The blazing sun and freakish September heat did not stop 44 determined volunteers from attending the first ever Parkland Reads Clean-Up yesterday afternoon. The Clean-Up was hosted in honor of the book Garbage Land: on the Secret Trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte. The author, who will be appearing at Parkland on October 16th, writes about the importance of waste-control and what really happens when we throw things away. After reading this eye-opening book, the Parkland Library Staff decided what better way to commemorate the book then to host a Clean-Up of the grounds of Parkland College.

Split into three teams, the fluorescent-clad volunteers spent an hour picking up litter in different areas of campus. The teams graciously gave up their time and effort to help beautify our campus, and they did a fantastic job. After the Clean-Up was over, a sweaty group returned to the meeting spot for some well deserved snacks.

Parkland students hard at work

The trash that was collected was not an overwhelming amount, but still more than was expected. This morning the exterior of campus was looking especially gorgeous, and we hope to keep it that way! We plan to tackle the interior of Parkland on the next Clean-Up, which will be held on October 24th from 3-4 PM. In the meantime, we applaud everyone who does their share in keeping the campus looking nice and urge everyone else to do the same.

The end result of the garbage collected

A special thank-you to the Library Staff/Parkland Reads for planning this event, Sherry Cmiel for coordinating the event, John Eby for providing supplies and snacks, Gregory Walburg for providing vests, Jonathon Ross for lending a hand in bag removal, Jodi Littleton for public relations, Wendy Patriquin for recruiting her ESL class, and to Stephanie Yousef for recruiting extra volunteers. Also thanks to the Office of the President, the Sustainable Campus Initiative, Student Government, Rotaract Club, Muslim Student Organization, and all other students/faculty/staff who were able to attend the event.

The Clean-Up Crew

For more information on getting involved with the next Clean-Up and/or other volunteer opportunities, please contact Marsha Reardon at 353-3302.

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Title is followed by call number. Find more titles by searching our catalog. 

Cast-off recast: recycling and the creative transformation of mass-produced objects by Timothy Corrigan Correll and Patrick Arthur Polk, editors.  GN406 .C37 1999

Cradle to cradle: remaking the way we make things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart.  TD794.5 .M395 2002

Deceit and denial: the deadly politics of industrial pollution by Gerald E. Markowitz.  RA566 .M265 2002 

Design e²: the economies of being environmentally conscious. Director, Tad Fettig; produced by kontentreal, LLC.  GE195 .D47 2006 Video disc

Economics of waste by Richard C. Porter.  HD4483 .P67 2002

Garbage and recycling by Mitchell Young, ed.  TD791 .G37 2007

Gone tomorrow: the hidden life of garbage by Heather Rogers.  HD4483 .R64 2005

High tech trash: digital devices, hidden toxics, and human health by Elizabeth Grossman.  TD799.85 .G76 2006

Illinois Dead Animal Disposal Act. Administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Welfare.  KFI1568 .A3 2007

Recycling and the politics of urban waste by Matthew Gandy.  HD4482 .G36 1994  

Simply green giving: create beautiful gift wrapping, tags, and handmade treasures from everyday materials by Danny Seo.  TT160 .S374 2006

Waste and Want: a social history of trash by Susan Strasser.  HD4482 .S77 1999

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Interview with Elizabeth Royte in 2005 – 36 minutes.

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Copies of Elizabeth Royte’s captivating book are available for checkout at Champaign Public Library and Parkland Library.  If you fancy your own copy, buy one at the Parkland College Bookstore and get a 20% discount.  You can even have it signed by the author after her talk at Champaign Public Library on October 15 or at Parkland on October 16.

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