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October 2026-We are proud to announce that Highland Park has been recertified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation for a 4th year. Thank you to everyone who has certified their spaces and come out to learn about the benefits and joys of native gardening
From SWALCO: Hefty ReNew Program to End Nationwide
GURNEE, Ill.—Reynolds Consumer Products has announced that the Hefty ReNew Program will be phased out nationwide. The program has been offered in several northeast Illinois communities, including Highland Park and Highwood.
The Hefty ReNew Program was designed to offer residents the opportunity to collect and recycle plastics that are not accepted in traditional curbside recycling programs. According to Reynolds Consumer Products, the recycling infrastructure needed to consistently manage such a broad range of materials and align with community preferences had not developed at the pace or scale anticipated.
What Residents Need to Know:
Residents who currently participate in the program can continue using their orange bags until June 30, 2027.
Hefty ReNew bag sales will be discontinued at retailers by the end of 2026.
Collection of filled Hefty ReNew bags will continue through June 30, 2027.
After June 2027, residents with unused bags can contact Hefty by visiting the Hefty ReNew webpage for return and refund instructions. Hefty will then coordinate the responsible processing of any returned bags.
After the program ends, residents should continue following local recycling guidelines and should not place Hefty ReNew materials in their regular recycling carts.
As an alternative, some local grocery stores and retailers offer store drop-off programs for plastic bags and other flexible plastic materials. Accepted materials vary by location, so residents should check the store’s guidelines before dropping off materials. SWALCO remains committed to helping residents understand what can be recycled and identifying responsible opportunities to reduce waste, reuse materials, and increase recycling.
Residents can learn more by visiting the Hefty ReNew webpage and can contact Hefty directly by visiting www.hefty.com/contact-us
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:
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!
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Highland Park residents working together for a healthier and more sustainable community.
Environmental Wins in Illinois...And What Comes Next
visit.northbrook.info
Join Sergio Vargas of the Illinois Environmental Council for an overview of Illinois’ environmental legislation on topics such as plastic & waste, habitat conservation, energy, and more. . Event sta...
