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Press Release: Recycle “Hard-To-Dispose-Of” Items and More During a Forest Preserves of Cook County Trash Bash Event

March 27, 2025/
A person donating materials to Forest Preserves of Cook County staff at a Trash Bash event outdoors.

Earth Month events and a third set for fall anchor clean-ups all year long in the Forest Preserves of Cook County

With three recycling events plus three chances to help pick up litter at three different Forest Preserves—good things come in threes as the Forest Preserves of Cook County kicks off Earth Month with the third annual Trash Bash.

“Earth Day provides us with a moment to commit to taking action for our planet, as well as inspire residents to volunteer or find other ways to give back to nature,” said Cook County Board and Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle. “The Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Earth Month celebration, with several Trash Bash recycling fairs and clean ups all month, is a great way to get involved and sustain one of our region’s most precious assets, our Forest Preserves.”

The three Trash Bash events for 2025 are set to take place:

  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 5 at Miller Meadow-South (Grove 6), 1st Ave, south of Roosevelt Rd, in Maywood
  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 26 at Dan Ryan Woods (Grove 1), S Western Ave, south of W 83rd St, Chicago South Side
  • And save the date for: Saturday, September 27 at Bunker Hill, W Harts Rd, southwest of W Touhy Ave. in Niles

Trash Bash brings together agencies and nonprofit partners to both help households with their spring cleaning and also offer seasonal services to Cook County residents.

“Last year, one of our Trash Bash partners recovered 13 boxes of books, six boxes of holiday lights and four musical instruments in just a few hours,” says Forest Preserves of Cook County Volunteer Program Coordinator Joanna Huyck. “We want to help Cook County residents more than triple the quantity of household and other hard to dispose of items reduced, re-used, and recycled via Trash Bash this year by holding three events.”

Full details are online at fpdcc.com/trashbash. 

Trash Bash Partners

Please note: Trash Bash will *not accept* hazardous waste items and household paint. Here’s the list of items that can be recycled or donated during a Trash Bash event:

Cook County Sheriff’s Office is collecting unwanted/expired prescription pills as well as recycling select electronics including cables, cell phones / telephone devices, computers/laptops, hardware, motherboards, monitors, calculators, printers, fax machines, game systems, stereos, toasters, blenders, toner cartridges, UPS batteries, car batteries and televisions (limit 1 per household), offering off-site shredding.

Habitat for Humanity accepts tools, artwork, new/unused building materials, working small appliances, lawn/garden items and home goods.

South Suburban College/CHaRM Center is accepting glass, plastic bottles, cardboard, polystyrene, textiles and e-waste.

Working Bikes accepts adult bikes in repairable condition, gently used children’s bikes, bike parts, tools and bike accessories.

The Forest Preserves of Cook County will also have Terracycle receptacles for the collection of the following items:

  • Office Supplies: Binder clips and fasteners, binders, card filers, correction supplies, desk organizers, label backing, markers, paper cutters and paperclips.
  • Batteries: dry cell batteries include alkaline, nickel cadmium, lithium & lithium-ion, nickel metal hydride, iron, zinc carbon, silver, and Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS), as well as AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt.
  • Lightbulbs: Intact LEDs, straight CFL, HID and U-bend lamps; no broken bulbs.
  • Plastic Bags: Non-woven shopping bags and plastic grocery bags.

Miller Meadow only

  • In addition to the above partners, the event on Saturday, April 5 at Miller Meadow also includes:
    • Midway Document Destruction, providing on-site shredding services.
    • SCARCE, collecting books, records, keys, holiday lights, bread tags, crayons, hearing aids, eyeglasses, Brita pitchers and filters (Brita brand only), musical instruments and inkjet cartridges (home printer only, no toner cartridges).

Dan Ryan Woods only

  • Other partners at Dan Ryan Woods on Saturday, April 26 will include The WasteShed, sharing information about their work and Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange, accepting everything from art supplies and aprons to lumber, overhead projectors and stickers. 

At all Trash Bash locations, attendees can grab trash bags, trash grippers and gloves to participate in a self-led litter cleanup. Attendees can also learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Forest Preserves and enjoy green giveaways courtesy of the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Plus, the first 25 attendees at each Trash Bash can receive a Don’t Be Trashy T-Shirt.

Spring Clean-up Season in the Forest Preserves

Trash Bash events in April kick off Earth Month cleanups for spring. There’s a lot more ways to celebrate Earth Day in the Forest Preserves: 

All Events

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About the Forest Preserves of Cook County
Don’t you sometimes just want to escape? Explore the natural beauty of Cook County for an hour, a day or even a night. When you’re surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful there’s no better place to feel free.