The "Litter Free Uptown" Blog

Uptown Clean Up – Buena Park Neighbors

litterfree — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:43:26 +0000

When: Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time: 10 am to noon

Where: The old KFC parking lot at Buena and Broadway

Purpose: To pick up trash in the neighborhood

Excerpt taken from Buena Park Neighbors website:

This is one way that we, the residents of Buena Park, keep our community clean. Once a month a dedicated group of neighbors meet at the abandoned KFC lot and spread out from there to remove litter from our streets. Come and join your neighbors as we send a message to the rest of the community that we care about our environment. Afterward we’ll meet at a local establishment for lunch and lively conversation. Join us to find out more about Buena Park Neighbors and what we’re doing to keep Buena Park Clean, Green, and Safe.

If it is snowing, we won’t go out

http://buenaparkneighbors.org/2012/01/11/litter-patrol-2/

Gaia’s Movement Community Recycling Day

litterfree — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:16:17 +0000

The Gaia Movement has set up a Community Recycling Day for December 3, from 9am to Noon. It is at Gaia’s facility 8918 S Green St in Chicago.

The Gaia Movement needs volunteers to help take apart materials for recycling. It is not very hard, but is very fun. If you haven’t come to a recycling day they encourage you to come on the 3rd. They will have a presentation about waste and recycling before they begin. You don’t need any special skills or experience. They will have gloves and other supplies needed.

Call (773) 651-7870 if you have any questions or to sign up.

Paper recycling Award – Enter Today

litterfree — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:04:22 +0000

Enter today – the 2012 American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Recycling Awards are officially underway! The annual awards recognize outstanding school, business, and community paper recycling efforts. Award winners earn a $2,000 cash prize, original framed ‘paper art’, and local and national recognition. Further, winners and finalists are featured as best practices on the paperrecycles.org website.

Free Weatherization Kits and Workshops

litterfree — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:40:20 +0000

The Chicago Conservation Corps is offering free weatherization kits and workshops. You must be a resident of Chicago, register and attend a workshop to receive a kit. Please see the link below for a full calendar of all C3 events, including weatherization workshops.

http://chicagoconservationcorps.org/blog/eventcalendar/

America Recycles Day Celebrated at Thousands of Events

litterfree — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:27:31 +0000

America Recycles Day, November 15, celebrates the successes of recycling while providing an educational platform that helps raise awareness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling -– every day -– all throughout the year.

Preliminary reports on America Recycles Day 2011 indicate that at least 2,000 events took place throughout the country and more than 6,500 people signed the online pledge to learn more about recycling.

This year’s program provided new opportunities for high-profile events including, for the first time, a partnership with Walmart locations for educational/awareness events at their stores. KAB also joined forces with the College and University Recycling Coalition to produce new resources and guidelines for hosting ARD events at NCAA football games and tailgating events in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Game Day Challenge” initiative.

President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation for ARD and the Walt Disney Co. carried the ARD message with online and in-store promotion. This year’s program also produced the first-ever ARD video contest – “Recycling is No Joke” — which crowned Ryan Francis as the winner for his recycling rap. Take a look at the videos of the other finalists on America Recycles Day’s YouTube Channel.

Bring the New Green Ribbon Schools Program to Your State

litterfree — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:56:42 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education has launched the new Green Ribbon Schools Award Program for 2011-2012. This new recognition program will mean more schools across the country saving energy, more students learning how to make environmentally responsible choices, and more school leaders providing healthy food and opportunities to be active at school.

In order for schools in your state to be eligible for this award, your state’s department of education must agree to participate in the program by next Tuesday, Nov. 22. Please speak up to ensure that your state is part of this effort to bring green, healthy practices to schools across the country!

Green Ribbon Schools is the first comprehensive green school initiative to come from the U.S. Department of Education. Modeled on the prestigious Blue Ribbon awards, Green Ribbon Schools will encourage schools and communities to promote healthy and sustainable environments and educate students to become environmentally literate citizens.

With your help, Green Ribbon Schools can help bring green, healthy practices to schools across the country.

Go to http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/getinvolved/action/green-ribbon.php to send a letter of support.

Green Energy Challenge

litterfree — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:36:42 +0000

The Green Energy Challenge calls on schools across the nation to improve their energy efficiency through simple changes of behavior. This K-12 sustainability education program empowers children to take small steps that can have a big collective impact on our environment, our economy, and our societies.

By improving the energy efficiency of schools, districts can cut costs without cutting corners. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that schools could save up to 50% of their energy costs by adopting fairly simple energy-saving measures and renovations. Some estimates suggest that a 25% reduction in energy costs would save $1.5 billion! These savings could fund 30,000 new teacher salaries, 40 million textbooks or hundreds of thousands of computers.

Participation is easy!

Sign-up by registering as a GEF Member. Select Green Energy Challenge in the programs checklist.
Check out the free start-up kit to identify the initiatives best for you!
Submit your energy checklist to be entered to win a contest!

Sustainability Education Concepts and Teaching Methods

litterfree — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:18:49 +0000

Sustainability Education Concepts and Teaching Methods

(Pilot Version) There is still time to enroll in Green Education Foundation”s free online course, Sustainability Education Concepts and Teaching Methods! This 15 hour, self-paced course launches on November 1 and participation includes the opportunity to earn PDPs/CEUs and one to two hours of college credit.

Register Today!

Green Building Course

This semester long course is currently being piloted in 11 and 12 grade classrooms across the country. Join the course next semester for a low, introductory rate! It is designed for classes interested in getting a hands-on, in-depth introduction to green building principles, strategies, and audits.

Learn more or join the January pilot!

Outdoor Uptown Farmers Market at Weiss Hospital Starts Tomorrow!

litterfree — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:05:26 +0000

The Uptown Farmers Market at Weiss Memorial Hospital (4646 N. Marine Drive) is starting up outside again on Thursday, June 23 at 8am to 1pm.Enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, jams, and more now through October 2011. The market features locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs, as well as organic and healthy breads, jams, honey and teas.

Also, visitors can find information on living a healthy life through exercise and eating, and participate in a variety of medical screenings.

Transition Chicago Meet & Greet this Friday!

litterfree — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:14:28 +0000

You’re Invited….

Transition Chicago and Midwest Permaculture trainers, Becky and Bill Wilson, are hosting an Uptown Meet & Greet this Friday night to invite local residents and organizations a chance to network and learn about new, up and coming community sustainability initiatives. Please join us!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Transition Chicago Meet & Greet

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Location: ICA-USA, 4750 N. Sheridan Chicago, IL 60640

1^st Floor Green Lumumba Room

v 5:30-6:15 pm: Refreshments & networking with Uptown community residents and organizations

v 6:15-6:40 pm: Introduction to Transition Initiatives

v 6:40-7:00 pm – Rob Hopkins Short Film (20 min):

Transitioning to a World without Oil

v 7-7:30 pm: Q & A and post-movie dialogue

RSVP to Nina Winn, nwinn@ica-usa.org 773-769-6363 x301