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Live Green with Sustainable Practices |
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Since its founding in 1922, the Arboretum has demonstrated sustainable practices to benefit the community. As an outdoor museum, the Arboretum showcases trees as essential elements of livable communities and a healthful environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the major source of greenhouse gas (up to 50 pounds per tree each year), and release oxygen. They shelter and provide nesting habitats for wildlife, retain moisture in soils, hold topsoil in place, and provide shade and cooling.
We will be posting additional ways the Arboretum is working on the three Rs on RECYCLE, REUSE and REDUCE. Check back to see what else is happening. And let us know what you are doing at home or at your place of business.
RECYCLE
• Arboretum employees recycle office waste, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and batteries.
• Cardboard and packing materials are collected for recycling.
• Construction materials such as metals and asphalt are recycled or saved for reuse.
• Tyvec envelopes are collected and recycled into building materials.
• A depository for used Visitor Maps is located outside of the Visitor Center.
REDUCE
• Trees removed from the grounds are reused as lumber for benches or other needed wood materials or shredded into mulch for the trail system.
• Landscape waste is composted for use in planting beds and construction projects.
• New napkin dispensers are on each table in the Ginkgo Restaurant. Studies show that fewer napkins are used if customers have easy access to them.
• The Volunteer Office has gone paperless. Starting in February 2008, the 900+ volunteers access Branches newsletter on the Arboretum website and other information through email.
• 100% recycled paper is used by all departments in printers and copiers.
Arboretum Resource Conservation Committee
The Morton Arboretum’s RCC was formed to develop methods for evaluating the state of resource conservation in our facilities and to recommend methods for improvement. The group, comprised of representative from each department at the Arboretum, meets monthly. Many of the organization’s initiatives are a result of their efforts. An intranet presence has been created for the RCC to educate and further encourage the 3 Rs – Recycle, Reuse, Reduce – and maybe a fourth: RETHINK.
The Morton Arboretum goal: ZERO WASTE by 2017
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February 16th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Where and/or how do you recycle batteries? We have saved ours, rather than putting them in the garbage, but have not found anyone to take them. Would appreciate knowing what to do with them.
Thanks!!
February 16th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I visited Australia during the entire month of December, and while I was gone, set the thermostat to 50 degrees. January was one of the coldest months ever, and my heating bill was less than December!
Imagine my delight, when I realized that the difference was that I was inspired to use a clothesline to dry my clothes, and hardly used my dryer at all during January.
Our Aussie friends are committed to lowering their carbon emissions, and we could learn a lot from them! It is actually kind of fun, and the towels turn out nice and stiff, like a loofah! … Naturally exfoliating.
I was motivated to help the planet, but felt like Mother Earth thanked me with the money I saved from my heating bill.
February 16th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
There is a battery recycling box among others at the “out” door at IKEA.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Fire Station #4 at the corner of Route 59 and Brookdale Rd. in Naperville is the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility and accepts used batteries as well as many other household items. They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-3 for drop off.(630-420-4190 or http://www.naperville.il.us)
February 16th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Batteries Plus stores will accept used batteries of all kinds. Check the website for the location closest to you.
http://WWW.BatteriesPlus.com
February 16th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
You need to be certain you are using a reputable facility when recycling batteries, cfl bulbs, and e-waste.
These things usually end up being shipped overseas by the ‘recycling company’ where they end up in a landfill, or end up getting ‘recycled’ in sweatshops by women and kids. The sweatshop laborers are given no protection against the chemical hazards like the carbon rods and acid in the batteries, and thus your plan to go green can endanger human lives. The same goes for those lovely energy efficient light bulbs, which contain mercury.
I’m shocked that the Arboretum has not yet discovered mercury-free LED lighting and rechargeable batteries. Some companies even make solar powered rechargers now. You don’t even need to go to a hardware store — go to Dominick’s grocery stores and take a look.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Walgreens took my used batteries at the camera counter.
February 18th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Best Buy has a recycling progrm in their entrance for batteries & cell phones. Home Depot has one for Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), batteries and power tools.
May 8th, 2009 at 8:48 am
DON’T MISS A FREE LOCAL GREEN EVENT ON MAY 16 IN GLEN ELLYN: Mike Jackson, Chief Architect of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will speak to preservation and renovation as sustainable practices. A nationally known authority on embodied energy, he will address THE COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF BOTH PRESERVATIONISTS AND GREEN BUILDING PROPONENTS.
In addition, a variety of exhibitors will be available at the event, Many of the products represented will be EARTH FRIENDLY, including no-VOC paints and recycled flooring, dark sky-sensitive lighting, wood reclamation from fallen trees and landscape design that is sensitive to the urban/suburban environment.
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (speaker at 11:00 a.m.)
Location: Hadley Jr. High, free parking
Coffee & Bagels
There is no charge for Arboretum members, staff & volunteers.
May 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Forgot to mention: Tickets are available at http://www.glenellynpreservation.org or by calling 630.858.3486.