Local environmental news and happenings for DuPage County.

November 2023

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It's Time to SMASH!

Find Your Pumpkin Smashing Fun

at 95 locations, Sat. Nov. 4

Bring your old pumpkins and your scary jack o' lanterns to the Smash. You'll help protect our groundwater, by squashing your squashes, and sending them to compost!


Even better, ask around. You can bring your friends' and neighbors' pumpkins to the drop off and be a local eco-hero!


Don't forget to remove candles, stickers and any decorations-because those things don't turn into compost.


Join the Smash fun. Find a location near you!

ABC's of Smart Recycling: V is for Vehicles & Vacuums

Letter V is so useful in the recycling world, we couldn't choose just one item. Learn where to safely recycle your vacuum, as well as your old vehicle. (It's more recyclable than you might think!)


Read: V is for Vacuums & Vehicles

Don't Sweep Your Leaves into the Street!


Did you know that leaves cause big trouble for our storm drain when they are piled in the gutters? Learn the best ways to manage leaves by watching this quick DuPage County Stormwater Management video in the box below.

(Seeing an advertisement? Look for the Skip Ad button in the lower right corner.)


Link to the YouTube video here.

The SCARCE Repair Fair NAILED It!


Visitors to the SCARCE Repair Fair had a great time discussing the How-to's of knife care, lamp rewiring and other ways to re-use responsibly. 46 kitchen knives were sharpened and 26 lamps had their wiring checked!


Miss this one? Stay tuned. We will hold another Repair Fair soon. Thanks to the DuPage Foundation for the support!

Eco-extraordinaires

Addison Public Library is the first local library to recertify for the Earth Flag. Well done, Booklovers!

Chris & Ezra Cohen, took a road trip to deliver school supplies and books to families in Brooklyn, IL, the same town where SCARCE friend, Sister Julia, has set up 4 reading stations. Way to go!

Employees at Canon, Itasca stepped up for a second time to help install Stormwater Medallions in their area.


These medallions help educate the public and protect our water system. Nice work!

Time to drain your rainbarrels for the winter.

(And maybe add some fun to your yard?)

You can turn these guys...

...into these guys,

after they're done being these guys!

New Dark Skies Exhibit


The education center has a new exhibit which demonstrates how to protect our earth from light pollution.


Thanks to David Barcus, from DarkSky International, and the Home Deport in Carol Stream for their help.


Learn more about how light pollution affects our earth here.

David, Kay, Bev & Emily with our new exhibit

Cooking Oil "Pop-up" Sites Open

Saturday, Nov 25th.

Just in time for holiday turkey fryers, two special pop-up sites have been added to collect used cooking oil on Saturday, 11/25:

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

Cooking oil should NEVER be poured down the drain--it causes clogged pipes and damages sewers. Used oil is converted into bio-fuel. It's a win-win!


Learn the Why, How AND Where of used cooking oil here.

vector_lights_night.jpg

Holiday Lights Are Coming Out

Remember to Recycle Broken & Burned Out Lights

Good news: SCARCE accepts strings of broken and burned-out holiday lights.

Recycling Events

Nov 4

Addison Township (Wood Dale) Electronics & Textile Recycling 9am-12noon


Carol Stream Shredding, Recycling & Pumpkin Composting Event 8am-12noon


Recycle Event, Downers Grove 8:30am-11:30am


GoGreen Glen Ellyn Smash & Reduce Trash Recycling Event 9am-11am


SCARCE Pumpkin Smash, various times & locations. See website.

Nov 11

Wheaton Monthly Recycling Event 9am-12noon

Nov 18

Woodridge Christ The Servant Church Recycling Event 8:30am-11:30am

Remember 'Giving Tuesday' November 28

The 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.

Environmental Events - Mark Your Calendar!

NOV 7

Conservation Foundation Winter Chloride Watcher Training Addison -7pm

NOV 13

World Kindness Day

NOV 15

America Recycles Day

NOV 16

Use Less Stuff Day

Regular Hours for Reuse Center and

SCARCE-LY USED Books & Records

Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm

Saturdays 9am-12pm


Donation Hours

Tuesday-Friday 9am-2pm

*For 5 or more boxes, call to make an appointment


HOLIDAY HOURS

OPEN Veterans Day - Sat. Nov 11


CLOSED for THANKSGIVING - Thursday, Nov. 23 & Friday, Nov. 24

OPEN Saturday, Nov. 25

Thank You to Businesses

A special thank you to businesses who donated supplies and/or services this month!


  • Sourcebooks Naperville
  • Kesson, Aurora
  • Whole Foods Wheaton
  • Citi Group Elk Grove
  • Ryan Shreve, Revo Wired Webservices

Our Volunteers Are AWESOME!

Register to Volunteer
Helpful Links
Green Bulletin | SCARCE | 630.545.9710 | info@scarce.org | www.scarce.org
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This newsletter was created by SCARCE and funded by
the DuPage County Board, Deborah Conroy, Chair,
the DuPage County Environmental Committee, Sheila Rutledge, Chair,
and the DuPage County Stormwater Committee, James Zay, Chair.
SCARCE Team
Kay McKeen, Founder & Director
Rachel Carlson, Heather Goudreau, Allison Henley,
Bev Jaszczurowski, Jean Kent, Emily King, Rose Naseef,
Caroline Prichard, Marina Strong, 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.