Local environmental news and happenings for DuPage County.
December 2022
ABC's of Smart Recycling
L is for Labels
Do you check the labels on your plastic containers for the recycling triangle? What does that number in the middle mean?

Recycling labels can be tricky. Learn more about these labels and how they can help you be a better consumer and recycler!
Great Winter Hikes
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Now that colder, shorter days have arrived, it's nice to plan a ramble when the sun comes out. The staff at SCARCE has a few favorite local destinations:

  • Kay likes the accessible trails at Herrick Lake to view the woodlands and resting prairie.
  • Rose enjoys walking along the Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods.
  • Erin seeks the wide open spaces of St James Farm.
  • Bev likes the prairie at James Pate Philip State Park in Bartlett.
  • Julie loves the view from the hill at Blackwell Forest Preserve.
These recreation areas are open year-round, so happy hiking from everyone here at SCARCE!
Congratulations to NOW Foods!
NOW Foods manufacturing plant in Bloomingdale was the first business to earn a DuPage County Earth Flag and now it is the first to complete an Earth Flag re-certification!

No wonder NOW Foods was named a Top Employer of 2022.

Is you company or organization Earth Flag curious? Learn more here.
DuPage County Environmental Committee Chair Sheila Rutledge and SCARCE Executive Director Kay McKeen present the flag to leaders from NOW Foods
Pumpkin Smash Beats Wicked Weather

Despite some truly wicked weather this year, Pumpkin Smash still had a great result!

The number of locations grew to 75 and we've learned that over 200 tons of pumpkins were collected -- and results are still coming in...

Thank you to all the volunteers and organizations, including our haulers, that helped make this year's Pumpkin Smash another winner.

Here are York High School students in Elmhurst having a smashing good time!
Recycling Events
Dec 10
Dec 17
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Pretty Little Things Sale!
Looking for something sparkly for a holiday party or that little gift of glam?

Visit SCARCE's Pretty Little Things display in our resale store, now until the end of the month -- and take home a treasure!

All proceeds benefit SCARCE's environmental programs.
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Christmas Tree Mulching Reminders
After your tree comes down, prep it right for collection & mulching:

  • Remove all lights and tinsel
  • Don't bag your tree

Mulching trees saves our towns on landfill disposal costs while creating healthy soil in shared green spaces!
Make Your Holiday GREEN!
Cooking Oil Collection
Frying up some delicious treats for the holidays? Don't toss that oil! Bring it to one of the 10 local cooking oil recycling sites
and protect our water quality.
Holiday Light Recycling
Don't toss old holiday lights--recycle them! Watch for sites in your local community or bring them to SCARCE and keep useful metals out of landfill.
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Dishes to Lend
Need an extra place setting for a holiday gathering? Don't buy throwaway, borrow real plates & cutlery from SCARCE!

Holiday Treasures

Feeling crafty this holiday season? We're sharing creative ways to turn potential trash into cheerful treasures.

Help the planet by using materials you find at home or in a resale shop. This luminous "tree" celebrating winter was made from an old ladder.

Check out our Trash to Treasure blog post for more fun ideas.
Sleigh For A Day!

Our friends at Chicago Glue & Machine donated this festive, wooden sleigh and we want to lend it out to your organization.

Let us know if your club, church, or company would like to borrow it for a gift drive and/or display.

Jingle our bell at 630-545-9710
or email info@scarce.org to make arrangements.
Holiday Hours
Dec 23  9am-noon (closing early)

Dec 24-26 CLOSED

Dec 27-30 9am-4:30pm (regular hours)

Dec 31- Jan 2 CLOSED

2023 Sustainable Design Challenge is around the corner!
All high school students from DuPage County are invited to participate in this annual hands-on learning event.

Save the Date: April 18, 2023
Thank You to Businesses
A special thank you to businesses who donated supplies or services to us this month

  • Chicago Glue & Machine, Itasca
  • Keson Industries, Aurora
  • NOW Foods, Bloomingdale
  • Ryan Shreve Revo Wired
  • Whole Foods, Wheaton
Cheers to our volunteers!

This is our Tuesday afternoon crew. They get so much done while having a ton of fun!

Contact Rose at rose@scarce.org to find out how you can be a part of the SCARCE team.
Helpful Links
Be a part of this initiative!
Support SCARCE while you shop!
Report stormwater issues online.
Recycling info, trail guide, and more!
Green Bulletin | SCARCE | 630.545.9710 | info@scarce.org | www.scarce.org
This newsletter was created by SCARCE and funded in part by:
Deborah A. Conroy, Chair of the DuPage County Board
County Board member Sheila Rutledge, Chair of the Environmental Committee
County Board member James Zay, Chair of the Stormwater Committee

SCARCE Team
Kay McKeen, founder & director
Rachel Carlson, Heather Goudreau, Bev Jaszczurowski, Erin Kennedy,
Jean Kent, Rose Naseef, Carina Ruscitti, Divya Saikumar & Julie Wachowski
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: 190000000000000
The mention of a specific product or company is not an endorsement by DuPage County's Environmental Education Program.