New Laws and Important Recycling Info!

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News You Can Use

Diana O'Kelly, Township Supervisor

December 27, 2021

A sincere thank you to everyone that donated to our adopt a family, adopt a senior, dropped off meals, made financial contributions to our food pantry, donated food directly at our office, held food drives, or donated at the register at Jewel. We appreciate our supportive community and our programs are successful because of your concern for other neighbors. You all make our community a great place to live!

Nearly 300 New Illinois Laws Take Effect Jan. 1.

Here Are Some You Should Know About

Our legislature was busy. Click here to see some of the new laws.

Expired Driver's Licenses and ID Cards Date Extended

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional three months – from Jan. 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. White noted this will be the final extension.

Click here to make an appointment at the DMV. You may have to do this early in the morning to find an appointment.

If you are eligible for the online renewal process, you will receive a letter with the required PIN approximately 90 days before your driver's license or ID card's expiration date. If you have not received a letter, check your eligibility now.

They will not text you. If you receive a text, it is a scam.

How Do I Dispose of My Christmas Tree?

If Groot is your waste hauler, to have your Christmas tree recycled, it must be out either of the first two pickups in January. Groot will pick up the trees through January, but they will only be recycled if they are put out the first two pickups. The trees can not have tinsel, lights or ornaments on them.

The forest preserve also accepts trees, but they don't yet have it on their website.

Where Do I Recycle Christmas Lights?

The Village of Mundelein, in partnership with Elgin Recycling, are hosting the annual holiday lights recycling program. Anyone interested in recycling their used holiday lights can bring their items to one of the following locations between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday from now through January 31, 2022.

Holiday Lights Recycling Locations:

Village Hall, 300 Plaza Circle

Public Works and Engineering, 801 Allanson Road

Fire Station #1, 1000 N. Midlothian Road

Police Department, 221 N. Lake Street (lower level)

Only the light strands themselves will be taken; bulbs do not have to be removed from the strands but should be removed from boxes and/ or plastic.

Please note: Lawn ornaments, other holiday decorations, or light strands connected to wreaths, garlands, or other material cannot be accepted. Residents dropping lights off at the Village Hall are limited to two 25-foot strands or equivalent length.

If you have any questions or bulk drop-offs, please contact Public Works and Engineering 847-949-3270.

Electronic Recycling

Unincorporated Fremont Township residents may opt to have Groot provide curbside collection of up to six electronic items on the second Friday of each month. This is included in the cost of your service. You must schedule the pick up with Groot at 847 693-2700.

Items requiring more than one person to collect (including televisions over 50 pounds) will require an additional fee.

Mundelein residents should call 847 693-2700 to schedule electronic recycling pickup per the village contract.

Need to drop your items off? For more information go to www.swalco.org

Grant Township:

Highway Department

26535 Molidor Road, Ingleside, IL

Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 3:00 pm

No cost to Lake County residents

Business are prohibited

LIMIT OF SEVEN ITEMS PER VISIT

(excluding misc. cords and cables)

Grayslake:

Public Works Facility

585 Berry Avenue, Grayslake, IL

Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Saturday 8:00 am to NOON

No cost for Lake County residents

Businesses are prohibited

LIMIT OF SEVEN ITEMS PER VISIT

(excluding misc. cords and cables)

Also Accepting:

Clothing, Textiles and Shoes,

Mixed Paper, Cardboard,

Plastic Containers, Glass Bottles

& Jars, Steel Cans, Food Scraps for Composting

City of Highland Park: Recycling Center 180 Half Day Road, Highland Park, IL

Every Tuesday: 7:00 am to 1:00 pm

First Saturday of the month from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm

Closed on Legal Holidays

No cost for Lake County residents

Businesses are prohibited

LIMIT OF SEVEN ITEMS PER VISIT

(excluding misc. cords and cables)

Also Accepting:

Clothing, Textils and Shoes,

Polystyrene Foam: Cups, Containers & Packaging

(no foam packaging peanuts)

Fluorescent Light Bulbs

(limit of 8 fluorescent light bulbs per visit)

Prairieland Disposal

& Recycling

21988 N. Pepper Road, Lake Barrington, IL

Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Saturday 8:30 am to Noon

Closed on Legal Holidays

No cost for Lake County residents

Businesses are prohibited

LIMIT OF SEVEN ITEMS PER VISIT INCLUDING ONE TV

(excluding misc. cords and cables)

Also Accepting:

Clothing, Textiles and Shoes,

Food Scraps for Composting

Forest Preserve Solar Lit Trails

Having a hard time getting outside in nature now that the sun sets earlier? Taking an evening hike on solar-lit trails in the forest preserves may be an option.

With small solar lights to guide their way, hikers, skiers and snowshoers can get some brisk evening exercise along the 1.3-mile fitness trail at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville, and along a 1.65-mile hilly section of the Millennium Trail adjacent to the Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.

Though regular preserve hours are 6:30 am to sunset, the illuminated trails and adjacent parking lots will remain open after sunset until 9 pm, daily through Sunday, March 13, 2022. Bicycles and horses are not permitted on the lighted trails after sunset. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed.

To access the lighted trails, park at Lakewood's Winter Sports Area located on the east side of Fairfield Road just south of Route 176, or at Old School's main entrance lot located on the east side of St. Mary's Road just south of Route 176. Lake County Forest Preserve Rangers regularly patrol the areas.

Lock Your Cars in Your Driveway

There have been several reports of unlocked cars in driveways and on streets having things stolen out of them. Please lock you car!

Your Donations Go To Local Rescues

The local animal shelters are in need of sheets, towels, small throw rugs and blankets. There is a bin on our front porch at 22385 Route 60, Mundelein, if you have any old bedding you would like to donate. No pillows! The donations get distributed to local shelters. We also accept leashes, collars, toys, pet food etc.

Recycle Items at Fremont Township

We accept yarn in our office.

We accept eyeglasses and hearing aids in our office.

We accept American Flags in our office.

Our shoe bin is also on our front porch and we are accepting shoes to be recycled and reused. We recycled 1547 pounds of shoes last year.

The textile bin is also open and is located in our parking lot. Click here to see what we accept.

What Are We Able to Put in the Textile Box in the Parking Lot?

Please use our white textile bin in our parking lot to recycle your items.

We accept new, gently used and worn.

This is a full-circle program. Your donations of new and gently used clothing and textiles -which will be reused- allow us to continue programs and recycle any worn-out/stained items we receive, turning them into usable new products.

Please put shoe donations in the bin on our front porch.

Acceptable Items