News Flash

One of the Village’s major sustainability initiatives is to transition to once a week refuse collection for all Village of Skokie residents living in single-family homes and housing with four or fewer units. Optimizing refuse service provides multiple benefits that support the Village of Skokie’s Environmental Sustainability Plan such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lessening noise pollution in residential areas, and encouraging residents to consider whether an item can be recycled or composted instead of placed in trash. After a study conducted by Village staff revealed that a clear majority of residents did not need a second pickup, the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission recommended the change and, in November 2022, the Village Board voted unanimously to approve this proposal.

Public Works is putting the final touches on its transition plan and details including a new collection map and a start date for the new program will be announced in early March. The announcement will be mailed to all residents, posted on the Village website (skokie.org) and shared in the SkokieNews enewsletter and on the Village Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Residents concerned about this transition are encouraged to use the next few months to review their refuse habits. The EPA estimates that 75 percent of the American waste stream is capable of being recycled or composted.

So, what can you do to cut back on your trash?

• Compost your food scraps through the Collective Resource curbside food scrap collection, in your backyard compost bin, or at one of the Village’s soon-to-be-available free drop-off composting sites
• Utilize the Village’s curbside recycling program for plastics, glass, metal and paper
• Recycle clothing and other textiles
• Search the Solid Waste Agency of North Cook County’s A-Z Reuse/Recycle directory to learn how to recycle other items like electronics, small appliances, batteries, and more
• Stop waste before it is generated by utilizing reusable water bottles and shopping bags, checking books out of the library instead of purchasing, borrowing items from friends and neighbors - there are MANY ways to reduce waste