Hundreds join recycling effort at Recyclepalooza 2.0

The Flossmoor Green Committee is calling the second annual Recyclepalooza event on Saturday, May 6, “an overwhelming success.” From 10 a.m. through 3 p.m., a steady stream of cars with Homewood-Flossmoor area residents happy to de-clutter came through the Parker Junior High parking lot in Flossmoor.

The Flossmoor Green Committee is calling the second annual Recyclepalooza event on Saturday, May 6, “an overwhelming success.” From 10 a.m. through 3 p.m., a steady stream of cars with Homewood-Flossmoor area residents happy to de-clutter came through the Parker Junior High parking lot in Flossmoor.

The event gave them the chance to recycle old television sets and bikes, discarded clothing and other items, and to turn over boxes, bags and files of paper for shredding.

Organizers Maggie Bachus and Carrie Malfeo of Flossmoor’s Green Committee said involvement doubled from last year’s first-time effort. Estimates are more than 600 cars went through the drop-off line.

Bachus was excited to see the event grow. She calls it a community gathering that allows residents “to do something important for the Earth.”

“Our hope is that residents realize how many incredible local agencies and businesses will recycle items for you any day of the week,” Malfeo said. “Recyclepalooza is about awareness and recognition that we live in a community that cares. People took time out of their busy Saturday to reduce waste that would have easily gone to a landfill or polluted the Earth,” she stressed.

Volunteers acted as traffic cops directing cars into two lines, while students from Parker Junior High, Infant Jesus of Prague School and Homewood-Flossmoor High School spent time emptying cars of cast-off items.

The Green Committee organized stations for a host of items: light bulbs and batteries went to Home Depot in Homewood; six large boxes of hotel shampoos and soaps will be donated to Respond Now; two truckloads of paper and magazines will be recycled; 75 pairs of eyeglasses will go to the Lions Club; 15 American flags will be properly disposed of by Veterans of Foreign Wars members; and eight SUVs were jammed with plastic bags and cardboard that went to the Target store in Matteson.

Bachus said the Salvation Army loaded a truck with clothing and small household items; Working Bikes was going to repair the dozens of bike donations sharing them in needy communities; Gaby Iron & Metal of Chicago Heights accepted metal and other scraps; and AM Greentek of South Chicago Heights accepted about 1,000 old television sets for a $20 collection fee, as well as computers and other electronics.

Alicia Uribe of Flossmoor gladly handed over her kids’ electronic games, an older printer and magazines before getting in line for paper shredding.

Jenny Carroll of Flossmoor was happy to see paper shredding offered this year. She also saved her ink jet cartridges the past year and had a box full of hangers.

“It’s a good opportunity to get some junk out of the house,” said Louis Barnes of Flossmoor who was going to drop off a small TV and electronics, eyeglasses and clothing.

“We made a difference in reducing waste and recycling right today!” Bachus said. The team gave special thanks to the Homewood and Flossmoor libraries and the Village of Flossmoor for covering the expense of the shredding service.

Recyclepalooza is run on a near zero budget. Malfeo said it works because of the volunteers. “Special thanks go many, many people and businesses who assisted in the success of our event,” Bachus said. Her list includes:

· Homewood Disposal Service

· Meijer in Flossmoor

· Walt’s Food Center in Homewood

· Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, Dave Ward and Brent Bachus

· Homewood Public Works, Byron Doerr

· Flossmoor Community Relations, Brian and Kate Goesel

· Homewood Public Library, Margaret Novak

· Parker Junior High, Liz Wallenius

· Infant Jesus of Prague, Jennifer O’Keefe

· Flossmoor’s Green Committee

· Village of Flossmoor, Laura Levy