Making Green Work for You

Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist

Will County – Land Use

Will County created WillCountyGreen.com as a way to reach out to residents, businesses, schools and organizations throughout the community. Patch has offered us this opportunity to bring information to you through your preferred local news source.  Comments, suggestions and questions are always welcome.

Every day we can make choices that are better for the environment. At this time of year, most of us are cleaning our homes, washing windows and tossing out items accumulated during the long winter.  As you determine which cleaning products to use, consider a quick click to our cleaning alternatives page where we offer inexpensive, non-toxic or less-toxic cleaning options: http://www.willcountygreen.com/greenguide/cleaning_alternatives_.aspx

You might want to dispose of hazardous items, such as oil/gas mix from the snow blower, old gasoline from the lawn mower (this can often be added to a full tank of gas in your car since your car engine is better able to handle old gasoline than a small mower engine); you may have expired medication or pesticides and fertilizers you don’t need.  These items and many more are accepted at our household hazardous waste events on May 7 and May 14. See our event calendar for the Bolingbrook and Plainfield location information: http://www.willcountygreen.com/events/

Now that the weather is improving, maybe you’ll start a garden or consider home improvements. There are many inexpensive ways to save energy, as well as rebates from ComEd and Nicor for some major improvements.  WillCountyGreen.com has tips and information, some given to us from the utility companies.  Recycling, conserving water and reducing energy use all save energy.

Our actions, at home or work, do make a difference.