Environment and Sustainability | August 2023
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Cook County Receives Statewide Recycling Award
The Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) recently received the Outstanding Public Sector Award from the Illinois Recycling Foundation acknowledging the County’s first-ever Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM Center). The CHaRM Center provides a permanent location for residents to drop-off items for reuse or recycle that diverts waste from landfills, waterways and vacant lots.
The award recognizes a community, county or publicly funded institution for a recycling or composting effort, program or event that successfully achieves or promotes diversion. The award was presented to Cook County Government for establishing the first CHaRM Center in the state of Illinois. Cook County celebrated the grand opening of the CHaRM Center in South Holland, IL on Earth Day April 22, 2023.
Over 600 residents from 61 municipalities across Cook County attended the grand opening. To date, nearly 37,000 pounds of materials have been collected to be refurbished or recycled.
Click here to view the list of accepted materials, hours and location of the CHaRM Center.
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Interested in solar for your home? Take a look at Solar Switch Chicagoland
Solar Switch Chicagoland makes solar energy more accessible and affordable for Cook County residents through community education and volume purchasing, which can significantly reduce the up-front costs of installing solar on your home. Information sessions and site assessments are free and are the perfect opportunity for residents to explore the benefits of solar energy to save on utility bills. Cook County has partnered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and the Citizens Utility Board to offer this program.
Residents, nonprofits and small business owners can learn more by visiting the website, and can view the pre-recorded Solar Power Hour webinar or attend an in-person Solar Power Hour. Then, register for the program to receive a personal offer from the program’s installer. The Solar Switch Chicagoland program closes on Wednesday, September 13th.
Upcoming Solar Power Hours:
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Saturday, August 19, 9 a.m. at Westchester Village Hall: Board Room, 10300 Roosevelt Rd, Westchester, IL
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Tuesday, August 22, 7 p.m. at Homewood Public Library, details here
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Monday, September 11, 6 p.m. at Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library, 19901 Stoney Island Ave, Lynwood, IL
Learn more about Geothermal Energy for your home with Grow Geo Chicagoland
Homeowners and business owners in the Chicagoland area can take advantage of record-low geothermal pricing through a limited-time geothermal group purchase program. Grow Geo Chicagoland can help residents invest in lower cost geothermal installations through the power of volume purchasing. All Chicagoland area homes and small business owners are welcome apply!
Geothermal heat systems are an energy efficient method for heating and cooling homes. These systems pump heat from the ground into the home in cold months and release heat from the home into the ground in hotter months by moving heat instead of generating it. Geothermal heat systems can reduce home energy costs up to 70% compared to traditional systems.
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DES Welcomes New Staff Members
We are pleased to announce two new staff members! Business Manager Jackie Lopez and Engineer III – American Rescue Plan Act Assets Manager Buddy Mahakul.
Lopez is the procurement liaison and timekeeper for the department and performs occasional human resources duties for our staff. She comes to DES from the private sector as the director of operations overseeing the day-to-day operations at a contractor for the U.S. Department of Education. Lopez is working towards a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She enjoys traveling, riding her bike and working out.
Mahakul supports multiple divisions of DES. He is working with brownfield site development, asbestos demolition and solid waste inspections. Mahakul previously worked for Progress Rail as the manager of emission compliance where he led introduction of new rules for emissions, certification and compliance activities. He developed EPA-compliant locomotives, generated emission credits and guided locomotive emission rules and procedures for Progress Rail in China and India. Mahakul earned a degree at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England. He enjoys watching sports and following the development of hydrogen related technologies for greenhouse gas reduction.
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