Kids & Family
In River Forest, The Block Party Goes Green
Village, Parks Foundation and residents team up for awareness campaign.
With summertime season tapping us on our warm-then-cold shoulders, it's time to start thinking about heading outdoors.
This year, River Forest civic institutions and residents are campaigning to raise awareness about environmentalism through "Green Block Parties," which organizers are hoping will serve as forums for residents to learn about the waste stream and reducing what's sent to landfills.
A key component of that effort will be educating residents about composting, so green block party hosts will receive a free kit containing a kitchen compost caddy, 20 composter discount coupons and a backyard "Earth Machine" composter, which, after the party wraps up, will stay in the neighborhood.
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It's important to note that the "launch" of the Green Block Party was scheduled for April 28 at the , but the location has been switched to The Depot, 401 Thatcher Avenue, to coincide with the . Volunteers for the cleanup will receive a free lunch, which will be followed by a composting demonstration where participants can compost their lunch scraps.
We're working to talk with some of the organizers behind the Green Block Party campaign to learn how this will all go down, but in the meantime here are a few tips for "greening" your outdoor events, courtesy of the village of River Forest:
Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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Assign a "Green Leader" or "Green Committee" to oversee the environmental impact of the event
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Reduce the use of paper, plastic, fuel, energy and water by eliminating all unnecessary consumption
Meet with all vendors and suppliers with clear guidelines before you commit to them to make sure they are on board
Purchase materials that can be consumed, reused or recycled; avoid styrofoam and unrecyclable plastic
Consider renting supplies
Consider packaging and transportation impact before ordering food items
If water bottles must be used, recycle them after use and use reusable bottles when possible
Pair every waste can with a recycling bin with clear signage
Make sure there are "green" volunteers assigned to the clean up team so materials are properly recycled
Adopt a no-idling policy for cars and trucks delivering supplies; encourage participants to walk, carpool or take public transportation to the event
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