About Go Green Barrington
Our Mission
Green Partners
Get Involved
The mission of Go Green Barrington is to raise environmental awareness in the Barrington area and to inspire people to take individual actions to make a difference. Go Green Barrington works with community groups as well as individual residents, businesses, and government bodies to educate and advocate on behalf of the Earth and its peo
The mission of Go Green Barrington is to raise environmental awareness in the Barrington area and to inspire people to take individual actions to make a difference. Go Green Barrington works with community groups as well as individual residents, businesses, and government bodies to educate and advocate on behalf of the Earth and its people. Each step by each person in our community is a step closer to making the Barrington area a cleaner, healthier place to live.
Get Involved
Green Partners
Get Involved
Are you passionate about reducing plastic waste and taking other steps to help the environment? Would you like to hear speakers on particular topics? Let us know! We are always looking for new members and new ideas to help us make our vision a reality.
We encourage attendance at events and volunteer opportunities hosted by our Green Partners.
Contact us to add your event to our list.
Green Partners
Green Partners
Green Partners
Barrington joins in the fight for the environment! Go Green Barrington is an active member of Go Green Illinois.
Look at this list of just some of the many groups all acting as stewards of the environment:
Citizens for Conservation
Barrington Rotary Club
Mindful Waste
Smart Farm of Barrington
Illinois Ocean Coalition
One Earth Film Festival
Coalition for Plastic Reduction
Go Green Initiatives
Let’s Shedd Plastic
Reduce Plastic Waste
Let’s Shedd Plastic
Help Reduce Plastic Waste.
Go Green Barrington supports Shedd Aquarium’s “Let’s Shedd Plastic” program.
What can you do? In addition to using your own reusable cup and reducing plastic at home, you can support restaurants that allow you to use your own take out container or provide non-plastic options.
Improve Recycling
Reduce Plastic Waste
Let’s Shedd Plastic
The first priority is to Reduce and Refuse especially single use plastic, but when you must dispose of an item, sort and search out proper recycling centers.
FOR EXAMPLE: How do you recycle old artificial holiday trees? Where can I take styrofoam? Where can I take a mattress that is beyond use by a charity?
Go Green Barrington works to educate residents about recycling and to advocate for more recycling resources in our Village.
Reduce Plastic Waste
Reduce Plastic Waste
Reduce Plastic Waste
ONE HUNDRED Olympic Swimming pools-- that is what it would take to hold the 11 million pounds of plastic pollution in Lake Michigan. Single-use plastic, designed to be used once and then thrown away, is a major contributor.
Go Green Barrington works to inspire each person to reduce his or her use of single-use plastics. We also advocate for laws to reduce single-use plastic in the state of Illinois.
Raise your voice against plastic pollution!
GREEN DRINKS
Reduce Plastic Waste
Join us for "Green Drinks" when people who believe in the environment meet, learn, and discuss ways to help. Free & informal. Everyone is welcome!
Our Green Drinks are temporarily suspended, but we cannot wait to see you all again soon!
Go Solar!
Go Solar!
WHY GO SOLAR?
A residence uses 10,399 kilowatt hrs.
Every kilowatt hour of electricity produced from fossil fuels generates 1.84 lbs of carbon dioxide.
Learn more about solar:
Test a Solar Calculator on your house: https://www.comed.com/SmartEnergy/InnovationTechnology/Pages/GoingSolar.aspx
Community Solar is a great option for those with roofs not suited for solar panels. See www.trajectoryenergy.com
Advocate For Reduction of Single-Use Plastics
Follow These Steps From Shedd Aquarium:
Communities across Illinois and the Great Lakes region are already taking action to curb plastic pollution, but we need to make sure the scale and pace of action matches the enormity of the problem.
Raise your voice today!
Please call your state legislators today and let them know that you support laws that reduce single-use plastic in the state of Illinois. You can find your representative and their phone number at Illinois Policy by clicking on the image of the Illinois Capitol. Then share this message directly:
I am a constituent of Representative/Senator ______and I live in _______. I am calling on Representative/Senator _______ today to support legislation that will reduce single-use plastic in Illinois.
The Great Lakes provides drinking water for more than 40 million people and supports 3,500+ species of plants and animals. Our local waters are an essential part of our local environment and economy. They are too precious to foul with plastic pollution.
I hope I can count on the representative's/senator's support.
Thank you for your time.
Your voice can make a difference. Join in fighting plastic pollution!
Go Green Recommends Refuse & Reduce, especially single-use plastic. When we must dispose of something, SORTING leads to a better chance of recycling. Things such as Textiles and Thin Plastic Film must go to Special Recycling Centers
Old & Worn Shoes
Drop off old or worn out shoes at several locations including Cuba Township Offices at 28000 W. Cuba Road or click the image for more locations.
Styrofoam
Take it to these locations instead:
- Abt Electronics, 1200 N. Milwaukee Ave. (White styrofoam, no peanuts)
- Algonquin Public Works, 110 Meyer Drive (both colored and white styrofoam)
- Or Drop off on Go Green porches. Contact us for more information
Thin Plastic called "Film"
Take all thin plastic film to bins at Jewel or click the image to find other locations. This includes water softener bags, cereal box liners, and any plastic "film."
Craft Supplies
Many Other Special Recycling Spots
Did you start a craft project but never finish? Please donate your unwanted art supplies and tools to
Brushwood Center Art Supply Exchange at
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods,
21850 N. Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015
or donate these items to SCARCE in Addision, IL. See details at Scarce.org
Corks
Many Other Special Recycling Spots
Many Other Special Recycling Spots
Take corks (real and synthentic) to
Barrington Public Works,
300 N. Raymond Ave. or
or South Barrington Village Hall
Many Other Special Recycling Spots
Many Other Special Recycling Spots
Many Other Special Recycling Spots
Many more things can be recycled at special locations but should not be put in the curbside bin.
More Steps We Can Take
Harms of Salt!
Chloride hurts plants and animals and never leaves the system! Thanks to McHenry County Division of Water Resources for these tips about the impacts and proper use of salt.
Composting
One of the biggest items in landfills is organic waste. Go Green Barrington supports reduction of food waste and composting. Mindful Waste is an organization leading the way in the Northwest Suburbs on food waste reduction. Please click this link to learn more.
Stop Idling!
12 Million Gallons of Fuel is Wasted by Idling in the U.S. Every Day!
10 Seconds of Idling wastes more fuel than restarting.
Natural Lawn Care
Do Not Flush Old Drugs
Research before you apply chemicals to your lawn. Some cause dangerous run off to the water supply and harm wildlife. Another good practice is to "Raise the Blade" and keep your grass longer.
Do Not Flush Old Drugs
Do Not Flush Old Drugs
Do Not Flush Old Drugs
Flushing unused medication will allow it to enter the water supply. Drop it off at Walgreens in Lake Zurich (910 Rand Road) or CVS in Crystal Lake.
Empty Pill Bottles may be sent to: Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242 or message Go Green for other locations.
Ban Coal Tar Sealants
Do Not Flush Old Drugs
Do Not Flush Old Drugs
Coal tar sealants may cause cancer and harm wildlife. Asphalt based sealants are a good substitute. Research the companies you hire and the products you use.
Green Partners
Citizens for Conservation
Dedicated to preserving the environment, Citizens for Conservation provides information on native plants and ways to volunteer to help our community.
Barrington Rotary Club
Rotary International declared "protecting the environment" as one of main areas of focus, and this Club takes on that mission wholeheartedly. They host environmental speakers, lead the installation of pollinator gardens, and further many other environmental projects.
Go Green Illinois
Go Green Illinois works to encourage and support the establishment of citizen's environmental groups in every community in the northern suburbs, to share best practices among the groups and to collaborate on addressing environmental challenges that cross municipal boundaries. Learn about how to manage stormwater, how to use solar panels, and much more.
Mindful Waste
Mindful Waste works to eliminate food waste through prevention, education, and recovery.
Coalition for Plastic Reduction
Organizations and individuals are banding together to champion legislation that fights plastic waste and pollution. Read more about the Coalition for Plastic Reduction.