Go Green LaGrange Monthly Update:


A 2025

"Recycle the present, save the future." ~Anonymous
 

Tip of the Month:

Conserve water! Make the most of these springtime storms. It's time to install your rain barrel.

Click here to learn how!
 

President's Note:


I can't believe I am sitting here writing this in a t-shirt and sunshine. The snow and wind from our "Spring Clothing and Textile Take-Back" seem a distant memory. Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers for making this event possible. Together we were able to divert over 200 trash bags of textiles from the landfill and redistribute as much throughout the community, great work everybody! (Pictured below)


Looking ahead we as a board are gearing up for our annual board retreat where we work to discuss our goals and plan for the year ahead. We have received a lot of positive community feedback and requests and are excited to see what the next year will bring.

Please remember that word of mouth is one of our main marketing tools keeping this organization moving forward. This being said, we are still looking for our 2025 Summer Intern. If you have a student in mind who you feel may be interested in this program please have them email us at GoGreenLaGrange1@gmail.com and we will forward the application packet. More information about this program is listed in the flyer below.


Thank you for your continued support.


Warmest Regards,


Alexandria Zuck

Board President

Go Green LaGrange
 
 
 

Bills Phasing Out Single-Use Plastic Clear Key Legislative Hurdle


On March 20, 2025, the Illinois State Senate Environment and Conservation Committee advanced two significant bills aimed at reducing single-use plastics:


• SB1531: Sponsored by Senator Laura Fine, this bill proposes phasing out single-use foam foodware.


• SB1872: Introduced by Senator Cristina Castro, this legislation seeks to eliminate single-use plastic shopping bags at large retailers.


Both bills received the necessary votes to move forward and will next be debated on the Senate floor. This progress marks a pivotal step in addressing plastic pollution in Illinois. Advocates emphasize that preventing pollution at its source is the most effective strategy to combat this growing issue. 


Click here to read the full article!
IEC 2025 Environmental Legislative Update
 
 

Community Spotlight Series:

Anthony ‘Tony’ Romero, owner of Anthony’s Shoe Repair located at 13 W. Hillgrove in LaGrange, has a long history of providing quality shoe repair to LaGrange and surrounding neighborhoods. 



He’s been here almost 30 years, and during that time he has proven himself to be a skilled craftsman and a good friend to many.  (As seen by his interactions with his customers.) 

For the past 3 years, Tony has graciously allowed GGLG to use his store as a collection site for unwanted shoes (and boots).  Not only does he provide the space and work with the GGLG to transfer the footwear, he also makes minor repairs. These items are then shared with the community through our partnerships with organizations like the Children’s Community Closet. 



We are grateful to Tony for being such a wonderful friend, neighbor, and a GGLG partner, and for helping us to give these shoes a second life rather than put them in a landfill. 
 


Please feel free to email directly at gogreenlagrange1@gmail.com if you have any additional questions.
 

2025 Upcoming Meeting Dates:

-Board Meeting: Thursday July 17th, 2025 7:00PM (La Grange Public Library)

-Board Meeting: Thursday October 16th, 2025 7:00PM (La Grange Park Public Library)


2025 Collection and Program Dates:

-3rd Annual Seed Exchange: April 12th, 2025 (La Grange Public Library)

-Electronic Recycling Drive: May 10th, 2025 (La Grange Park Public Works)

-Annual Fundraiser: May 17th, 2025 (Milk Money Brewing Company)

-Sandal and Shoe Share: May 24th, 2025 (La Grange Public Library)

-Pocket Pollinator Presentation: June 5th, 2025 (Western Springs Library)

-2nd Annual Sustainable Summer Expo: August 2nd, 2025 (Plymouth Place Senior Living)

-Fall Native Plant Sale: (September)

-Fall Clothing and Textile Take-Back: October 19th, 2025 (St. Michael's Lutheran)

-Boot and Shoe Share: (November)
 

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.

Rag Rug Making at Last Month's Event!
Click here to volunteer for this year's Earth Day Seed Exchange!

Click here to volunteer for your Neighborhood Electronic Recycling Drive

Click here to volunteer for this year's Community Sandal and Shoe Share

Click here to volunteer at our 2nd Annual Sustainable Summer Expo!
 

Are you interested in learning more?

Know your impact:

Use this interactive calculator to

learn your carbon footprint and actions you can take to reduce it.
Click Here to Calculate Your Carbon Footprint Now
Click here to see if your community is one of the 161 to have already made the commitment to a greener Chicagoland!
 
Sign up for Overflow Action Alert text messages:
Did you know that snow and ice can cause too much water entering the sewer system? Sign up to receive Overflow Action Alert text messages year round at this link. When we announce an Overflow Action Alert, you will be reminded to reduce your use of water before, during and after a storm to help prevent excess water from entering local sewers. Learn more at https://mwrd.org/overflow-prevention

Click here to learn about how you can help to conserve water and prevent flooding.
 

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act Democrats in Congress passed last year, there are new energy cost-saving benefits available right now, including:

  • 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.
  • Up to $1,200 to add insulation, install new exterior windows and doors, or other improvements that increase the energy efficiency of your home.
  • 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.
  • 30% off the cost of installing a new electric vehicle charger if you live in a rural or underserved community.



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!



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!
 
 
Click Here for Dark Skies Presentation Recording
 

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!

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!

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!


Want to learn more about Carbon Capture the Good, the Bad and the Ugly?


Thank you to the League of Women Voters of La Grange Area for hosting this informative presentation. Don't worry. if you missed the presentation, click here to view the recording.


Click here to watch an introductory video from the Science & Environmental Health Network.

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. 
 
 
Donate Now


How to Donate

  1. Donate cash or checks at our in-person events.
  2. Mail checks to:

Go Green LaGrange,

PO Box 11

La Grange, IL 60525

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

Go Green LaGrange, a NFP Corp | PO Box 11 | La Grange, IL 60525 US

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

Constant Contact