Local News |

Lake Zurich saving shoes and Styrofoam from landfills, offering recycling drop offs for both

In Lake Zurich, shoes and Styrofoam are no-nos for deposit into curbside recycling bins, but those items can be brought to drop-off locations in the village.

“It’s important that we all work together as a society to try and do what we can to reduce the amount of waste that we’re creating,” said Kyle Kordell, assistant to the village manager.

He explained that the landfill in Zion had been projected to be full in seven years. The site was expanded in 2011 and is now expected to be full by 2028 – and at least 110 acres bigger.

“Our local landfills are filling up fast. I don’t know what the ultimate solution is, but we’ve all got to do our part to reduce the amount of stuff going in there, especially if it can be reused,” said Kordell.

Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, which is headquartered in Gurnee, offers more than 50 year-round locations where shoes can be dropped off for recycling as part of the Reuse-A-Shoe Program. There are two in Lake Zurich: Fire Station No. 1, 321 S. Buesching Road, and Paulus Park Barn, 200 S. Rand Road.

“There’s a box in the lobby of each building,” Kordell said about each Lake Zurich drop-off location, which are accessible during regular business hours. “The only thing people really need to do is please remember to use shoelaces to tie shoes together or rubber band them.”

Kordell explained that a number of municipalities have shoe collection sites, which all get fed into Solid Waste Agency of Lake County. Additionally, said Kordell, who is also on the waste agency’s board, churches and other groups also collect shoes for recycling. The village of Lake Zurich has been doing it for about four years, he said.

The waste agency estimates that 85% of shoes end up in landfills, something Kordell says is “an eye-popping statistic that creates lots of waste.”

New, gently used or worn footwear, including athletic, dress and casual shoes, as well as fashion, hiking, rain and work boots, cleats, slippers, Crocs-brand shoes, sandals, flip-flops and clogs are accepted.

Moldy or wet shoes, ice skates, rollerblades and snow boots are not accepted, officials explained.

Kordell said about 95% of shoes put in the recycling bins are reused, including being donated to nations with high poverty rates around the world.

The village coordinates with Merleanne Rampale, public information officer and education director for Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, for several programs including clothing and textile collection and residential electronics recycling.

In early spring Lake Zurich Trustee Marc Spacone suggested that village officials look into Styrofoam recycling. A pilot program began in April in partnership with Dart Container Corp. and Pactiv Evergreen. While Dart picks up the donated materials and takes it to its North Aurora facility, Pactiv Green provides the trailer where it is collected and held.

“They turn it into new products,” Kordell said about Dart.

Lake Zurich and Highland Park are the only towns in Lake County that accept Styrofoam for recycling, according to Kordell.

Styrofoam from food service and packaging products – which have the number 6 inside the triangle recycling symbol – may be dropped off for recycling. However, the containers should be clean and dry. Straws, lids, labels, tape, trash, packaging peanuts, Styrofoam insulation and commercial Styrofoam are not accepted, officials explained.

Styrofoam can be dropped off on scheduled days and times in the container behind American Legion Post 964, 51 Lions Drive.

“The community has really embraced it. I think this is here to stay now in some capacity,” Kordell said.

He said an estimated 30% of landfill space in this country includes Styrofoam waste, material that isn’t usually biodegradable and could take centuries to decompose.

Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.