Rethinking Spring Clean Up Benefits Domestic Violence Survivors and the Environment

Items tossed to the curb for Elmhurst’s Spring Clean Up dates this April and May will end up in a landfill. Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition is encouraging residents to rethink what they're discarding, and to instead donate.

"Rather than placing good quality, reusable furniture at the curb during Spring Clean Up, we're making it easy to donate to a worthy organization,” says Lisa Gerhold-Dirks, chairwoman of Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition.

Cool Cities is partnering with WINGS Program, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to providing housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence. WINGS Program, Inc. is a premier provider of domestic violence solutions.

Through the Cool Cities/WINGS Program, Inc. partnership, furniture will be picked up directly from Elmhurst donors’ homes free-of-charge, and either used to furnish housing for WINGS clients or sold in WINGS Resale Stores which, when sold, will fund programs and services provided by the organization.

View furniture donation specifications and restrictions at https://elmhurstcoolcities.org/rethink-spring-clean-up/

“Our program is two-fold,” says Gerhold-Dirks. “Furniture donations benefit WINGS Program, Inc., but also benefit the environment.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 12 million tons of furniture are discarded each year in U.S.

“While Elmhurst residents may think Spring Clean Up is free, we actually pay for it through a fee built into the City’s waste contract with Republic Services. There is also hidden costs to our environment.”

Furniture in landfills releases harmful chemicals into soil, air and water, and produces methane. Additionally, the furniture manufacturing process requires massive amounts of energy, wood, metal and plastic, all which have their own carbon footprint.

“We hope our furniture donation program gets residents rethinking Spring Clean Up, and searching for alternatives for all their reusable or recyclable items.”

WINGS Program, Inc. collects furniture donations year-round, but this Elmhurst-specific program is free, and is available now through May 2. Monetary donations are welcome and appreciated, will help offset the cost of furniture pickup, and support WINGS Program, Inc. comprehensive domestic violence program for survivors: wingprogram.com/donate

To donate furniture:

1. Email furniture@wingsprogram.com. Include:

• Your name, address, phone number
• Details about your furniture donation including number of items, description, measurements, condition
• Attach a photo of the item(s)
• Mention you are donating through the Cool Cities partnership

Spring Clean Up is scheduled for April 18 for Elmhurst residents with regular Thursday garbage pickup; April 25 for regular Friday garbage pickup; and May 2 for regular Wednesday garbage pickup. You do not need to wait until Spring Clean Up to donate. Schedule your pickup today!