If you’ve been reading this page, you know that you can bring used electronics to the Recycling Center at 1180 Half Day Road in Highland Park, or leave one large item or three small items at the curb for pick up on your first trash day of the month if you live in Highland Park. For electronics recycling to work, there must be a market for used electronics. Here’s an interesting article that makes the case for buying certain items used. Reputable retailers refurbish these items so that they work well, and you can save money buying used.
Trash Stickers soon to be obsolete
Don’t stock up on trash stickers! Our garbage carts have an RFID chip which can be used by the trash hauler for our pay as you go system of trash pick up. They will begin using the chip instead of stickers on August 1, and stickers are not returnable. Stickers will still be needed for compost/organics if you are not on the seasonal subscription, and if you put out an extra can of trash for a special occasion.
May is Bike Month
According to the League of American Bicyclists, the average annual operating expense of a bicycle is just $308, versus more than $8,000 for a car.
Electronics Recycling to remain open
Highland Park’s electronic recycling center will remain open through the end of the year. Drop off electronics, fluorescent bulbs and styrofoam (pieces and containers, not packing peanuts) from 7 am – 1 pm on Tuesdays and the first Saturday of the month at 1180 Half Day Road. You can put textiles in the donation box that is available 24/7. If you live in Highland Park, you can also put one large electronic item, or 3 smaller items, out next to your trash cart on your first pick up of the month.
Spring Clean Up
Our new trash contract includes the ability to put out one large item for pick up with your trash each week, and one electronic item with your first trash pick up of the month without a sticker. We will still have the spring trash collection in Highland Park beginning on April 30, but you don’t need to wait another year to dispose of larger items.
Please remember that everything left out for spring clean up will go to the landfill, and electronic waste will not be picked up. If you have a box of paper or other recyclable materials, please put it out on your regular trash pick up day, so that it can be recycled.
Just Eat It Film Showing
Food waste is the one of the hot environmental issues of 2016. We throw away over 40% of our food in the US. In addition to the waste of food and the energy used to produce it, organic matter that ends up in landfills gives off methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
You can learn more on April 18 at 7 pm at the Highland Park Public Library screening of Just Eat It. An entertaining film that explores the issue of waste from farm, through retail, to home. After catching a glimpse of the billions of dollars of good food that is tossed each year in North America, the filmmakers pledge to survive only on foods that would otherwise be thrown away. In a nation where one in 10 people is food insecure, the images they capture of squandered groceries are both shocking and strangely compelling.
The film is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there!
Street Lights and Potholes
A friend of mine called me recently about an issue on her street. The street light in front of her home hadn’t worked in the 9 years she had lived there. I reported the outage to City staff who relayed the message to ComEd, and it was fixed within days. If you notice something that isn’t right — whether it’s a broken street light or a sagging power line or a pot hole — please report it to the City. You can call the pothole hotline at (847) 926-1178 with the address/location of potholes, or report street light outages here.
Sustainability Survey
The City of Highland Park is currently seeking input on our sustainability program for the coming year. Please lend your voice to the conversation by taking this survey. The survey will be open until December 11.
Save Energy This Winter
If you don’t yet have a smart thermostat, now is the time to upgrade. Not only will it help you save energy (and money) when the temperature drops, but you can get a nice rebate. Click here for details. Thanks to the Environmental Law and Policy Center, my former employer, for their work on this program.
Join a Commission
The City is seeking student and adult volunteers to serve on its Commissions. Applications and a list of Commissions are here. If you are interested in serving, now is the time to apply. Appointments are generally made towards the end of the year for terms beginning early in 2016.