"Go Green"

Vernon Hills Initiatives:

The Village of Vernon Hills is part of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Greenest Region Compact collaborative, which supports sustainability and identifies ways to reduce our negative impacts on the environment while improving quality of life. Learn more by reviewing Village Resolution 2022-004, the Vernon Hills Greenest Region Compact webpage, and the 2021 Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region.
The Village is creating a Sustainability Planning Guide to help drive improvements within the Village. Learn More on the Village Sustainability webpage.
Tips for Trash, Food Scrapping, Composting – Setting up service with Waste Management – /DocumentCenter/View/8601
Residential Composting Quick Sheet – /DocumentCenter/View/8602
Solar Panel permits/info – The Village has developed a streamlined permit process for all residential permits, including the permit process for residential solar panels (see page 2 of the linked document). Please note that regardless of the vendor, installation does require that your roof meet a few criteria.
Prescription & OTC Drug Collection
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Waste Oil, Gas & Antifreeze
Clothing & Textiles Recycling
Shoe Recycling
Medical Sharps Disposal
Lake Restoration & Stream Management

Go Green Vernon Hills-Lincolnshire Group:

Facebook Link for local environmental conservation organization

Solid Waste Agency of Lake County Programs:

SWALCO.org
11 Great Things You Can Do in '22
Vernon Hills Guide to Recycling Right
Community Profile
Where Do I Recycle This Guide
Scrap Composting Program
Compost Bins and Rain Barrel Sales
Residential Electronics Recycling Program
Household Chemical Waste Program
Food Scrapping
Reuse a Shoe Recycling – Collection point at Vernon Hills Public Works, 490 Greenleaf Drive

Waste Management Services:

WM.com
Yard Waste/Food Scrap Sticker Information – information about seasonal subscriptions, including the combined Yard Waste/Food Scrapping collection options; Individual stickers are available at Village Hall, Sullivan Center, Walgreens, Mariano's and other suppliers as well as through Waste Management. Yard Waste collection runs April through late-November.
Recycle Right
What Can and Cannot be Recycled Curbside
Yard Waste
Waste Management Vernon Hills Guide

Alternate Energy Source Resources:

While ComEd is the electric delivery utility serving our community, you may select an alternate source for the actual energy portion of your service. ComEd offers the Estimator and Supplier List linked below to help you research which energy providers use wind, solar or other non-coal burning operations to generate energy. (Be sure to do your research; the Village does not endorse any of these suppliers but rather provides the ComEd links as a resource.)

Lake County Public Works Resources:

County Annual Water Quality Reports

Gardens & Planting Resources:

Full 2022 Illinois Extension/SWALCO Garden Series calendar
Lake County Forest Preserve Native Plant Sale/Resources
Rain Gardens - Illinois Extension
SWALCO Compost Bins & Rain Barrels
Lake County Storm Water Management Rain Barrel Info
Vernon Hills Park District Community Gardens
Info about Phosphorus - Lake County
Note that to protect water quality, Vernon Hills does not allow the sale or use of phosphorus fertilizers within the Village

Additional Reading Resources:

Article: Recycling Cart Tagging Program Helps Residents Recycle Right
In an effort to educate consumers about proper recycling, SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) has been participating in a recycling cart tagging program where staff members examine these items people place in their recycling carts. For each bin they look at, they leave a tag to let the resident know if all items in the cart were recyclable, or if there was an item or items in their cart that should not have been. If a mistake was made, staff members will put a note on the tag to let the consumer know how to dispose of that item. The program was most recently completed in Round Lake Beach, where 450 home were visited. SWALCO plans to partner with more communities in the future to offer this program. Watch this video to learn more.

Website: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Sustainable Management of Food – Reducing the Impact of Wasted Food by Feeding the Soil and Composting

Website: US Composting Council – What are the Benefits of Compost

Website: NOAA/Climate.gov – What can we do to slow or stop global warming?

Article: U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling To Figure Out A Future Without China

Article: Plastics: What's recyclable, what becomes trash – and why (NPR)

Article: You Composting Yet? Here's How to Start (SWALCO)