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| Earth Day Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary! |
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The first Earth Day was held in 1970 as a local grassroots community awareness event which is now observed globally. Earth Day is like a New Year's Day for environmental resolutions. In April, citizens from around the world work together to make positive changes for our environment, participating in activities to include picking up litter along the roadways, making environmental awareness posters or planting trees. Each and every one of us is an important part of these activities. There is so much that can be accomplished. As Margaret Mead said, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
To commemorate Earth Day, SWANCC produces its April Environmental Awareness Calendar, which provides a tip per day to do something positive for our Earth and is available for print at swancc.org; its award-winning Recycling Facts Game for students of all ages; and offers many teaching tools, media, books and curriculum guides for loan. This year, a special section has been added to the Agency's website highlighting activities, resource materials and links to promote Earth Day - see article below. Additionally, Glenbrook South High School will be hosting SWANCC's Eco-Friendly Fashion Show on April 23rd.
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| Earth Month Resources |
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To assist educators and club sponsors with promoting the 40 th anniversary of Earth Day, a special section was added to the Agency's website that provides the following materials at swancc.org/earthday.html:
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History of Earth Day
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Programs for Youth
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Resources & Activities
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Environmental Quotes
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Pledge to Make a Difference & Pledge Cards
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2010 April Environmental Awareness Calendar
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How to Start a Recycling Program
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Recycling Bins and Containers - Where to Purchase
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Waste Reduction Measures - Zero Waste
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Waste Reduction Ideas for Small Businesses
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Commercial Waste Franchise Information
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How to Organize an Ecology Club, Fundraisers and Grants
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SWANCC's Recycling Facts Game
What activity will you do to engage your school or community in recognizing Earth Day? Do not make the mistake of taking care of our Earth only in April - let everyday be Earth Day! Your year-round efforts make all the difference in the world!
"Observing Earth Day once a year is a good thing - observing it every day is a better thing!"
- Mary S. Allen, SWANCC Recycling and Education Director |
| Earn a Certificate for Waste Reduction Measures |
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Have you implemented an activity to reduce or reuse waste this year at school, increased recycling or participated in one of SWANCC's educational programs? If you have, then SWANCC would like to recognize your school's collective efforts.
Activities may include but are not limited to: instituting a waste-free lunches; switching from disposable to reusable cups, plates, trays or tableware; setting the printer to double-side default; providing the school newsletter in an electronic format rather than paper; collecting materials for reuse or donation; increase materials that can be recycled, etc.
Simply download and fill out the Participation Form, and mail or fax to SWANCC by April 30, 2010. The customized certificate encased in a sustainable sunflower hull frame will be mailed to the school's principal by mid-May. If you have any questions, pelase contact SWANCC at info@swancc.org or call (847) 724-9205. |
| Athletic Shoe Collection - Just Around the Corner |
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On May 19 and 20, SWANCC will be collection athletic shoes at its Glenview Transfer Station from 8 am to 7 pm. It is not too late to get in the action. To qualify to be a SWANCC Collection Partner, your school or club must be located in a SWANCC-member community.
Simply fill out the Agreement and fax back to SWANCC. To participate, download an Agreement form at swancc.org or contact info@swancc.org to have one mailed. Once the Agreement is received, collection bags, promotional posters and additional details will be mailed - providing it is received by May 1st. To learn more about Nike's RAS program, for retail store drop-off locations or for a list of other collection partners, visit nikereuseashoe.com.
Collected shoes that do not qualify for Nike's program and are still in good shape will be donated to Soles for Souls, a non-profit organization. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.
In February, SWANCC teamed up with the Chicago Wolves to collect shoes at there home games. A total of 1,000 pairs of shoes were collected for Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program and approximately 230 pairs of shoes were collected for Soles for Souls. |
| Volunteers Needed to Assist with Shoe Drive |
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SWANCC would like to invite your school club, youth group or scout group to assist staff with sorting and boxing shoes on May 19 or May 20. Hours can be arranged during the day or after school. Refreshments will be provided for all volunteers as well as a letter to document the community service hours, if requested. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please contact Mary Allen at mary@swancc.org or call (847) 724-9205, extension 204. |
| Trashy Fashion Show is Back |
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Due to the tremendous success of SWANCC's Trashy Fashion Show last November, two informational meetings have been scheduled this month for all interested designers. SWANCC coordinates its Trashy Fashion Show to showcase designs created by students and residents from found materials or items that generally get thrown away to raise awareness for America Recycles Day, observed nationally on November 15. This community-based project encourages any age individual or small group of individuals that possess artistic abilities to participate. Before committing to the project, designers must attend one of the schedule informational meetings to learn more about the program initiative. You do not need to excel in sewing - just be creative! Designers must also live in one of SWANCC's member communities to participate and attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The following workshops will be held at SWANCC's office in Glenview:
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Attendees will be given project history, project criteria and design inspirations. There is no cost to attend a workshop or to participate, but registration is required and space is limited. For details, visit swancc.org or call (847) 724-9205.
Last November, 60 designers contributed to the 30 outfits and accessories showcased in SWANCC's Trashy Fashion Show. To view the show in a You Tube format, visit swancc.org.
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| PSA Project Participants |
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For the third year, SWANCC challenged students in all grade levels to create a 60-minute message related to waste reduction practices or to highlight one of SWANCC's community programs for special materials. PSAs were submitted from Chute Middle School, Evanston; Thomas Middle School, Arlington Heights; and Romona School, Wilmette. SWANCC's panel of judges selected the following PSAs to highlight on the Agency's website at swancc.org:
All participating school project coordinators received $50 and each student that contributed to a PSA received a reusable aluminum water bottle. |
| Eco-Friendly Marketplace |
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Recently Updated
SWANCC's mission is to provide programs and resource materials that have a waste reduction focus. Part of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is ReBuy. Several years ago, SWANCC established its Eco-Friendly Marketplace to raise awareness regarding the wide variety of products available to consumers that were made from recycled materials, which have less of an impact on our environment's resources to manufacture. As more companies "go green", there are even more choices for consumers - as well as confusion to which is the greener, better product to purchase. Additionally, research is warning us of negative health effects associated with certain chemicals, dyes, farming methods, plastics, etc. Due to these factors, SWANCC's web-based reference has been updated to provide a wider-range of recycled or renewable resource products, as well as many other items and publications.
Categories include:
- General Resources
- Publications on Green Living
- Apparel & Accessories
- Kid's Stuff
- Personal Care Products
- Fair Trade & Organic Goods
- Green Building - Construction and Remodeling
- Appliances and Electronics
- Home Décor and Furniture
- Gardening/Composting/Lawn Care
- Cleaning Products
- Recycling Containers
- Reusable Bags
- Pet Care Products
- Printing/Publishing Companies
- Paper and Office Supplies
- Fundraisers
- Promotional Items
- Transportation
- Travel
Be sure to visit SWANCC's new and improved Eco-Friendly Marketplace at swancc.org. |
| 2010 Governor's Sustainability Awards |
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 Application Deadline: May 21
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is accepting applications for the 2010 Governor's Sustainability Awards. The Center, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor, has honored organizations for their efforts in sustainability and pollution prevention since 1987. Sustainability is achieved through activities that satisfy today's needs without diminishing the prospects of future generations. ISTC believes that the key to sustainability is being less wasteful with materials, energy, and natural and community resources.
For the award application, please tell them your story. They want to know what you did, how you did it, and how it helped your organization, the environment, and your community. This is a competitive award, and successful applicants will provide detailed, creative, and compelling descriptions of significant activities whose benefits encompass the three aspects of sustainability: environment, society, and economy.
Applications will only be accepted online and must be submitted by May 21, 2010 for consideration.
For more information, visit istc.illinois.edu. The award ceremony will be held in Champaign. A final date has not yet been set, however we are targeting the second half of October 2010. If you have any questions, contact Deb Jacobsen, Regional Operations Manager at djacobsen@istc.illinois.edu or (630) 472-5019. |
| Good Things Are Happening... |
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 The Joseph Sears School, K-8, District #38: Andrew Katcha, an eighth grade student at Sears School in Kenilworth, coordinated a meeting with School administrators, PTA environmental representatives and SWANCC's recycling and education director to discuss his desire to reduce waste and increase recycling as part of his Eagle Scout project.
For starters, Mrs. Allen suggested that he find out what type of waste is being generated, as well as how much before making a plan of attack. Mrs. Nahrwold, Mrs. Katcha and Mrs. Allen assisted Andrew in conducting a lunchroom waste audit in January.
A total of 118 pounds of garbage was collected from two lunch periods - comprised of the following:
- Milk Cartons - 35%
- Plastic baggies/packaging - 15%
- Organic Food Waste - 15%
- Paper bags - 10%
- Paper Plates/Napkins - 10%
- Plastic Tableware - 5%
- Plastic Water Bottles - 5%
- Juice Pouches - 5%
To reduce lunchroom waste, Andrew proposed to eliminate paper bags, baggies and disposable tableware in the lunchroom by instituting waste-free lunch days; increase recycling of plastic #1 PET and #2 HDPE bottles, milk cartons and aluminum cans; and collect juice pouches for Terracycle's program. Additionally, he wants to implement an outdoor composting plan for applicable food waste, known as organics.
For funding, Andrew submitted a grant application to the IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to purchase recycling bins, an outdoor composting bin, reusable lunch bags, food and beverage containers. The Grant will be announced later this summer. To get started, the school received $400 in Waste Grant funds from SWANCC.
He plans to make posters and enlist fellow students to help with the promotion/education of the new waste reduction plan. This is a great example of how one person can make a big difference!
St. Emily School, Mount Prospect:
 Each year, St. Emily's fourth grade embarks on an environmental unit to learn about where our garbage goes, what happens to the recyclables that are separated from the waste stream, as well as what can be done to reduce waste and conserve resources.
As a fun ending to this unit, students participate in a Trash to Treasure project. See photos for some of this year's artistic pieces created by students to promote reduce, reuse, recycle!
Edgar Allen Poe School, District #21:
Under the direction of Kathy Wrobel and the PTO Green Team, students were challenged to reduce cafeteria waste by bringing a waste-free lunch to school. To reward students' efforts, waste-free lunch items, purchased with SWANCC grant funds, were given to students that submitted a form. Items included reusable sandwich boxes, beverage bottles, napkins and utensils. Over 50% of lunchroom waste is comprised of packaging. By students bringing lunch in reusable containers and eating what they bring, schools reduce a significant amount of garbage that would otherwise go to the landfill. |
| Loyola Academy's SAVE Sponsor Recognized as Environmental Hero |
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Since 1995, Loyola Academy in Wilmette, has offered a "Students Against Violating the Earth" (SAVE) Club to students that want to participate in environmental stewardship projects. This year, Spanish teacher and SAVE club sponsor Julie Nold will be recognized along with 22 other "environmental heroes" during an awards luncheon by sponsored by Governor Quinn in Springfield. Over the years projects have included an annual Earth Day Fair; teachers supplying their own coffee mugs rather than purchasing #6 PS cup; Not Letting Cars Idle campaign; Beach Clean-Up Days; instituting recycling to include paper and aluminum cans; being a collection partner for SWANCC's Athletic Shoe Recycling project and volunteering at the collection; and collecting used textbooks for redistribution.
SWANCC congratulates Julie Nold and all of the Ramblers that have made a difference at Loyola Academy since 1995 and beyond! |
| SWANCC's Fall Workshop |
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Hold the Date
SWANCC's annual Informational Workshop for incoming PTA/PTO environmental committee representatives, ecology club sponsors and educators will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SWANCC's office in Glenview. There is no cost to attend and the registration form will be available on the Agency's website late summer - with a reminder in the fall 2010 Waste Ed newsletter. | |
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Together we will make a difference!
Sincerely,
Mary Allen
SWANCC |
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