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Health & Fitness

Living Green Festival Joins 7th Annual Electronics Recycling Drive at Lyons Township High School on May 19

Community event offers west suburban residents an opporunity to increase their efforts at environmental sustainability: recycling, organics, family fun.

LaGrange, IL – The West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (WSCCIF) joins forces for a 7th year with the students and staff of Lyons Township High School to recycle old and out-of-use computers, printers and other high-tech hardware that are donated by individuals and businesses. This year the event also welcomes the City of Countryside as an event partner.

On Saturday, May 19, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., electronics and common metal household items can be dropped off at the south end of the South Campus of Lyons Township High School, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs.  Old equipment will be accepted and tax-deductible receipts will be given for donations.  In addition to electronics, recycling for the following items will also be provided: TVs, VCRs, DVD players and recorders, toasters, fax machines and scanners, desktop printers, keyboards, computer mice and cables, portable digital music players, PDAs, video game consoles, digital converter boxes, satellite receivers, small scale servers, cell phones, brass fittings, bronze, copper pipe, metal hangers, metal lawn furniture.

There is no fee for dropping off the equipment; cash donations will be accepted to support the WSCCI Foundation, which helps foster educational programs to benefit workforce development, the local community, and students with disabilities.  

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Equipment will be data cleared to department of defense standards and refurbished for use by local non-profit organizations. The remaining equipment collected will be recycled by Sims Recycling Solutions.  Data security is assured by the automated shredding process. It grinds electronics into pieces the size of quarters and then mechanically separates the resulting material into clean metals, plastic, and glass for complete recycling.  All material is processed domestically and no electronics ever go to landfill. Last year’s recycling event provided free and easy recycling service to around 300 area families, collecting some 50,000 pounds of recyclables.

In an effort to expand upon this environmentally beneficial service, the 2012 recycling event will be jointly held with The Living Green Festival, sponsored by Whole Foods Market of Hinsdale. This portion of the morning’s activities will be held at the north end of South Campus, and will offer opportunities for individuals and families to participate in fun activities that expand environmental awareness. Enjoy music, food and lots of giveaways, including Brookfield Zoo passes, reusable shopping bags, seeds, snacks, Morton Arboretum Passes and more.

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Event exhibitors include:

  • Blue Pearl Stone will present its earth-friendly products for home design.
  • Bread from the Heart offers fresh, organic baked goods.B
  • Brookfield Zoo will share some free day passes, information about their conservation efforts, and introduce some wildlife friends from 10 to 11:30 am. 
  • Citizens Utility Board will offer energy conservation advice.
  • Community Nurse Health Association will collect clothing and fabric scraps for recycling.
  • Consign & Redesign will sell rescued, refurbished home decorating items and furniture.
  • Continental Motors Group will introduce green products the Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi I Miev, and the Toyota Prius C.
  • Dig Right In Landscaping provides environmentally friendly yard care services.
  • E-cycle Express provides ongoing electronics recycling.
  • Friends of the Library – La Grange will host a book swap (bring one, take one).
  • On behalf of SCARCE, Go Green La Grange will accept the following items for recycling: cork, keys, and eyeglasses.
  • Morton Arboretum will share family friendly conservation activities.
  • Norwex offers gentle household cleaning cloths and more.
  • Prasino’s La Grange offers local, organic snacks.
  • Rainy Day rain barrels will be available for purchase.
  • Renewal by Andersen offers window and door products and installation.
  • Republic Bank hosts complimentary and privacy-guaranteed document shredding.
  • Shaklee will sell environmentally friendly cleaning products and other healthy earth items.
  • Share Your Soles will collect and share gently worn shoes.
  • Stardust Yoga Studio will offer demonstrations and readings for children.
  • University of Illinois Extension Project will offer gardening and composting advice.
  • Village of La Grange will share its efforts to serve the green movement in the village. 
  • Village of La Grange Park will share its efforts to serve the green movement in the village. 
  • Whole Food Market, Hinsdale will give away reusable grocery bags and earth-friendly snacks.
  • Working Bikes will collect used bicycles for re-use and recycling.
Event History

For seven consecutive years:

  • Lyons Township students have used donated equipment for education. Some donated computer equipment will be used by Lyons Township High School to train students on computer repair techniques. 
    The computer recycling drive provides a wide array of aging equipment,
    and provides a good resource for student education. LTHS will wipe all
    equipment to National Defense Department standards prior to use. 
  • Computers have benefitted seniors, students and persons with
    disabilities.
    Some donated equipment was refurbished by Lyons Township students and donated to local not-for-profit organizations. The Recycling Drive has enabled the creation of a new computer lab at Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center, CEP Youth Leadership, and Hodgkins Park District.
  • A massive organizational effort has been made to provide free services to the community. Thirty or more students from the Lyons Township High School will help with the recycling event.  In addition, dozens of Chamber and Foundation members have been on-hand to help at the drop-off point.  Last year’s event generated 50,000 pounds of equipment from some 300 area families and businesses.  
  • Local businesses have donated thousands of dollars to support
    recycling event.
    Sealed Air Corporation and Horizon Freight Systems will donate trucks and drivers to transport the donations to SIMS Recycling.  Additionally, WSCCI businesses will donate a tent, food, supplies, and manpower to make this community event a success. Event sponsors include B-B Chemical Process Company, Dimensional Family Wellness, Hodgkins Park District, Republic Bank and Vulcan Materials Company.
  • A Growing Foundation - The West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Proceeds from the Computer Recycling Drive enable the Foundation to better serve the community through a variety of programs.  The Foundation has partnered with the Department of Human Services and L.A.D.S.E. (LaGrange Area Department of Special Education) to improve the lives of community members with disabilities.  Other programs have included business-education partnerships, career workshops, and award-winning workforce development projects. In 2011, the Foundation received the award for Outstanding Service to Individuals with Disabilities by the Illinois Rehabilitation Association (IRA). In 2012, the Chamber Foundation won the IRA Award for Media for its training film “Improving Customer Service for People with Disabilities”.

Contact Information:

Lyons Township High School – Scott Eggerding, Director of Curriculum,
708-579-6506 or seggerding@lths.net

West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation – Katherine
Leibforth, Business-Education Coordinator, WSCCI – 708-387-7550 or katherinel@wscci.org.

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