Recycling and Conservation: Environmental Events

Updated June 6, 2007

See www.epa.state.il.us/land/citizen-involvement/ for details on state tire events and household hazardous waste events. Tazewell and Knox Counties are hosting a tire event in 2007.

Check back for Peoria County's community tire events and community cleanups, new for 2007.

Saturday April 21st
Electronics and Appliance Collection - 9am-2pm
(located at Northwoods Mall, Firestone Parking Lot - Sterling Avenue)

• Accepting: all electronics and major appliances, batteries, and manuals
• $5 disposal fee for appliances and computer monitors
• $10 disposal fee for televisions 27" and under; $25 over 27"
• Can't make the event? Deliver electronics (no major appliances) to Recycling for Illinois' warehouse located at 401 NE Rock Island Avenue. Call 682-0675 for more info.

Saturday April 21st
Earth Day @ Forest Park Nature Center - 11am-4pm
(located at the foot of Forest Park Drive in Peoria Heights. 309/686-3360)

• Live music from the LR Band beginning @ 11am
• “Stories and Songs for the Planet” @ 12 pm
• Earth Beat Drums: Drum session @ 2pm
• Food from One World Café
• Educational materials & hands-on demos
• Kids crafts, face painting & mural painting
• Annual Earth Day Sale at Trailhead Nature Store
• Native prairie plants and trees
• Eco-friendly & nature-related items, and a whole lot more!

Sunday April 22nd
Clean Water Celebration Walk & Community Event - 12-4pm
(Downtown Peoria under the Gateway Building. 309/495-4932)

• Opening Ceremonies for Clean Water Celebration
  Noon - a Native American Blessing for the River, a Parade of Waters, and a presentation of the Making Waves awards.
• Walk for the Earth, Wind, & Water
  1-3pm - Walk a total of 1 mile or 3 miles to help raise money for future Clean Water Celebrations in Peoria. $15 through April 15, 2007; $20 after this date. $10 for ages 18 & under and 65 & over. Call 495-4932 for details.
• Earth Day Vendor Booths
  12-4pm - Environmentally-friendly vendors and products on display. A special exhibit of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles will be on display.

Monday April 23rd
Clean Water Celebration 9am-2pm
(Peoria Civic Center - Downtown Peoria)

• Come and learn about our planet's incredible natural resource - water. David Zalaznik, PJS photographer will offer a multimedia presentation and discussion of the photographs he has taken of the Illinois River during his 17 years as staff photographer, and a production of "Voices of the River" by Prairie Folklore Theater (at 9 and 11am). There will also be displays, vendors and educational sessions that pertain to this incredible natural resource.

Thursday May 10
Tazewell County Environmental Education Day
(call 309-925-5511 for more details)

Monday - Wednesday June 11 - 13
Illinois Recycling and Solid Waste Management Conference & Trade Show (see www.illinoisjointconference.com for more info.)

• The Illinois Recycling Association (IRA), Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association (ILCSWMA) and Illinois Chapter of SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) are venturing on a first for Illinois and it's coming to Peoria. For the first time, these three organizations are collaborating to put on a conference you can't miss.
• Tuesday Keynote: Jerry Powell, editor and publisher of Resource Recycling, will assess key trends and offer a handful of predictions on where waste management is going. Dr. Rathje was originally scheduled to give the keynote but had to cancel due to health considerations. He will be presenting at the 2008 annual IRA conference.
• Stay for information sessions, network with environmental officials around the state, tour the exhibit hall, check out the silent auction, and congratulate individuals and organizations awarded for their continued support of environmental efforts.

Friday - Saturday September 7-8 - (Tentative dates - subject to change)
IEPA Tire event - sponsored by Knox County See www.epa.state.il.us/land/citizen-involvement/ for more details on this and other tire events and Household Hazardous Waste events

Friday - Saturday October 12-13 - East Peoria Festival Building, 2200 E Washington Street

IEPA Tire event - sponsored by Tazewell County Health Dept. See www.epa.state.il.us/land/citizen-involvement/ for more details on this and other tire events and Household Hazardous Waste events.

Wednesday October 17
Earth Day is Every Day - "Passport to a Healthy Planet"

• An event for 3rd graders from the Tri-County area to come to the Peoria Civic Center and learn about the environment.
• Students will travel from room to room learning how they can easily take care of their home planet. Exhibitors, local speakers, and a play from CLIMB Theatre, an educational touring children's theatre, are on the itinerary.