During the holidays, the average American produces 25% more trash than usual. This includes packaging that often ends up in the landfill but can be donated for reuse instead. The River Forest Sustainability Commission is once again partnering with EcoShip, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that collects packaging and shipping materials from Chicagoland communities and distributes them to businesses and individuals for reuse. From Tuesday, December 9th through Monday, January 12th, Village Hall will have an EcoShip dropbox container in the 2nd Floor Lobby for collection of clean, tape-free packaging materials in reusable condition. Through EcoShip’s program, small businesses in Illinois were able to save over $21,000 on packaging materials simply by being able to reuse the donated materials.
Packaging materials collected include padded bubble mailers, insulated thermal bags, poly shipping bags and clear poly bags, bubble wrap and corrugated bubble wrap, packing peanuts, packing paper, crinkle cut shred paper, tissue paper, foam sheets, honeycomb wrap, shrink wrap and stretch wrap, organza bags, air pillows, liners, and flattened cardboard boxes. In addition to packaging materials, the collection drive will also accept ink cartridges, paper grocery bags, reusable bags, gym shoes, unused plastic utensils, and plastic bread tags. Any dirty or torn items will not be accepted. EcoShip is also unable to accept any USPS, FedEx, or UPS mailers. Styrofoam, plastic grocery bags, and Ziploc bags are also not accepted as part of this program. You can learn more about what materials are and are not accepted here.