2023 MCHENRY COUNTY RECYCLING DIRECTORY
GREEN GUIDE WWW.MCHENRY.EDU/GREEN
WELCOME TO THE 17 TH EDITION OF THE MCHENRY COUNTY GREEN GUIDE! I enjoy talking with so many of you via email, telephone or in person. At a recent presentation for a group in Johnsburg, we mapped out the route that the garbage and recycling takes before reaching the landfill or materials recycling facility (MRF). It was staggering. Depending on which landfill the garbage is sent to, it can travel up to 140 miles. If you are in Crystal Lake, it’s not much closer. Your garbage is travelling 40 to over 100 miles before it reaches the landfill. Most of our recycling goes to the MRF in Grayslake first and then is transferred to the MRF in Hodgkins. Crystal Lake to Grayslake to Hodgkins is over 75 miles. While it’s a good thing that we do not have a landfill closer, we need to protect our groundwater which is our source of drinking water. However, next time you use that single use plastic item, think about the added footprint that item now has. Think about how far it had to come to get to you and how far it has to go when it’s thrown away or recycled. We have choices every day. Choose to reuse Check out our NEW section on plastic film on page 13. We have some guest writers this year! Please check out: • Sustainability at the Foodshed grocery store—Sue Jensen • Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act—Kelli Boeckmann
Kim
Kim Hankins, Director, Sustainability Center McHenry County College khankins@mchenry.edu | sustainability@mchenry.edu Throughout the year, MCC is honored with gifts of support for the work we do on the Green Guide and other sustainability initiatives. The Sustainability Center staff acknowledges and deeply appreciates every gift, volunteer hour(s) and words of encouragement. Thank you very much! The Sustainability Center is grateful to Gena Denkov, MCC Sustainability Center Student Assistant, for her work helping to update the information in the 2023 Green Guide. Thanks also to Jessica Reimer, MCC Graphic Designer, Marketing and Public Relations, for designing a readable, usable and beautiful 2023 Green Guide.
MCC SUSTAINABILITY CENTER (815) 479-7765 | ROOM C122 WWW.MCHENRY.EDU/GREEN SUSTAINABILITY@MCHENRY.EDU
INDEX Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act...........................................2 Appliances......................................................3 Batteries..................................................... 4–5 Bulbs...............................................................6 County Recycling Events...............................20 Electronics, TVs, and Monitors........................7 Food Shed Co-op..........................................19 Fun Things to Do and Learn..........................11 Green Living Expo 2022 Sponsors................18 Household Hazardous Waste..........................8 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day ...............................................9 Motor Oil, Tires, Antifreeze/Coolant...... 10–11 One Day Recycling Events............................20 Paint.............................................................12 Plastic Film....................................................13 Shredding.....................................................14 Styrofoam.....................................................15 Township Collection Sites....................... 16–17 Why Buy Recycled?.......................................19
Save the Date for the annual Green Living Expo at MCC—November 4, 2023
Scan the QR code to register or visit www.mchenry.edu/greenexpo