KNIB News
MEDICATION DISPOSAL FIRST OF KIND IN AREA
June 14, 2008 brought a unique new program to the Northern Illinois area. For the first time ever, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, with cooperation of a number of local organizations, sponsored a collection of unused, unneeded and expired medications for safe disposal at the Machesney Park Mall. Over 500 local households took advantage of the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and disposed of over 2,000 pounds of medications.
We are thankful for the cooperation of Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christianson;Sheriff Dick Myers who provided security with the Sheriff's Mobile Command Center; the Pharmacy Department of OSF St. Anthony Medical Center; the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois; Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.; the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott and Veolia Environmental Services. Working together in this first ever major collaborative event these drugs were properly disposed of in a manner which would protect the environment.
We are thankful for the cooperation of Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christianson;Sheriff Dick Myers who provided security with the Sheriff's Mobile Command Center; the Pharmacy Department of OSF St. Anthony Medical Center; the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois; Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.; the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott and Veolia Environmental Services. Working together in this first ever major collaborative event these drugs were properly disposed of in a manner which would protect the environment.
Did You Know?
- 90% of consumers dispose of unused medicines down the toilet or in the trash?
- Prescription drugs are now the number one drug used by teenagers.
- 78,000 children per year under age five are treated for accidental medication poisoning in the U.S.
- The U.S.Geological Survey surveyed 139 streams across 30 states and found 80% of water samples contained residues of prescription and non-prescription drugs.
Expired or unwanted medicines, if flushed down the toilet or drain, are a source of pollution in wastewater. Because sewage treatment plants are not designed to deal with drugs, these chemicals can be released into streams, lakes, and groundwater and affect fish and other aquatic wildlife.
You might imagine that any substance safe enough for humans and pets to ingest as medication can’t cause environmental harm. But that may not be the case. If our medicines are reaching streams, rivers, and lakes, organisms living in these habitats may be continuously exposed to these drugs. Some aquatic organisms living in waters downstream from wastewater treatments plants are showing signs of developmental and reproductive problems. Researchers are working to determine whether pharmaceuticals are causing these effects.
You might imagine that any substance safe enough for humans and pets to ingest as medication can’t cause environmental harm. But that may not be the case. If our medicines are reaching streams, rivers, and lakes, organisms living in these habitats may be continuously exposed to these drugs. Some aquatic organisms living in waters downstream from wastewater treatments plants are showing signs of developmental and reproductive problems. Researchers are working to determine whether pharmaceuticals are causing these effects.
Other sponsors of the Medication Disposal included:
WTVO Channel 17/Fox 39
Ringland-Johnson Construction
Port-A-John of Roscoe
Rubloff Development.
2008 SPRING DRIVES TOP ALL!!
The spring of 2008 has already proven to be a very busy time with three terrific programs completed and a brand new community serving program just announced!
GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY
On Saturday, April 26 hundreds of Winnebago County residents mobilized, under the flag of the Great American Cleanup and organized by Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, to begin the spring cleanup of our streets and roads. Communities throughout Winnebago County were touched by the caring hands of county and city residents alike to pick up trash and litter alongside the roadways and make way for the beautiful spring flowers.
Thanks go particularly to Rockford Mayor Larry Morrisey and County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen for their personal appearance in support of this great effort.
All across America people have been gathering for the Great American Cleanup which is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful. Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful has been the only local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful since 1988.
SPRING METALS DRIVE BRINGS OUT OVER 1,000 RESIDENTS!!!
The weather conspired against us with rain, drizzle, cold winds, and chills galore, but that didn't top 1,116 cars from passing through the Spring Metals and Electronics Drive at Machesney Park Mall on Saturday, May 3rd. There was simply no end to the line from before 9AM right up till 3PM. And that's when the sun came out.
SPRING METALS DRIVE BRINGS OUT OVER 1,000 RESIDENTS!!!
The weather conspired against us with rain, drizzle, cold winds, and chills galore, but that didn't top 1,116 cars from passing through the Spring Metals and Electronics Drive at Machesney Park Mall on Saturday, May 3rd. There was simply no end to the line from before 9AM right up till 3PM. And that's when the sun came out.
The 56 volunteers were literally overwhelmed from beginning to end unloading computers, monitors, TV's, refrigerators, freezers and all sorts of scrap metals totaling over 117,400 pounds of goods which were processed for recycling into new products instead of lying in the landfill for archeologists to ponder over 1,000 year from now.
Thanks to our 2008 Metals and Electronics Drive Sponsors:
Jos. Behr & Sons
Riverside Community Bank
Rubloff Development
Al Grace Appliance
Zanocco Ace Hardware
Great Harvest Bread
Gray's IGA Super Markets
Port-A-Jon of Roscoe
SPRING CLOTHING DRIVE BREAKS ALL RECORDS!!
In contrast to the weather at the Metals Drive the week before, the day of the Spring Clothing Drive was a day to enjoy being out in. Saturday, May 10th was another record breaking Clothing Drive for Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful!
A record of 2,365 cars came through the seven collection points and brought an average weight of 42.4 pounds of clothing each for a total of 100,220 pounds. These donations of useable clothing are already on their way to overseas markets where they will get much more wear. Most of the 1.8 million pounds of clothing collected since 1999 has gone to places like Africa, South America, Central America and to some needier area of the U.S.
Thanks to the 121 absolutely super volunteers who gave 375 hours of time to this great effort. And thanks to the Hilander stores for providing the area needed to conduct this important event.
Keep watch for the Summer Clothing Drive coming up on July 12 located in the parking lot of the seven Hilander Stores in the area.
Exclusive Media Partnership
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful is pleased to have WTVO Channel 17/FOX39 as our exclusive media partner. This partnership will give us significant exposure in the Stateline area through news stories, event coverage, live broadcasts and volunteer support.
In addition, we are able to provide WTVO Channel 17/FOX39 with information on their website for the Stateline Green initiative. This is a unique alliance between our organizations and represents a strong commitment to protecting our environment through recycling, litter prevention and beautification as well as to increase public awareness.
The Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful and WTVO Channel 17/FOX39 partnership is forged to improve the service of two community minded organizations in their common goal of keeping the Stateline Green.
Have You Heard The Good News?
Suppose you could make a donation to support Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful and it wouldn't cost you a penny? Well, Now you can!
How many times a day do you use a search engine? By using a new search engine powered by Yahoo called GOODSEARCH you can make a donation to Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful every time you perform a search. Goodsearch can support KNIB with every search and it doesn't cost you a thing -- the money they donate comes from the advertisers.
Search engines generated more than $6 billion in revenue last year. Goodsearch donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charity you designate. You get those same good results from Yahoo and you give a donation to KNIB at the same time.
Next time you need to do a search use Goodsearch.com and enter Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful as your charity of choice. You get the Yahoo power and we get the penny.
And who says a penny isn't worth anything any more?
What Was Accomplished in 2007
- Educated over 1,100 children on the importance of environmental stewardship in Winnebago County classrooms
- Presented the environmental message to 603 adults in programs
- Gathered 313,370 pounds of clothing for reuse in America and developing countries
- Recycled 194,750 pounds of scrap metal saved from the landfill and recycled
- Involved 7,700 households in the first County-wide recycling effort
- Removed 61,500 pounds of litter from 75 miles of Winnebago County and municipal roads
- Accepted 180 tons of recyclable materials at our Recycling Center
- Collected over 12,000 crayons to be remolded and distributed to local children
- Over 30,000 Christmas trees were chipped into mulch for home landscaping saving them from the landfill
- Involved 1,058 community volunteers in the Great American Cleanup
- Returned $16.18 to the community for every dollar invested in us
Contact KNIB | 5417 N. Second Loves Park, IL 61111 | Phone : 815-637-1343 | Fax : 815-637-0525