lindy's has taken to be a little more ‘green’ has taken a
little research and very little effort to change guest and employee
habits. They feel that everyone should do their part to be more
environmentally responsible. Every little bit makes a difference!