How You — Yes, You — Can Keep Items out of Landfills, April 2021

By Francesca Kelly for Go Green Highland Park

Highland Park’s Spring Bulk Trash Collection Day is coming up, running on four consecutive Saturdays from April 24 through May 15. Every spring, Highland Park residents take advantage of this great service, offered through Lakeshore Recycling Systems, to clear out large items from the home or garage. And it is popular: for the past two years, the four-day event has produced over 400 tons each year in bulk trash. 

It’s always a relief to get rid of unwanted possessions that are taking up a lot of space. But once they’re out of our lives, their lives do continue elsewhere. So, where do they go? Are they recycled or simply dumped in a landfill?

Matthew Robins, Municipal Coordinator at Lakeshore Recycling Systems, has the answers to these questions. He explains that all bulk trash items go first to LRS’s sorting facility in Northbrook. If there are recyclable items in bulk trash, they will be recycled if possible or practical. Robins says that putting items in open cardboard boxes, so that they are easily viewed, is helpful for those at the sorting facility, especially if there are items in those boxes that could be recyclable. Bagged trash has a greater chance of going to landfill. Of several landfills in Lake County, LRS uses the facility in Zion. 

Robins explains that, even with a good effort at sorting out recyclables, “the vast majority of bulk trash does end up in landfills. And it’s always in our best interests to prevent as much as possible from going to landfills.”

How to accomplish that? What can we do with our unwanted stuff?

1. Give it away to someone else who needs it or wants it. You can offer items via online groups such as Next Door, Freecycle and Craigslist. The Facebook group “Highland Park and Highwood Illinois Buy Nothing Free/Box” has a mission to keep items out of landfills by passing them on to others. Remember the old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? You might be surprised to see what others want. And you can even offer to post items for neighbors who are less social-media savvy.
2. Donate it to charity. Thrift shops will take clothing and household items in good condition. The Highland Park Art Center will take decorative items and art for their regular “Recycled Art” sales.  Also try Savers, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat Restores and Humble Design. Some of these will even pick up your donations. Animal shelters will often accept old towels and bedding. You can also google “charity pickup” and find other organizations that will pick up from your home. If COVID-19 transmission rates are low, the City of Highland Park may organize a donation event where bulk items in good condition can be donated to local charities. Keep checking City emails, the city’s website and their Facebook page regularly.
3. Recycle at local stores. Many electronics and hardware stores, such as Best Buy, Staples, Ace Hardware and others will accept used electronics and tools. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Illinois (SWACO) operates a recycling center on Half Day Road. SWACO also has a terrific tool on their website called Where Do I Recycle This?
4. Encourage friends to recycle and donate along with you! 

In addition to environmental concerns, there is another compelling reason to donate items to charity: increased poverty rates and financial instability. “The need is so great now because of COVID-19,” says Robins. Rob Sabo, Highland Park Assistant City Manager, agrees. “I always encourage grass roots efforts for donation campaigns…There is power in word of mouth and neighbor-to-neighbor efforts to help encourage people to donate lightly used items rather than throwing them away.” 

Both Sabo and Robins assert that Spring Bulk Trash pickup is very popular among Highland Park citizens. Robins reminds residents that they may put out one bulk trash item (up to 50 pounds) every week with regular trash and recycling pickup. “They don’t have to wait until spring to get rid of that old mattress.”  

For more tips or questions about disposal, contact Lakeshore Recycling Systems at service@lrsrecycles.com 773-685-8811 7AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday.

To learn more about Go Green Highland Park, visit our website.