COMPOST BINS

Compost food scraps and yard waste at home.   In addition to creating mulch for yards and gardens, composting at home means residents will dispose of less material in their waste.  See below for more information on composting and how-to links.

Currently, there is a state-wide ban on disposing of yard waste (e.g. grass clippings, leaves, etc.) in landfills. Many municipalities offer curbside pick-up of yard waste (check with your local village or city hall to find out what’s available.) If this type of service is not available, there are several compost facilities in Lake County that you can contact for further information. You can also check in the Where Should My Stuff Go?:  Recycle and Redirect Guide for more information about managing yardwaste.

Composting at home has two main benefits: you dispose of less material while making mulch for your plants!  Composting has many benefits for the homeowner, including lower utility bills. 

Composting at home requires a mix of materials high in nitrogen (such as grass clippings and leaves) and materials high in carbon (such as vegetable and fruit peelings).  University of Illinois Extension of Lake County Master Gardeners can also help you with technical questions related to home composting.  Contact them at (847) 223-8627 or on the web at: web.extension.uiuc.edu/lake 

RAIN BARRELS

Interested  in saving on your water bill and helping the environment? 

The Benefits of a Rain Barrel 

A rain barrel connected to your downspout is a great way to keep stormwater out of the system and to cut down your water bill!  Because you are collecting right off the roof, it has few contaminants and is perfect for watering the garden.

Diverting water from your downspout into rainwater catchment systems has several advantages:

• Helps recharge the water supply.
• Lowers the percentage of roof top rainfall as a component of urban runoff
• Saves money by lowering your water bill
• Reduces the volume of water flowing to the sewer treatment facilities.
• Backup source of water during times of drought or between rain showers.
• Helps keep our creeks, lakes and beaches clean.
• Naturally softened water - great for delicate houseplants, auto cleaning and window washing.
• Reduces the need for additional tax dollars earmarked for sewer expansion
• Chlorine-free water helps maintain a healthy biotic community in the soil
• Education tool for teaching residents about water conservation.