Go Green HP, SWALCO, PDHP and The City of Highland Park celebrated International Compost Awareness Week 2026(ICAW) with residents on a sunny May 9 at the Hidden Creek Aquapark lot.
We gave away 20 cubic yards(that’s a whole truckload) of locally-made, nutrient-rich compost, and 50 herb seedlings. Our friends from Harmony Coffee Bar handed out used grounds to add to home compost piles. The City Sustainability Manager, Austin Knight, helped out along with other new friendly volunteers.

The word is “spreading” about the benefits of compost, we had over 200 cars come through this year, that double the number of visitors we hosted in 2025.

Composting is nature’s way of recycling food scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials, so this year we added more recycling by inviting Shred Spot to provide on-site document shredding. Their website tells us that “the shredded paper is baled and sent to paper mills for recycling. It is turned into paper towels and toilet paper. Cardboard boxes are baled separately and sent to cardboard plants for recycling. It becomes new cardboard.” HP residents brought 6,560 pounds, that’s 3.28 tons, of confidential docs/paper shredded and recycled! We think it was a big success and a great addition to a favorite community event and hope to include the shred truck in future givebacks.

Thank you to the Park District staff that set the traffic cones and barricades, it made the event safe and easy to navigate for everyone.

To learn more about making and using compost check out the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition website.  

Climate Coach Program

Residents are taking advantage of the knowledge of fellow Highland Parkers. One resident who talked with a Climate Coach about installing solar panels and establishing a native garden said, “It’s a great program and I hope people will use it.” 

Do you want to:

•  “Go Green” by making your home more energy efficient?
• ·Save money with incentives for solar, insulation or appliances before they go away?
• ·Create a pollinator-friendly zone in your yard?

Our Climate Coaches are here to help you get started!

Sign up to talk with a Highland Park Climate Coach! Climate coaches are neighbors who have implemented a variety of different solutions to make their homes more efficient and climate friendly. Sessions can take place via a phone call or in-person and take around 30 minutes. Coaches are volunteers and are not affiliated with any vendors or contractors they recommend. 

Example topics include: electrifying your home, planting native gardens, installing solar energy or heat pumps, purchasing an electric vehicle, insulating drafty homes and more. 

Click the orange button below to talk with a Climate Coach today!