Make sure ALL your holiday lights are low-energy LED's.
Recycle old lights at
Community solar is on the way!
Contact us
to find out more.
Start new, green traditions!
Need funding for a
great green idea?
Ask about our new
Have you seen the protected bike lanes in Evanston?
Urge your lawn care service to rake more and to use battery-powered blowers if necessary.
Defend our public lands. They need YOU more than ever!
Remind family members
to turn off the car when checking smartphones.
Save gas, save money.
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What can I do with all the plastic and Styrofoam that comes with holiday gifts?
You can recycle much of the
thin plastic film at local grocery stores and you can recycle white block Styrofoam (no peanuts) at the
Wilmette Public Works from Dec. 27 to Jan. 9. Click
here for details. See more green holiday tips below.
(See all Dear Robin Q & A's
here.)
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FEATURED EVENT
Contact us with your ideas or to work on the planning team. The next planning meeting will be Dec. 13th at 10am at Panera. Come put your time and talents to good use!
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FEATURED PROJECT
Exploring Community Solar
We're looking for 10 - 15 acres of land outside Wilmette in the ComEd service area for a
community solar project.
Contact us if you know a landowner who might be interested in getting involved or if you would be interested in subscribing. Stay tuned for details.
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GOOD NEWS
Chicago Hosts Climate Summit
Did you hear the story on NPR? Municipal leaders from the US and around the world attended the North American Climate Summit in Chicago recently to discuss commitments to the Paris Agreement, and to recognize innovative and impactful efforts by local governments to address climate change. Wilmette was represented at the conference by Trustees Julie Wolf and Senta Plunkett. More on the event here:
https://northamericanclimatesummit.splashthat.com
Wilmette Park District Job Opening
The Wilmette Park District has a job opening for a nature/gardening educator that you or someone you know might be interested in. Learn more
here.
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GREEN HOLIDAY TIPS
Americans contribute 25% more volume to landfill between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day - approximately one million extra tons per week. Have a more enjoyable and sustainable holiday with these tips:
- Say "no" to a consumer Christmas and say "yes" to a quiet time of reflection and love for your family, friends, and community instead.
- Stay home and enjoy what you already have.
- Go gift-free and make the gathering about the gathering.
- Use the money you would spend on gifts to make donations to your favorite charities - either one large one as a family, or smaller ones for each member individually.
- Give the gift of time and attention rather than stuff. Spend time with a loved one doing or learning something together. Give coupons/certificates for activities like a concert, sports events, movie, ice skating, bowling, massage, or bike ride. Or offer to do a chore for someone like shopping, pet-walking, or yard work.
- Give the gift of nature. Send handmade cards with packets of native flower seeds inside or plant a tree in someone's honor. Offer an exploration of a local nature preserve.
- Make a family cookbook that showcases your favorite meals along with great pictures.
- When entertaining, use reusable dishes, glassware, silverware, and napkins rather than disposables. Have containers on hand to send guests home with leftovers, freeze for another time, or compost.
- Reuse gift wrap and wrap things in creative wrappings like children's artwork, furoshiki (reusable gift-wrap made of fabric), pillow cases, blankets, reusable shopping bags, reusable holiday tins, or comics from the Sunday paper.
- Reuse packing boxes, bubble wrap, and peanuts - break down the boxes and recycle them with your curbside collection, recycle the bubble wrap with other plastics at your local grocery store, and donate the peanuts to a UPS store. Recycle white block Styrofoam at the Wilmette Public Works after Dec. 27th.
- Save energy by avoiding decorations that require an outlet.
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BIKE WILMETTE NEWS
Join us at our next meeting on Jan. 16th at 6pm at the Community Recreation Center. Please
rsvp.
Take the bike safety quiz
here.
Check out Evanston's new bike lanes here.
Stay up to date on walk and bike issues. Sign up for our Bike Wilmette newsletter and notices here. Check out our new website
here.
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Support or Start a Go Green Group
Go Green Illinois is working to help establish Go Green groups all over the suburbs. Check out this
map to see if your community has a group. If it does, join them! If it doesn't, start one!
Contact us to learn how. Go Green Illinois' next meeting is Jan. 9th.
Rsvp.
Support Go Green Wilmette!
Want to support GGW's efforts to bring educational events to our community free of charge? Consider a tax deductible donation. Mail a check made out to Go Green Wilmette to P.O. Box 954, Wilmette, IL 60091 or donate
here.
If you would like to get more involved with Go Green Wilmette, sign up for our brief weekly updates and reminders. Planning for our environmental fair is underway. Join us!
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Check out the frequently updated features on our
website.
Find easy tips for living more sustainably in our
What Can You Do section.
Learn about upcoming environmental events on our
Calendar.
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