Stay in the know with local environmental news and happenings for DuPage County.
Green Bulletin
October 2017
Green Your Halloween at Pumpkin Smash Sat Nov 4th
Pumpkin Composting Drop-offs, 9am-12pm 

Compost your pumpkins after Halloween at the annual Pumpkin Smash. Composting diverts valuable resources from landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions - and it's fun! So don't trash it, SMASH IT!

Dozens of locations, find one near you.
October is Energy Awareness Month

Just in time to prep for cold weather - check out our tips to reduce your load for the planet and your wallet.
October Eco-Extraordinaires

Learn about this month's local leaders in green! A library in Darien gets certified eco-friendly and Naperville expands their organic green space. 
Properly Dispose of Your Leaves this Fall, Protect Local Waterways

DuPage County Stormwater Management wants to remind DuPage residents not to rake leaves into the street. Leaves clog storm drains which can cause flooding and hurt our waterways.
Best Practices for Leaf Removal
Best Practices for Leaf Removal

Westmont Native Tree & Plant Sale Orders Due Oct 6th

Does your landscaping need a refresh? Pre-order native trees & shrubs to add beauty, shade, wildlife habitat and rainwater absorption to your yard. Pick up is Oct 14th.
2017 Illinois Solar Tour
Oct 7th - statewide

Tour homes that utilize on-site solar power and learn firsthand about going solar. Stop by SCARCE to check out the Solar House - a mini-demo home with Solar PV.
School & Community Compost Training
Oct 10th @ 4:30pm-6:30pm

Join SCARCE to learn all about starting a composting program at home, school, church or other organization. Indoors or out, small or large, get your questions answered so you can get started! Registration requested.

Teachers can earn PDs!
Deicing Workshops: Save Salt, Save Money, Protect Waterways

Attn public works personnel and private contractors: you won't want to miss these upcoming workshops to learn to adapt your deicing practices to go green, and save green this winter.


Oct 12th: Public Roads Deicing (Public Agencies)
SCARCE Garage Sale
Oct 13th-14th

Find some treasures while supporting SCARCE! We'll have a wide variety of items available. Hours Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 8am-1pm at SCARCE.

Every dollar earned goes towards diverting resources from the landfill and getting them to those in need.
Free DuPage River Watershed Workshops
8am-9:30am  - Earn PDs, Free Breakfast

Connect with others concerned about protecting local waterways. Plus, learn about streambank stabilization projects and how to fund them. Registration required.


New Guide: Locate Early Care & Education Facilities in Healthy Places

The CDC's "Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education" initiative aims to prevent childhood exposure to chemicals by ensuring facilities are in the safest locations to start.
Celebrate OAKtober

October is Oak Awareness Month in Illinois. Learn some facts and find a celebration near you to learn more about oak trees and the vital role they play in our native ecosystems.
New Food Waste Documentary: Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
Available Oct 13th

About 40% of food in the US is landfilled. Meanwhile, 1 in 6 Americans faces hunger. Learn more about our food waste epidemic as Anthony Bourdain and other chef-heroes aim to change the way you buy, cook, recycle, and eat.
Illinois Soil, Food, Water, and Composting Summit
Nov 3rd, 8am-4pm

Let's discuss the links between soil, food, water, and composting in Illinois. This summit aims to bring together stakeholders to learn about the connection between issues and explore opportunities for collaboration.
There's Fiber in Your Water! 

New research shows that plastic microfibers, washed from our clothing, are present in drinking water worldwide. Check out their report and learn how you can take action.
Free Film Showing: Seed, The Untold Story
Oct 23rd @ 7pm

Join College of DuPage for the second film in their Sustainability Film & Discussion Series. The film will be followed by a discussion with faculty and community partners.
Temporary Collection: Used Gift Cards

The Eco-Club at York High School in Elmhurst wants your used gift cards. Cards can be donated to SCARCE. They will be upcycled into guitar picks for students at York.
Recycling Events

Oct 7
  Burr Ridge & DuPage County Electronics Recycling
Oct 28  Addison Recycling Extravaganza
Dec 2  Christ the Servant Electronics Recycling & Coat Drive
Environmental Events - Mark Your Calendar!
SCARCE is participating in or hosting events in green.
Oct 5  Public Comment Due Kress & Klein Creek Watershed Plans
Oct 6
Oct 7  Illinois Solar Tour
Oct 7  Bike Walk Every Town Summit West
Oct 7  Carol Stream Water Reclamation Fall Open House
Oct 7  Downers Grove Sanitary District Open House
Oct 13-14  SCARCE Fall Garage Sale
Oct 15  MWRD Reservoir & Pumping Station Tours
Oct 18  Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
Oct 19  Soil Health & Carbon Sequestration
Oct 21  Naturally Grown: Learn how to Manage a Chemical-Free Lawn
Oct 28  Make a Difference Day
Oct 28  IL Prairie Path Clean-Up with RPG Sierra Club
Oct 28  Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Nov 3  IL Soil, Food, Water and Composting Summit
Nov 4  Pumpkin Smash
Dec 7
 SCARCE Open House

Ongoing:

SCARCE Used Book & Record Sale every Tues & Fri 9am-12pm and select Saturdays
Thank You Businesses
A special thank you to businesses who donated supplies to our Rescue Projects this month!
  • Coriant Operations Inc.
  • Domtar Corporation
  • International Contractors Inc.
  • Mantra Lingua
  • Waste Management
  • Whole Foods Wheaton
Special THANK YOU to our September Volunteers

Room and Board staff deconstruct binders while volunteering during their lunch break.
Benedictine University
Benet Academy
College of DuPage
CPSA
Giant Steps
Glen Oaks Therapeutic Day School
Glenbard West High School
HAVI
Lisle High School Ecology Club
Naperville Central High School
Room & Board
SEAL
UCP Seguin

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

SCARCE Mon & Tues 9am-4:30pm
We are short-staffed! Help us unload, sort & shelve donations, and assist teachers with checkout.

Help sort & price Oct 11th-12th. Help us staff the sale Oct 13th-14th.

Various locations. Unload & smash pumpkins for composting!
Helpful Links

Support SCARCE with your online purchases 
Join efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling Guide, Trails Systems, and more!
Report stormwater issues online.
Be a part of this initiative!

SCARCE COLLECTIONS

Green Bulletin | SCARCE | 630.545.9710 | i[email protected] |   www.scarce.org
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This newsletter was created by SCARCE and funded by the DuPage County Board,
Daniel Cronin, Chairman,
the DuPage County Environmental Committee, Amy Grant
and DuPage County Stormwater Committee, James Zay, Chair.


SCARCE Team
Kay McKeen, Founder & Director
Vicki Baldino, Jeff Gahris, Heather Goudreau, 
Carrie Horak, Kaitlyn Hornik, Bev Jaszczurowski, 
Erin Kennedy,  Jean Kent, & Rose Naseef 

Environmental Education Programs are operated by SCARCE
(
School & 
Community 
Assistance for 
Recycling and
Composting 
Education) 
This newsletter is part of the Teacher Training Program funded by DuPage County.
Our Professional Development Provider Number: 100363
The mention of a specific product or company is not an endorsement by DuPage County's Environmental Education Program