Your resource for environmental education updates, workshops, and more.

November 2023

Volume: 34 Issue: 1

SMASHING Good Fun Ahead -

at the Pumpkin SMASH!

Saturday, Nov 4

With 95 locations across DuPage County (and beyond!) you won't have any trouble finding a place to smash your tired, old pumpkins--and start turning them into valuable compost. (Did you know composting pumpkins helps protect our groundwater?)

Please remove any candles, stickers, or decorations before you smash!

Find a SMASH location near you!

V is for Vacuums & Vehicles

ABC's of Smart Recycling

V helps out a lot in the recycling world. This month, we have the news on recycling V's from vacuums to vehicles. They are surprisingly recyclable!

Check out our V is for Vacuums and Vehicles blog post.

Follow Best Practice for Fall Leaves

DuPage County Stormwater Management wants to remind everyone not to rake leaves into the gutter or the street, where they can cause trouble for stormwater drains. Check out the short video below for details. (See an advertisement? Click the skip button in the bottom left corner.)

Link to Fall Leaves YouTube Video

Does Your School Need A Garden? Get One Started with a Grant from IDNR & ICF

Start a pollinator garden at your school with help from a grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

The Illinois Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Action Grant helps build gardens using native Illinois plants in educational settings. Projects must emphasize student/youth involvement. Teachers and adults who are youth-group leaders (grades pre-K through 12) in Illinois may apply.

Deadline is Nov. 30 2023.

Learn more about the Illinois Schoolyard Action Grant

More Grants For Gardening & Healthy School Food

Whole Kids Foundation offers grants to establish school gardens, salad bars, healthy cooking classes, and additional teacher trainings.

Find out more about Whole Kids Foundation Grants

Does Your School Have a Garden Rain Barrel? Time to Drain Your Barrel!

When the garden goes to sleep, it's a good time to care for our garden tools. Snow and ice can crack a rain barrel, over time. Turn your barrel over to protect it from cracking during freeze-thaw conditions.

Even better! Try turning your Barrel into a garden friend:

Turn your rain barrel from this...

...Into this!

Eco- Extraordinaires!

The Eco Club at Edison Middle School, in Wheaton, is working on earning a Water Quality Flag for their school.

Edison students prepped and placed medallions near local stormdrains to help educate the public and protect stormwater. Well done!

Lake Park High School volunteers helped out at the Roselle Recycling Event. Thanks guys!

Forth Grade students from Walker Elementary School, in Claredon Hills, visited SCARCE to learn about watersheds and protecting water. They are working to earn a Water Quality Flag for their school. One student was overheard to say, "I feel like I learned to change the world today!" Yes, you did!

New SCARCE Classroom Exhibit: Dark Skies & Light Pollution

Thanks to DarkSky International, and David Barcus, SCARCE now has a Dark Skies exhibit to demonstrate how homeowners, schools, and business can curb light pollution.

The Home Depot in Carol Stream, especially Patrick, Colin, and Sara, helped in making this exhibit happen!

Learn more about Dark Skies International and the importance of curbing light pollution.

Dave, Kay, Bev, and Emily are absolutely lit-up over our new exhibit!

Think Green This Month!

Holiday Lights Recycling

Shorter days mean holiday lights are starting to appear! But what should you do with light strings that no longer work? Recycle them!

SCARCE accepts holiday & outdoor string lights. Drop by and drop off--and don't forget to pop-in and say hi!

Cooking Oil "Pop-up" Sites

Open Saturday, Nov. 25th 9am-12noon

Holiday turkey fryers, two special pop-up sites have been added just for you! Bring used cooking oil to:

SCARCE Office, Addison, from 9am-12noon
Elmhurst Public Works, from 9am-12noon

Why? Because cooking oil should NEVER be poured down the drain! It causes clogged pipes and damages sewers. And used oil can be converted into bio-fuel. It's a win-win!

Learn More About Where & How to Recycle Used Cooking Oil.

Giving Tuesday, November 28

This holiday season inspires giving to family, friends and favorite organizations. SCARCE relies on this spirit of generosity all year long. From the donations we recycle and repurpose, to the time and energy of our volunteers, everyone at SCARCE is grateful for YOUR support.

Make a Giving Tuesday donation to SCARCE.