Green Initiatives
Park District and Village to Partner on 2010 Recycling Extravaganza
The Village of Downers Grove and the Downers Grove Park District will host a Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Belmont Road Train Station in Parking Lot H. The event is in advance of Amnesty Day and gives residents of DuPage County an opportunity to recycle or donate items that may otherwise end up in a landfill.
Items Accepted
- Dressers: Must have all drawers and handles
- Cribs: Must include all pieces and be disassembled (nuts, bolts, etc. in a sealed plastic baggie). Crib bars may be no more than two inches apart. Portable cribs must include the mattress.
- Lead acid batteries: automotive size battery cores – car, boat, truck, motorcycle, computer, sump pump
- Electronics: Large and small electronics, household batteries, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cameras, computers, laptops, copiers, cords, discs, electric typewriters, fax/adding machines, hard drives, key boards, mice, monitors, PDAs, printers, scanners, small kitchen appliances, radios, speakers, stereos, telephones, zip drives, hair dryers, and more. NOT ACCEPTED : refrigerators and air conditioners, Smoke alarms, Light bulbs (fluorescent or Incandescent), Thermostats, Large Household Appliances (White Goods) .
- Ink cartridges
- Cell phones
- Buttons
- Rulers
- American Flags
- Fire Extinguishers
- Personal Documents for shredding – limit of 2 boxes of paper per vehicle.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed to ensure all aspects of the Recycling Extravaganza run smoothly. Morning and afternoon shifts are available. Activities include directing vehicles through the parking lot and sorting the goods received.
If you or your organization is interested in volunteering your time or other resources for this event, contact Pat Semple at psemple@dgparks.org or (630) 963-1300 or Mary Van Milligen at mvanmilligen@downers.us or (630) 434-5652.
Participating Organizations
- SCARCE of Glen Ellyn, Illinois
- Creative Recycling
- Exide Technologies of Aurora, Illinois
- Sharing Connections of Downers Grove, Illinois
- Cintas Document Management of Chicago, Illinois
- Aurora Tri State Fire Protection of Aurora, Illinois
- Century Post 503 VFW of Downers Grove, Illinois
- DuPage County
Additional Recycling Information
Visit the Household Hazardous Waste/Electronics page for additional information on other recycling programs.
Download a copy of the 2009 Dupage County Recycling Guide
The Downers Grove Park District celebrated Arbor Day
with a tree planting demonstration and seedling giveaway
on April 30th at the Recreation Center.
Downers Grove Park District Adopts Environmental Guidelines
The Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a set of environmental guidelines recommended by staff during the December 18th board meeting. The Downers Grove Park District has been a leader in environmental initiatives for many years beginning with the dedication of Belmont Prairie as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1979, the preservation of Lyman Woods as open space in 1986 and the construction of the William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center in 2003. The District's ongoing efforts towards being a responsible environmental steward led to the creation of a "Green Committee" and the development of environmental guidelines for daily business operations. The guidelines adopted will be used as a tool to assist staff in the promotion of sound environmental practices in the workplace. Click here to view the environmental guidelines.
Battery collection count as of 4/1/10
5,358 pounds
Dry Cell Battery Recycle Program - The Park District is host to a dry cell battery recycling campaign located at the Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Road. The Park District is now also accepting rechargeable batteries in response to a need indicated by the community. Only AA, AAA, C and D and rechargeable batteries are accepted. No rechargeable power tool or automobile batteries will be accepted. Responsibly recycling batteries saves natural resources and protects human health through reuse of reclaimed materials and by keeping heavy metals out of landfills and water supplies.
Gym Shoe Recycling - From April 19 to May 16, 2010, the Downers Grove Park District hosted a gym shoe recycling program in cooperation with SCARCE, School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education. Collection sites located at the Recreation Center at 4500 Belmont Road, and the Lincoln Center at 935 Maple Avenue yielded 514 shoes which will be recycled and used to make new products such as sports surfaces, playgrounds, basketballs and frisbees.
Park District donates Washington Park playground equipment to City in Krygyzstan
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – On October 15, 2009, the government in Kara-Balta City, Krygyzstan held a dedication to celebrate the addition of recycled playground equipment, which was once located in Washington Park in Downers Grove, IL. ....read more
Did You Know?
- The Interpretive Center was designed and constructed with a green building concept which included the use of green building materials including steel frame construction, Hardie board siding, water and energy saving fixtures as well as a green roof with native prairie plants.
- The Interpretive Center follows a “green housekeeping program” which includes such tasks as using green certified products, collecting and recycling all recyclable materials and reducing water and energy consumption with the use of pre-programmed thermostats and timers.
- The District began environmental education programming in the early 1990’s and the District’s Wetland Education program for local 5th graders began in 1995.
- On-going restoration and land management projects at the District’s natural areas, golf course and parks include tree plantings, woodland and habitat restoration, native landscaping, storm water management, stream bank stabilization and the consistent use of best management practices and integrated pest management programs.
- The Recreation Center was built with water saving fixtures in the rest rooms and locker rooms.
- Over 20lbs of water bottles are recycled per week from the Fitness Center and 75lbs of paper are recycled per month from the Recreation Center facility.
- In 2005, the Lincoln Center light fixtures were replaced with more energy efficient fixtures.
- District facilities recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, cartridges, toners, and obsolete equipment.
- The Golf Course has recycling receptacles on the course for plastic, aluminum and glass containers and recently installed automatic hand dryers in the restrooms.
- The District reduces the use of paper by double-siding documents and using electronic communications when possible.
- The seasonal Recreation & Parks Guide and Park Avenues newsletter is printed on recycled paper with eco friendly inks.
The District requests green alternates on bids for playground equipment, construction projects and vehicles and turf equipment.
