In 1998 the Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center became the first lodge located in an Illinois State Park to implement a full scale recycling program including guest rooms and lodge operations. In addition, the recycling program at the Lodge has provided a foundation to expand the same type of program to other state park lodges. Outstanding Paint Recycling Program Algonquin Township Road District Algonquin Township was a pioneer and the first of three townships in McHenry County to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to collect and recycle oil based and latex paint. On the last Saturday of each month residents are invited to drop-off their paint at a Township facility. At no charge to residents, all usable paint is sorted by color and type, and then mixed, strained and combined into 5 gallon buckets.
All reusable paint is donated to individuals or groups at no charge.
Since starting the program in 1997, nearly 11,000 gallons of waste paint have been processed. More than 6,200 of those gallons have been diverted from disposal and poured off for reuse. In 1998 Cub Scout Pack 79 was asked by the Chatham Village Recycling Coordinator to adopt the Village s recycling site. Oversight was needed because of the open dumping of garbage and intermingling of recyclables within the collection containers. Cub Scout Pack 79 agreed to take on the responsibility of monitoring the site and unloading recyclables from vehicles during its hours of operation.