The Green Team of Palos Heights joined community volunteers Saturday, April 18, for Rid Litter Day, continuing its ongoing effort to keep the city clean, green and environmentally conscious.
The group, which works to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, has focused on education and hands-on cleanup efforts throughout Palos Heights since its formation nearly two years ago. The initiative originally began during the pandemic and resumed full activity in early 2022, expanding its outreach through monthly meetings and community partnerships.
Pat Stifter, a Palos Heights resident and Green Team volunteer, said the organization’s mission centered on education and collective responsibility for environmental protection. “The mission of the Green Team is to raise awareness and educate the community about environmental efforts that protect and restore the environment in our community, recognizing that sharing knowledge and working together on this is all of our responsibility,” Stifter said.
The group meets monthly to review upcoming projects and coordinate events, including educational outreach and sustainability initiatives. It also distributs a recurring “Green Note” fact sheet highlighting topics such as home energy use, salt reduction during winter, wastewater runoff, pollinator support and composting. The updates were shared through the Palos Heights “Come Alive” e-newsletter and local platforms, including Lake Katherine Nature Center’s website and community social media pages.
Over the past year, the Green Team helped organize several community-wide efforts, including a Christmas tree drop-off program at Lake Katherine, a Pumpkin Smash composting event, shredding and medication drop-off days, Arbor Day plantings and a citywide cleanup supported by the Palos Heights Public Works Department and police.
Stifter said the programs relied on collaboration across the community. “Working together as a community to support a cleaner and healthier local living environment as well as educating that we all are responsible for the well-being of the planet,” she said.
The Rid Litter Day event on April 18 brought residents together to collect litter across designated areas of Palos Heights, including parks, bike paths and roadway corridors. Volunteers gathered at City Hall before being assigned cleanup routes and provided supplies such as bags, gloves and safety vests. Representatives from Lake Katherine and the Palos Heights Village Hall were also present at the event to support and assist volunteers.
The Green Team continued to encourage ongoing participation in future cleanup and sustainability efforts throughout the year.