SWANCC hosts educational expo and trashy fashion show
The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) will host an Educational Expo and Trashy Fashion Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Oakton Community College, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, in conjunction with the national America Recycles Day.
Residents can learn about waste reduction practices (reduce/reuse/recycle) and how special materials are processed after municipal collection by talking to the agency's vendors for electronics, fluorescent light bulbs, pharmaceuticals, sharps, shredded documents and holiday lights. No materials will be collected at the expo.
Representatives from Oakton Community College's Green Committee will be on hand to discuss current sustainability initiatives the college is pursuing as well as to provide information on the new Science and Health Careers Center, which is scheduled to open for classes in January. A member of the committee will be leading 15-minute walking tours around the new building to discuss its sustainability features.
From 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., representatives from The Talking Farm in Skokie will enlighten attendees about the benefits of organically-grown food, reuse of materials and composting techniques.
Throughout the day, there will be a Kid's Corner for children to play games, make craft projects from scrap materials, and meet local author Ann Wagner, who will read aloud "Recycling with Arnie and Bing."
At 2 p.m., SWANCC's eighth Trashy Fashion Show will commence in room 1604, featuring designs made by area students and residents. This year's theme, "My Solution to Pollution," will feature more than 30 one-of-a-kind outfits made from materials destined for the landfill or recycling, raising awareness about the need to reduce waste and become more resourceful. The project encompasses designers and models from Barrington, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Palatine, Park Ridge and Skokie.
"Education is power and I believe that the more individuals connect the dots between the products they buy and use and the potential impacts they can have on the Earth's resources and the health of their families, the better equipped they will be to make changes where needed," said Mary Allen, recycling and education director.
For more information, call (847) 724-9205, or visit swancc.org. To view video and photos of past Trashy Fashion Shows, visit swancc.org/programs/trashy-fashion-show.