Styrofoam recycling

Styrofoam recycling

Every year after the holidays, Go Green Wilmette and the Village of Wilmette hold a Styrofoam recycling event, to keep holiday packaging out of our landfills.  Check our calendar for dates. The Styrofoam will be taken to Abt Electronics to be melted into a material...
Wilmette Collects Holiday Lights

Wilmette Collects Holiday Lights

New LED lights use a fraction of the energy of older holiday lights. Upgrade to energy-efficient lights this year and drop off old or broken lights at the Village’s Public Works facility for recycling. String lights only, no lighted garlands or lawn ornaments....
Low Waste Thanksgiving

Low Waste Thanksgiving

Plan a low-waste Thanksgiving If you’re hosting a dinner this Thanksgiving, start planning now to reduce the waste often generated by holiday meals. You’ll probably save money along the way! Plan to use your china, glassware, flatware and cloth napkins...
Tips for celebrating a greener Halloween

Tips for celebrating a greener Halloween

There are lots of ways to reduce the impact of Halloween. Here are just a few: Create costumes and decorations from items you already have at home. Skip the fake webbing on bushes as it can trap and kill insects and birds. As alternatives to giving out candy in all...
Orvis selects GGW for Give Back Days

Orvis selects GGW for Give Back Days

Go Green Wilmette is pleased to be selected by our local Orvis store to be the recipient of their September GiveBack Days. Orvis will give every customer interested in supporting Go Green Wilmette with a donation of $10 or more a 10% discount on all purchases (some...
Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July is a global movement to help people be part of the plastic pollution solution. Recycling, while beneficial, is not the solution – we have to reduce all plastic use, especially single-use plastic of all kinds. Here’s how: When visiting the...
Dark Skies – An Inspired Report

Dark Skies – An Inspired Report

IGS (Integrated Global Studies) is a project-based, student-led creative arts class that centers around current global issues. The overwhelming student interest in environmental global issues in IGS has led to the development of the Green Team at Highcrest Middle...
Green Apartment or Condo Living

Green Apartment or Condo Living

Are you living in an apartment or condo building in Wilmette? Go Green Wilmette partners with residents and management of multi-unit buildings to discuss the ways in which your building can go green. The focus of these conversations includes topics such as electric...
The Right Way to Mulch Trees

The Right Way to Mulch Trees

Mulching is one of the most important things you can do for your trees. Mid- to late spring and fall are the best times to put down mulch. You can learn more from the Morton Arboretum  or the Chicago Botanic Garden. Basics to remember are 3 – 4 inches of healthy (not...
Controlling Mosquitoes

Controlling Mosquitoes

Not only are mosquitoes an annoyance in summer, they carry potentially dangerous diseases  such as West Nile virus. But the safest and most sustainable way to protect your family from mosquito bites does not mean treating your yard once a month with a pesticide. Not...
Invasive Lesser Celandine

Invasive Lesser Celandine

Green plants are beginning to peek above the soil, which can be an encouraging sign that spring has sprung. What you don’t want to see in your yard, however, are the little clumps of heart- or arrowhead-shaped leaves. This is lesser celandine, an aggressive...
Backyard Bird Safety

Backyard Bird Safety

Spring in the Chicago area brings thousands of songbirds flying north on their migration. So many fly through or stop in our area that you can follow them on radar! But migrating birds need our help. According to the American Bird Conservancy, up to 1 billion birds...
Greener Birthday Parties

Greener Birthday Parties

You can have a fun, festive party while meeting your low waste goals. Consider these ideas: Send invitations online via a service such as Punchbowl or Evite. For decorations, instead of balloons, use paper streamers, ribbon dancers or pinwheels (without sparkles, so...
Composting at Events

Composting at Events

Go Green Wilmette recently assisted members of the Avoca School District in their efforts to reduce waste and compost food scraps at their annual International Dinner. The popular event drew 500 guests.  An Avoca parent who heads the District’s PTO Environment...