Book Reuse, Recycling & Document Destruction

According to the EPA’s 2010 report more than two billion books are published each year. If you’re one of the many people that love reading one or more of them than you will certainly enjoy the County’s premiere Book Reuse and Recycling Event. 

Each year the Nature Center in Pilcher Park partners with the County by opening their doors for three consecutive days to allow residents, libraries, schools and businesses to drop off unwanted books for anyone to take completely FREE of Charge!

It’s an amazing event with people of all ages finding old classics and nearly brand new books.  If you have children, you will be excited to find books in great condition to help your little one explore the wonders of the literary world. 

Romance stories on one table with non-fiction novels of the political leaders and the famous on another. Do-it-yourself guides and college texts a few steps away.  Seriously, something for everyone and anything not taken is sent for recycling.

To cap it off, the County offers secure document destruction for any paperwork containing your social security number, bank account number or other number connected to your identity. 

A locked container is on site to place your paperwork in and this paperwork will be shredded and recycled.  It is always a good practice to tear any credit card offers or bank statements before placing them in your curbside recycling.

If you regularly receive paperwork with real identity information on it, you may want to purchase a shredder for home use. The shredded paper can be placed in a plastic grocery bag, tied shut and put in your recycling bin.  All paper sent to recycling facilities is shredded and pulped, a process that washes all ink off the page.

Credit card purchases made at stores, restaurants and over the internet tend to be far more of a concern than the curbside collection but if you remain anxious, please feel free to bring sensitive paperwork to this collection. Over the three days, an average of 30,000 books will pass through the Nature Center, most finding new homes in a great reuse program.  Join the fun, bring the family or come alone, either way you are sure to enjoy the experience!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 8, 9 and 10 from 9am to 4pm at the Joliet Park District’s Pilcher Park at 2501 Highland Park Drive.  A map is on the County’s greenest website, on the calendar of events at www.willcountygreen.com