RECYCLE

Be Green!  Recycle!

On the Waterfront implemented a recycling program seven years ago that diverted more than 12 tons of recyclables from our landfills.  We will continue with this program in 2011 and ask patrons to help us by placing their aluminum, cardboard, glass, and plastic recyclables in blue recycling bins throughout the Festival grounds.  Please do not place any food items, contaminated waste, serving utensils, wax paper cups, or other non-recyclables in these blue bins.  Please use the regular trash boxes for these items.

This project is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

What was once known as the Festival Clean Team, is now the Green Team. This group will not only have the tough duty of keeping the grounds clean but will also make sure that recyclable items get into the appropriate receptacles and dumpsters.

Through the Rockford Park District, you can help keep Rockford green all year long. Recycling containers are located at nine Rockford Park District parks and facilities including Sportscore II.

Thank you for your help in keeping the Rockford area green!

On the Waterfront Goes Green!

12 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP REDUCE WASTE

Recycling keeps our environment clean and safe so that in years to come we will still have a healthy place to live and raise our families. There are plenty of ways that you can help at home to do your part in keeping the Earth clean! Below are just a few of the millions of things you can do to help out!

• When shopping, look for the recycling logo on packaging.
• Know what can and cannot be recycled in your community. Remember, even if there is a recycle logo on the package, it can only be recycled if facilities exist in your area.
• Avoid using paper plates, paper napkins, paper towels and plastic silverware. These items are not recyclable. If you must use these items, look for ones containing recycled content.
• Use Tupperware or other reusables instead of plastic baggies to store your leftovers and lunches. Plastic baggies may seem small, but they really add up as they cannot be recycled and must be thrown out.
• Avoid using Styrofoam. It is not recyclable and does not decompose in landfills.
• When going out for fast food, only take the amount of napkins and condiment packages that you need. These items add up quickly in a landfill.
• If you need to use something only once, borrow it instead of buying a new one. If you must buy it, buy the one that will last.
• Create your own compost pile in your backyard. Compost makes a great fertilizer and best of all it’s free! It is also a better way to dispose of leaves, because burning them releases harmful toxins into the air.
• Use rechargeable batteries instead of buying new ones and throwing the old ones away.
• Use Compact Florescent Bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. You’ll save money, keep old bulbs out of the landfill and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions- a main greenhouse gas- by 900 pounds each year. Due to their long life and efficient energy use, each Compact Florescent Bulb installed will save as much as $25 during the lifetime of the bulb in energy costs.
• Donate old clothes to the Rescue Mission or Salvation Army.
• Most importantly, buy products made from recycled materials. In order for recycling to be effective, we must close the loop.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Every ton of paper made from recycled materials saves 17 trees, 6953 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space, and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy.
• If all morning newspapers in the US were recycled for just one day, the equivalent of 41,000 trees would be saved and 6 million tons of wast would never end up in landfills.
• Making recycled paper generates 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution.
• Recycling just one glass bottle or jar saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours.
• Recycling 10 tons of recycled plastic bottles saves the energy equivalent of 200 gallons of gasoline.
• Recycling one pound of steel can power a 60-watt light bulb for more than a day.
• One aluminum can saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 3 1/2 hours.

FACTS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

• 2002 – Before Recycling Program – we had generated 52 tons of waste that went into our landfills.
• 2003 – First year of the new Recycling Program – we generated 45 total tons of trash with 3.35 tons of it recycled, which is 7.4% of the total that was recycled.
• 2004 – Second year of the Recycle Program – we generated a total of 40.7 tons of trash with 8.24 tons that were recycled, which is 20.2% of the total that was recycled. We made a note that the Country music night at the Great Lawn stage generated the most trash that year.
• 2005 – Third year of the Recycle Program – we generated a total of 37.19 tons of trash with 4.04 tons recycled, which is 10.9%.
• 2006 – Fourth year of Recycle Program – we generated a total of 34.11 tons of trash with 4.04 tons recycled, which is 11.8%.
• 2007 – Fifth year of Recycle Program – we generated a total of 32.48 tons of trash with 7.65 tons recycled, which is 23.6%.
• 2008 – Sixth year of Recycle Program – we generated a total of 31.26 tons of trash with 7.34 tons recycled, which is 23.5%.