Volunteers Sought To Help With Styrofoam Recycling Program

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Volunteers are sought to help collect Styrofoam as part of a recycling program in McHenry County.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is seeking the volunteers to help four hours each month with sorting incoming Styrofoam at its Crystal Lake site, which is located in the Algonquin Township parking lot, 3702 Northwest Highway.

Officials say the extra help is needed after a handful of volunteers retired, according to a news release.

The county's Styrofoam Collection and Recycling Program collects Styrofoam from residents at sites in Woodstock, Crystal Lake and Algonquin. Once each week, the Styrofoam from the sites is collected by two volunteers that drive a 26-foot rental truck to a warehouse in West Dundee.

The volunteers will be responsible for:

• Committing to the date or dates they choose each month. There are two shifts available each week, including shifts on Tuesday afternoon and evening to prepare for the Wednesday morning collection and any time between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening. The volunteers can choose the time that they can work.
• Sorting through the material that has been dropped off while the collection site was open.
• Removing non-recyclables for disposal in the on-site trash dumpster.
• Breaking the Styrofoam into smaller pieces (between 1 to 2 linear feet) and bagging them.
• Organizing the bags for collection on Wednesday morning.
• General broom sweep of the site.

Most volunteers have friends or family members that come with them, but it is also common for volunteers to work solo. Some of the volunteers work more than one shift each month, according to a news release.

Anyone interested in volunteering or has questions about the program can contact Larry Baum at 312-914-7016.