Earth Month Events in Park Forest

The Village of Park Forest is spreading the word about sustainability by hosting a variety of events in honor of Earth Month during April. Upcoming events include:

April 15: “How to Make Your Home Sustainable” Talk from 10 a.m.-noon in the Village Hall Board Room, 350 Victory Drive

Environment Commissioner Jim Saxton will present steps you can take to make your home more sustainable.

April 22: Southland Local Food Systems Expo from 1-4 p.m. at Dining on the Green, 349 Main Street

An afternoon of food, fun and tons of information! Learn how communities can come together to create positive change, lessening burdens on the environment and our health. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are free but in limited quality. While walk-ins are welcome, priority will be given to ticket holders.

April 23: Sustainability Bus Tour from 1-2 p.m.

Tour the ground solar array at the Water Treatment Plant, visit the Central Park Wetlands and stop by a community garden. Space is limited, and registration is required.

April 29: Annual Free Shredding & Drug Take Back Event from 10 a.m.-noon in the Village Hall Parking Lot, 350 Victory Drive

Recycle sensitive documents and dispose of prescription drugs safely! Residency not required. Limit 2 copy paper-sized boxes of paper per vehicle. No three-ring binders, plastic sleeves, liquids or sharps. Pull up in your vehicle and the boxes will be retrieved from your trunk.

The Village of Park Forest is offers more than just the events listed above and in the handy graphic below. For a complete list of Earth Month events, please visit vopf.com/890/Earth-Month-2023 or go to villageofparkforest.com/sustainability for details and registration.

Prepare for Plastic Free July

Here are 18 things you can do to reduce plastic waste this Plastic Free July:

1. Bring your own shopping bag. If necessary, use paper bags.
2. Purchase secondhand.
3. Buy loose & in bulk. Buy items you purchase often in bulk with little to no packaging. Look for sustainable packaging options like glass or cardboard.
4. Use cloth diapers. 7.6 billion pounds of diapers are discarded in the U.S. each year.
5. Stop buying bottled water.
6. Ditch straws. If needed, use paper or metal alternatives.
7. Make your own cleaning products. Use nontoxic ingredients to improve indoor air quality and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottle cleaners.
8. Skip products with microbeads. These beads pass through water treatment plants and cause harm to animals.
9. Use reusable containers. Skip plastic baggies or wrap. Use green, durable alternatives such as glass jars, cloth produce bags, or beeswax wrap.
10. Recycle!
11. Cook like a natural. If you cook with less processed food, you’ll reduce packaging waste.
12. Shave smart. Eliminate plastic disposal razors. Use razors with replaceable blades.
13. Keep a zero-waste kit. When planning a day out, pack your travel mug, metal container, jar for leftovers, napkin, and real utensils.
14. Use natural sponges. Use cotton rags or cellulose sponges like loofah, hemp, or bamboo.
15. Skip K-cups! Grind your own coffee or have it ground at the store.
16. Shop at a farmer’s market. Buy fresh, local, unpackaged produce!
17. Don’t trash it! Compost it. Composting reduces plastic garbage bags and lowers CO2 emissions. Composting helps grow unpackaged food.
18. Refuse stuff. Tell your server you don’t want a straw or you brought your own cutlery or takeout container.

Spread the word about these Plastic Free July tips using the image or pdf below!

csgc-plastic-free-july-2022-pdf-1Download