Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow

At Go Green Winnetka, our mission is to create a sustainable future for all. We believe that everyone can make an impact and that small actions can lead to big changes. Through our initiatives and advocacy, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability and empower individuals and communities to take action. Because of this, Go Green Winnetka is a proud sponsor of the Winnetka Future Energy Coalition.

JOIN US FOR A WASTE-RELATED PRESENTATION highlighting programming changes in Winnetka, including the introduction of the Recycle Coach app and the Hefty ReNew curbside collection for hard-to-recycle soft plastics, as well the sunsetting of the polystyrene drop-off collection at Winnetka Public Works.

Presenters will be:
Christina Seibert, Executive Director of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County
Elyse Steiner, Sustainability Coordinator for the Village of Winnetka
Liz Kunkle, Customer Success Manager of Recycle Coach and President of Go Green Winnetka

This program is sponsored Go Green Winnetka and the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District. Registration required.

After completing the Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Winnetka, interviewing key stakeholders, and holding the community open house, the Environmental, Forestry & Sustainability Commission (EFSC) are developing a long-term emission reduction target and identifying feasible actions to help achieve it. THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONTAINING THIS ANALYSIS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE VILLAGE COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION ON APRIL 21. Any feedback from that meeting will be addressed and incorporated into the final report.

Also at the April 21 meeting, the EFSC will announce the 2026 Green Award winners.

IN CELEBRATION OF EARTH MONTH, THE VILLAGE OF WINNETKA AND THE WINNETKA PARK DISTRICT ARE PARTNERING WITH ECOSHOP TO HELP GIVE GENTLY USED PACKAGING MATERIALS A SECOND LIFE. Throughout April, residents can drop off items such as bubble wrap, foam peanuts, air pillows, and packing paper instead of sending them to the landfill. Visit EcoShip's website for a list of accepted items.

As an alternative to discarding packaging from recent deliveries, bring your clean, reusable materials to the collection bins located at Village Hall (510 Green Bay Road, open 8:30 am – 5 pm, M–F) or the Nielsen Tennis Center (530 Hibbard Road, open 6:30 am – 10 pm daily). EcoShip will sort and redistribute these materials to small businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the Chicago area for reuse.

Participating is simple and makes a meaningful difference. During regular business hours, stop by to leave accepted materials in good, reusable condition, in the collection bins.

From our friends at Go Green Northfield:

For most humans, nighttime is when we put on our soft clothes and become one with the couch. But for many other species, it's when they are most active, and that's only one reason the dark skies initiative is so important.

Commonly referred to as "light pollution," the over-lighting of our darkness has had measurable adverse effects on all species on earth. Just for example:

• Insects, including pollinators, rely on the glow from the moon, stars, and other planets to orient themselves as they fly. A recent study found that artificial light confuses them, resulting in exhaustion, disruptions in flying ability, and many times death. 
• Most songbirds migrate at night, using the same orientation methods as insects. "Sky glow" from cities causes them to veer off course, leading to collisions with buildings that have lit windows, as when almost 1,000 migrating birds crashed into McCormick Place in one night in October 2023 because their lights were left on. 
• Exposure to artificial light at night interferes with human circadian rhythm and disrupts melatonin production, increasing our risk of sleep disorders, depression, obesity, heart disease, and some cancers. 

Dark Skies Week is an international effort to call attention to light pollution and engage in local solutions. Instead of leaving your outside lights on all night, explore motion detecting lighting, use timers, or choose only one to leave on. Contact your municipality to see if public lighting can be modified to shine down instead of up. Start a "Lights Out" program in your village that would limit outdoor lighting during migration season. And then go out and enjoy the night!

Spring Clean-Up Week is April 13–16

One Person’s Trash...
WINNETKA'S ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN-UP IS SET FOR APRIL 13–16. LRS will collect items from the parkway that two people can reasonably lift into a truck. Excluded items include electronics, yard waste, dirt, stone, logs, construction materials, batteries, paint, and other liquids—email us for disposal options. Items must be out by 7 AM on your scheduled pickup day; no call-backs. Find out more.

Another Person’s Treasure...
Before tossing items, consider donating to local rummage sales, thrift shops, animal shelters, or schools. Reuse, repurpose, or recycle when possible! Platforms like Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Freecycle can help find new homes for unwanted items.

Plastic bags can be recycled at many local stores and through the Hefty ReNew program. Electronics and sneakers can be dropped off at Winnetka Public Works on Willow Road. Scroll down for information about recycling paint, batteries, and more.

From our friends at Go Green Northfield:

For most humans, nighttime is when we put on our soft clothes and become one with the couch. But for many other species, it's when they are most active, and that's only one reason the dark skies initiative is so important.

Commonly referred to as "light pollution," the over-lighting of our darkness has had measurable adverse effects on all species on earth. Just for example:

• Insects, including pollinators, rely on the glow from the moon, stars, and other planets to orient themselves as they fly. A recent study found that artificial light confuses them, resulting in exhaustion, disruptions in flying ability, and many times death. 
• Most songbirds migrate at night, using the same orientation methods as insects. "Sky glow" from cities causes them to veer off course, leading to collisions with buildings that have lit windows, as when almost 1,000 migrating birds crashed into McCormick Place in one night in October 2023 because their lights were left on. 
• Exposure to artificial light at night interferes with human circadian rhythm and disrupts melatonin production, increasing our risk of sleep disorders, depression, obesity, heart disease, and some cancers. 

Dark Skies Week is an international effort to call attention to light pollution and engage in local solutions. Instead of leaving your outside lights on all night, explore motion detecting lighting, use timers, or choose only one to leave on. Contact your municipality to see if public lighting can be modified to shine down instead of up. Start a "Lights Out" program in your village that would limit outdoor lighting during migration season. And then go out and enjoy the night!

Go Green Winnetka has created a New Homeowners Guide, a go-to resource to help people moving homes make a sustainable transition. The Guide has numerous suggestions for conscious choices before and after the move that positively influence our environment. Practical tips are offered, from eco-friendly packing materials to waste diversion strategies.

Please pass this link along to friends and neighbors who are moving or have recently moved. 

The Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition is coordinating another compost facility tour! These tours educate and show first-hand how organics diversion and composting improve human and environmental health in Illinois while reducing methane emissions and waste and creating a more circular and equitable economy for all.

Midwest Organics Recycling
29353 North Darrell Road
McHenry, IL 60051

• Wednesday, July 22 
• 10:00 am - 11:30 am
• Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended
• Safety vests will be provided
• Please RSVP by Friday, July 17.

Contact Liz Kunkle with questions and to RSVP.

Special thanks to Midwest Organics Recycling for hosting this tour and all its hard work advancing the compost industry in Illinois!

Friends of the Green Bay Trail is excited to once again bring together local businesses, organizations, and community members to celebrate and support the Green Bay Trail. This annual event highlights the importance of the trail as a vital recreational, environmental, and community asset throughout our area.

Go Green Winnetka is proud to participate in Green Bay Trail Day each year, and has one of the most popular tables on the Trail. Stop by to say hi, learn about sustainability efforts in our community, share a cup of lemonade, and bring the kids for our popular scibbles stones activity. If you'd like to help out, please sign up for a shift here.