Cast-offs by the carloads converged on the Parker Junior High parking lot Saturday, April 25, for the Flossmoor Green Commission’s annual Recyclepalooza.
Stephanie Wright, Flossmoor’s community engagement manager, said the annual event that gives donors a chance to get rid of their little-used and unwanted items, drew a crowd. There was a continuous line of cars from the time the event started at 9 a.m. Recyclepalooza was set to continue until noon, but the trucks accepting donations were full by around 11:30 a.m.
Green Commission volunteers were welcoming donors, and students from Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s National Honor Society helped collect items. Hilary Barker, a commission member, said Recyclepalooza was moved from September to April in keeping with Earth Day/Earth Month and to help community members with their spring cleaning.
Donor Chastety Brown drove to Flossmoor from Country Club Hills to donate two bikes, a TV and clothes. “I’m grateful for this activity,” she said.
Clothes and household items were collected by Helping Hands, a nonprofit organization. Clean Styrofoam, old American flags, trophies and a collection of other items were also accepted.
The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) Center at South Suburban College, a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents, brought a truck to collect TVs and electronics. It was full to overflowing.
The organization Working Bikes, based in Chicago, has been coming to Recyclepalooza the past several years. Volunteer Jerry McNamara said he accepted fewer kids bikes and took more adult-size bikes this year, along with two pairs of roller skates.
There also was a recycling education initiative at Recyclepalooza. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus brought Loop, its recycling can mascot, to remind people of the reduce-reuse-recycle initiatives.
Edith Makra, director of MMC’s environmental initiative, said the group is using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to encourage greater recycling which is spotty among the organization’s 275 members, although she applauded Flossmoor for its work through Recyclepalooza and curbside recycling programs.
