We’ve made a personal commitment that each year we would do something to expand the program and in 2011 we added Holiday Lights Recycling. To-date we have collected 13,600 pounds of non-working or broken Holiday Lights.
In 2013 we were the proud recipient of a grant from The Pollination Project which recognizes “individual change makers” across the globe emphasizing projects that expand compassion in our world. These funds enabled us to create this very website which will move us towards our goal of creating a "zero waste" campaign. We are most grateful for this recognition of our community and our innovative, resident-led grass roots effort. In 2018 the program was turned over to Irons Oaks.
Thank you for your participation in this HF Holiday Tradition!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed,
it's the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
HISTORY & SUCCESS
Tony and I moved back to Flossmoor in 2009 after living in the city of Chicago. Following our first Christmas Season here we were surprised to see so many Christmas Trees curbside waiting to be picked up by local disposal companies and dumped into landfill. We instantly knew there had to be a better way and saw this as an opportunity to gather the community together around a common cause.
We contacted Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center to see if they would be interested in serving as the drop off location for the Trees and then being the recipient of the mulch and chippings. We received a very warm response and a hearty “Yes!” We contacted the very active Western Avenue School Green Team and asked them to be co-presenters. We then reached out to local individuals, businesses, churches and organizations which we knew were already environmentally engaged asking them to come on board.
Soon we had the support from the Villages of Homewood and Flossmoor. In our first 11 years we've collected an estimated 7,900 Christmas Trees. These vital nutrients are being diverted from landfill and being put to good use at various HF Park District locations.