Our Overstory

Go Green Winnetka-Northfield began when the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District brought together a consortium of local organizations and community members to promote environmental awareness.

Modeled after and working in conjunction with Go Green Wilmette, this new entity aimed to introduce community members to easy ways for implementing green living at home and in our community. The entity’s inaugural event, the Go Green Winnetka-Northfield Environmental Fair, was held in conjunction with the Sidewalk Sale that summer.

About a year later, Go Green Winnetka-Northfield, the Winnetka Public Works Department, and the Winnetka Environmental and Forestry Commission (EFC) started collaborating on various environmental initiatives. While working on a longer-term project around recycling, the three groups found an unexpected opportunity to divert polystyrene from landfill.

For two weeks over the holidays, a collection was started for polystyrene foam (often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam, which is actually a brand of polystyrene, just as Kleenex is a brand of tissues), which arrives in abundance in our homes generally, and especially during the holiday season. Signs were placed around the Village, a collection bin was placed in the lobby of the Public Works building, and the polystyrene collected was delivered to Abt Electronics, who processes and sells the material for reuse in the manufacture of other products.

In  2013, the Public Works building drop-off became a standing collection  expanded to include both block-style and food-service polystyrene, offered in collaboration with Dart Container Corp. That collection is still ongoing, but it shifted in the spring of 2021 to a weekly drop off collection from 1 - 3pm on Mondays.

While setting up the polystyrene recycling program, the three groups continued their collaborative efforts around recycling. Working together to gather data, reviewing prior recycling proposals, and presenting to the Village Council resulted in the installation of 25 pairs of combined refuse and recycling bins throughout Winnetka’s three business districts in the summer of 2014. That collection is also ongoing. In 2019, three additional pairs of combined bins were installed around the business districts.

In early 2016, Go Green Winnetka-Northfield evolved to become Go Green Winnetka, and Go Green Northfield was formed later that year. Go Green Winnetka became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and continues to expand its educational work and advocacy.

In addition to the specific initiatives referred to above, Go Green Winnetka has worked since inception to educate, engage, and coordinate with individuals, schools, businesses, and other organizations regarding ways to reduce consumption and waste and mitigate and adapt to climate change through monthly newsletters, regular movie screenings, educational presentations, book discussions, clean-up events, and other gatherings and activities throughout the year.

Watch for our year end letter for information on what we did in 2024 and what our plans are for 2025. Join us!