News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
April 12, 2022
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 Note: Scroll to end of release to download photos.  

Brookfield, Ill. — This Earth Day, Brookfield Zoo encourages everyone to make a difference for wildlife and the natural world by participating in a weekend of recycling and a fun run to help raise funds for conservation.

On Saturday, April 23, a Party for the Planet recycling event, presented by the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the zoo’s main parking lot located at 8400 31^st Street in Brookfield.

Gather any electronics, textiles, and used books that you’ve been storing in your basement or garage, and dispose them in an environmentally-friendly way. Representatives from the zoo and its partner organizations—eWorks, USAgain, and Open Books—will be available to collect and recycle a variety of items, including:
--electronics—computers, laptops, cable adapters, phones, tablets, modems, docking stations, cable boxes, gaming consoles, microwaves, small metal appliances, chargers, printers, VCRs, DVD players, keyboards, radios, and flat screen monitors
--textiles—blouses, socks, coats, shirts, dresses, children’s clothing, paired shoes, ties, gloves, backpacks, belts, plush animals, comforters, and curtains
--books—fiction, nonfiction, craft books, cookbooks, children’s books, and textbooks
For a complete list of acceptable and unacceptable items, visit CZS.org/PartyPlanet. There is no charge to drop off your items for recycling.

The next day, Sunday, April 24, lace up your sneakers and head back to Brookfield Zoo to join in the first-ever Earth Day Run—A Run for the Planet. The 2.2 mile “fun run,” which takes place inside the zoo during pre-park hours, begins at 8 a.m. It’s non-competitive and geared for participants of all ages—making it fun for the entire family! Afterwards, spend the rest of the day strolling through the zoo to see your favorite animals. The fee is $30 per person and includes admission to the zoo. Proceeds from the event benefit the Chicago Zoological Society’s Animal Care and Conservation Fund, which supports research and education efforts at the zoo and around the world. For further information and to register, go to czs.org/EarthDayRun.

   
Photo Captions--credit  JimSchulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo
4759, 4853, 5049: The public can drop off unwanted recyclable electronics as well as textiles and used books during Brookfield Zoo's recycling event on April 23.

 
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by engaging people and communities with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. The zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.