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Go Green Greater La Grange Monthly Update:
October 2025
"Recycle the present, save the future." ~Anonymous
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Tip of the Month:
Before buying something new, try the ‘30 wears test’—ask yourself if you’ll wear it at least 30 times. If not, consider borrowing, thrifting, or organizing a clothing swap instead. Small choices like this keep textiles out of landfills and reduce the demand for fast fashion.
Click here to learn more!
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President's Note:
What a wonderful turnout at our second Annual Fall Native Plant Sale. Thank you to everyone who showed up and shared your support. It was truly exciting getting to see so many community members show up for our shared environment! Together we were able to get 350 new native plants in the ground to help support our local pollinators.
This past month we also worked with the La Grange Public Library to host a Jigsaw and Board Game Swap, helping spread some fun and joy into new homes.
Don't forget next month we will have our bi-annual textile and clothing take back event. This is a drive through event, please keep an eye out for our volunteers as they help direct you through the parking lot.
Happy Fall Y'all!
Alexandria Zuck
Board President
Go Green Greater LaGrange
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Material production reaches record heights — and emissions grow
Global fiber production reached a record 132 million tons in 2024, up from 125 million the year before, with polyester leading the surge. Virgin, fossil-fuel–based polyester now accounts for nearly 60% of all fibers and is responsible for about 43% of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, emissions from fiber and raw material production for apparel, footwear, and home textiles have risen roughly 20% in the past five years. While there has been some progress—67% of materials used by brands in the Textile Exchange’s benchmark were certified sustainable in 2024—the majority of polyester remains fossil-based, with only about 12% recycled or bio-based. The report warns that substitution alone isn’t enough; curbing total fiber growth is critical to reducing fashion’s climate impact.
Click here to read more!
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The Cossitt Clothing Sale is a wonderful example of sustainability in action. As a consignment sale, it extends the life cycle of thousands of clothing items, shoes, and accessories, keeping them out of landfills and reducing the demand for new production. Sellers receive 60% of the profits from their sales, while 40% goes directly to Cossitt, ensuring that every purchase supports both the environment and our students. For those who prefer not to consign, donating is another sustainable option—items can be dropped off at a volunteer’s porch, where they are prepared by our committee for resale. In this case, the school keeps 100% of the proceeds, maximizing both the environmental and educational impact.
Every piece that enters the sale contributes to a larger cycle of reuse and responsible consumption. Families shop secondhand, lowering their carbon footprint, while unsold items are donated to local families in need or responsibly recycled. Nothing goes to waste, and every choice—whether consigning, donating, or shopping—helps reduce the volume of textiles headed to landfills.
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Our Fall Sale was another huge success, showing how small, community-driven efforts can create meaningful environmental change while also keeping clothing affordable and accessible.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to carry this mission forward with our Spring Clothing Sale on Saturday, March 7, 2026. By participating, you’re not just supporting a school fundraiser—you’re actively choosing sustainability and helping to create a healthier planet for our children. Together, we can make an even greater impact, one reused item at a time.
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Please feel free to email directly at gogreenlagrange1@gmail.com if you have any additional questions.
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2025 Upcoming Meeting Dates:
-Board Meeting: Thursday October 16th, 2025 7:00PM (La Grange Park Public Library)
2025 Collection and Program Dates:
-Fall Clothing and Textile Take-Back: October 19th, 2025 (St. Michael's Lutheran)
-Fall Electronics Recycling: November 8th , 2025(La Grange Park Public Works)
-Boot and Shoe Share: November 22, 2025 (La Grange Public Library)
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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 GoGreenLaGrange1@gmail.com.
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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 LaGrange 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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If you are interested in volunteering with us please check out our sign-up genius here or on our webpage at GoGreenLaGrange.org or email us directly at gogreenlagrange1@gmail.com
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