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

REDUCE
Pollution
• The Arboretum maintains their fleet of vehicles and equipment frequently to ensure efficient use and a reduction of air pollution
• The Arboretum grounds are now open to biking! Bring your bike and get some exercise while reducing pollution.
• A no-idling policy is in place to reduce pollution. The policy states no diesel vehicle should idle more than 10 minutes in adherence with the state law.

Energy Consumption
• The Facilities department has replaced incandescent bulbs with CFLs and continues to upgrade all lighting to more energy efficient systems.
• Building automation systems are installed in both the Visitor Center and Thornhill Education Center to control temperatures, establish set points and turn systems down in the evenings
• Automatic light switches are being tested in several offices and restrooms in the buildings.

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.

The Morton Arboretum created Arbor Week (which was April 18-26, 2009) to draw attention to the importance of trees and their role in maintaining the Arboretum’s initiatives to create a greener, healthier world. Arbor Week may be behind us, but you can celebrate trees any time of the year. Discover ways you can make a difference!

Check out some of the comments we collected from Chicago fourth and fifth grade school children on the ”One Tree Makes a Difference” ribbons that were tied to the Triumph elm on Michigan Avenue during Arbor Week. Out of the mouths of babes!

Kid’s Comments: One Tree Makes a Difference . . . because
. . . I have felt really proud to help something grow, and I have helped my community.
. . . Birds build nests and lay their eggs in trees. Squirrels get nuts for trees or they take their nuts and leave them on the tree.
. . . Trees would also give me wood to build a tree house. I can spend my summer there.
. . . Trees also block the sun because when they do, not too much light will be on their face.
. . . it gives life to us.
. . . by giving me leaves to play with in the fall.
. . . by giving me shade on a hot day.
. . . by giving me a good place to play!
. . . It can be home to many different animals that can provide me with something to watch and enjoy.
. . .  because earth needs all the help it can have.
. . . If they chop down my favorite tree I will not be happy because it was my favorite tree. It was like a friend to me.
. . . They do us huge favors and they don’t even know it!
. . . Where would squirrels go and what about the poor little birds that they make their nests in?
. . . it might be a tree that you want to sit under.
. . . One tree can change the world!
. . . if any tree gets cut down the animals that live in it won’t have any home and that will make me feel sad because I’m an animal lover.
. . . lots of animals camouflage with green and brown. If a tree wasn’t there they would be found easily.
. . . One tree can provide oxygen to make the plants healthy and strong and to keep the plants dancing in the wind!
. . . Trees provide oxygen and shade so you’re not stressed.
. . . It helps our community be a better world.
. . . One tree can dance to the music of the oxygen’s fresh air.
. . . trees are amazing to me because they make me so happy to live in this world.
. . . It also gives home to animals which can make us laugh.
. . . When you eat junk food your stomach might hurt, so fruits are important to us.
. . . I even water my tree by my house. That’s how trees should be treated.
. . . By providing the needs we humans need!
. . . it lets us live in a peaceful world.
. . . We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the trees. They give us air to breathe.So let’s plant trees to live!
. . . Trees are our future!
. . . A breath of fresh air shows us the difference one tree can make.
. . . Conserve trees because we need the rain forest.
. . . The city looks beautiful with trees.
. . . If you cut down a tree you are leaving animals homeless.
. . . It could let the animals stay at their homes and not move all the time.
. . . Cutting a tree is like demolishing a home!
. . . If you cut down trees you are cutting out a piece of life.
. . . one tree can protect us from a sunny day with its shadow.
. . . when we’re hot the trees give us a little wind, which that breeze feels very good.
. . . there is one tree that reminds me of my old house.
. . . They are serene and gorgeous.
. . . I think that we’re harming everything including ourselves.
. . . each tree is special and each tree has its own reason to be alive.
. . . every tree chopped down kills the world a little bit.
. . . trees are our helpers.
. . . One tree that makes a difference to me is the one in front of my house because it gives me the most oxygen and one day I dream to be on top of it.
. . . to save one tree means to me like saving a life.
. . . trees give shade for picnics.
. . . Trees help make the earth smile good!

Thank you to JEWEL-OSCO, presenting sponsor for Arbor Week 2009. 
 

REDUCE
Water Consumption
• To reduce the use of municipal water, the Arboretum uses water from Meadow Lake to supply the irrigation systems in the core visitor area. This saved over 6 million gallons of domestic water in 2007. The Thornhill campus also uses a well water system to irrigate adjacent areas.

• Water conservation flush valves have been installed on all toilets in the Visitor Center to conserve water. The green handles will use 30% less water when pulled up or the typical 1.6 gallons of water if pushed down for a flush.

Plastic Use
• Twenty-ounce plastic soft drink bottles are collected and donated to Terra Cycle where they are reused for packaging their products

• Volunteers and employees wash plastic planters acquired when purchasing plants from nurseries that are then reused. The plastic these containers are made of is difficult to recycle and that service is currently not available in this area.

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.