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Go Green Greater La Grange Monthly Update:
May 2026
"Recycle the present, save the future." ~Anonymous
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Tip of the Month:
With warmer weather and springtime breezes, consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks. Air drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.
Click here for more energy saving tips!
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President's Note:
We had an amazing time celebrating Earth Day last month with all of our community partners! From continuing to share seeds and knowledge at the La Grange Public Library to our first ever Earth Day Fair at the La Grange Park Public Library, our community continues to grow. Thank you to all of the community members who took time to participate in any of the wonderful Earth Day events throughout the area and to all of the organizations that hosted them!
We are excited to see you all at the Neighborhood Electronics Drive, this Saturday (May 9) at La Grange Park Public Works. Please remember this is a drive through event and would not be made possible without all of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. Let's make sure to keep everyone safe by keeping an eye out for our volunteers as you drive through. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, we still have a couple of spots available for this event, please email us directly at info@gogreeenglg.org.
Have a great week!
Warmest regards,
Alexandria Zuck
Board President
Go Green Greater La Grange
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Why Staying on the Trail Matters
JSTOR Daily highlights an important but often overlooked impact of outdoor recreation: walking off-trail can cause lasting damage to ecosystems.
Research shows that when people step off designated paths, even occasionally, it can create informal trails that harm both vegetation and soil. What may start as a shortcut or a quick step aside can lead to long-term consequences. Trampling breaks plants, reduces plant cover, and over time can decrease biodiversity, especially for more sensitive species like shrubs.
The impact goes beyond what we can see. Repeated foot traffic compacts soil, making it less able to absorb water and nutrients. This can lead to erosion and make it harder for plants to grow back, meaning the damage can persist long after the footprints are gone.
As outdoor recreation continues to grow in popularity, these small individual choices add up. Areas like hilltops and natural ridges are especially vulnerable because they already have thinner soils and more delicate ecosystems.
What this means for our community:
As the weather warms and we head outdoors to enjoy local trails, forest preserves, and parks, this is a great reminder that how we explore matters. Staying on marked paths, even when it’s tempting to wander, helps protect the landscapes we love and ensures they remain healthy for future generations.
A simple guideline to carry with us this season: enjoy nature, but leave no trace of where you’ve been.
Click here to learn more!
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First Presbyterian Church of La Grange Receives Certification as an Earth Care Congregation
Only 5% of Presbyterian Churches in US Have Achieved this Credential
La Grange, IL – First Presbyterian Church of La Grange (FPCLG) received certification as an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This certification is given to churches who have pledged to be good stewards of the earth, and have demonstrated high standards for environmental care in four aspects of the church organization: Facility, Worship, Education and Community Outreach. Only 5% of Presbyterian churches in the US have achieved this credential.
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A few examples of the environmental initiatives at FPCLG include:
- Installation of LED lighting
- Solar electricity usage
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A community garden (with produce going to local food pantries)
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Clean water deployment in El Salvador (learn more at www.fpclg.org/livingwaters)
- Environmental activities for children and youth
- An earth care discussion group meets monthly covering topics such as food waste, microplastics, and climate change.
“We are extremely proud to receive this certification and look forward to expanding our environmental care initiatives in the future,” shared Greg Beglen, Earth Care Committee Lead at First Presbyterian Church of La Grange.
“Our Earth Care Congregations are vital parts of their communities and inspirational witnesses to caring for God’s creation and we are so grateful for their presence in the world,” says Jessica Maudlin, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
For more information view the Earth Care page for First Presbyterian Church of La Grange at: www.fpclg.org/welcome#earth-care
Or click here to visit the PC USA Earth Care Congregations program.
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2026 Upcoming Meeting Dates:
-Board Meeting: Thursday July 16th, 2026 7:00PM (La Grange Public Library)
-Board Meeting: Thursday October 15, 2026 7:00PM (La Grange Park Public Library)
2026 Collection and Program Dates:
-Spring Electronics Recycling: May 9th , 2026 (La Grange Park Public Works)
-Sandal and Shoe Share: June 6, 2026 (La Grange Public Library)
-Annual Going Green Fundraiser: June 20, 2026 (Milk Money Brewing Company)
-Sustainable Summer Expo: August 8, 2026 (Plymouth Place, Dole Hall)
-Native Plant Sale: September (TBD)
-Community Forum: Thursday October 15, 2026 (La Grange Park Public Library)
-Fall Clothing & Textile Take-Back: October 25th, 2026 (St. Michael's Lutheran)
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Join the Kiwanis Club of La Grange Annual Planting Event!
Saturday May 15th, 2026 @ 3:00pm
Kiwanis Park (133 La Grange Road)
Help the Kiwanis Club of La Grange for a fun day of gardening as they work to transition the park's gardens to incorporate more native plants.
Please come prepared with your own gloves and tools.
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Crafters for Climate:
Let's "make-it" happen!
Makers, we are looking for ideas about what our next workshop should be.
If you are a maker and would like to share your craft please reach out to us directly at:
info@gogreenglg.org
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Know your impact:
Use this interactive calculator to
learn your carbon footprint and actions you can take to reduce it.
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Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act Democrats in Congress passed last year, there are new energy cost-saving benefits available right now, including:
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30% back for the cost of many clean energy upgrades to your home, including solar panels, water heaters, and battery storage, no matter the price.
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Up to $1,200 to add insulation, install new exterior windows and doors, or other improvements that increase the energy efficiency of your home.
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Up to $2,000 for a new heat pump (which can provide efficient air conditioning and heating) as well as a heat-pump water heater.
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30% off the cost of installing a new electric vehicle charger if you live in a rural or underserved community.
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Go Green La Grange had the pleasure of listening to this Webinar hosted by the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability on Recycling guidelines in Cook County. We hope to share it with any interested participants. Click here if you are interested in hearing more!
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Looking to continue cleaning out your home or business in an environmentally conscious manner? Consider this:
Center for Hard to Recycle Materials
Cook County has partnered with South Suburban College to create the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM Center). This is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents that helps divert millions of pounds of waste and other hard-to-recycle items from regional landfills and water systems. More information about materials accepted at the CHaRM Center can be found below.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Location
15800 State St., South Holland, IL 60473. The drop-off site is located on north side of campus in the overflow parking lot. Enter at traffic signal on State Street.
Hours
- Every Tuesday: 7 a.m. - noon
- Every Thursday: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- 2nd Saturday every month: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (TVs accepted during Saturday hours only)
Click here for a more comprehensive list of accepted materials!
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Interested in how to turn your parkway into a gardening opportunity!
Two experienced native plant gardeners will give you a virtual guided tour of their stunning parkway gardens and share tips, challenges and successes in turning this challenging area into habitat.Go Green LaGrange had the pleasure of listening to this Webinar hosted by the West Cook Wild Ones. We hope to share it with any interested participants. Click here if you are interested in hearing more!
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Green Infrastructure and Flood Mitigation
“We will have a bigger impact if we think systemically,” Frisbie explains in her one-on-one interview with WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons this week. Spearheading the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance, Friends and Watershed Alliance members, are pushing for substantial shifts in watershed governance and infrastructural development and maintenance.
The use of nature-based green infrastructure leverages the inherent intelligence and resiliency of nature to develop future-focused strategies for just and sustainable living. Developing tactics for educating local leaders, planning and policy experts, and the public, the Watershed Alliance urges that we think with nature, rather than against it.
Click here to learn more!
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Interested in learning more about Composting?
Don't worry if you missed it you can still click here to learn more!
Join Mark Teegen, owner of IFSCC member organization Teegen Compost, and learn about his community garden and backyard compost services. Mark takes trimmings from gardens and shreds them to return the material to an available bin onsite which completes the composting process locally. Mark will highlight the benefits and circularity of a typical compost season for residents and community gardeners, Teegen Compost Style!
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Save the Monarchs, Heres How:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has added migratory monarch butterflies to their list of Threatened Species. This means Monarch butterflies are now in danger of extinction. In fact, 99.9% of the Western monarch butterfly population has disappeared since 1980.
We all can help by planting milkweed which is the monarch caterpillar's only source of food. And since Fall is the best time to plant milkweed, hurry and visit mwrd.org/save-monarchs to take the pledge to receive free milkweed seeds to help save monarchs.
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How to Donate
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Donate cash or checks at our in-person events.
- Mail checks to:
Go Green LaGrange,
PO Box 11
La Grange, IL 60525
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