Go Green Glen Ellyn and Glen Ellyn Chamber team to offer plastic-free beverage options at annual Taste of Glen Ellyn

“Infinitely Recyclable” aluminum cans and cups deployed to reduce plastic waste

When the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual summer event, the Taste of Glen Ellyn from Aug. 15-17, it will be without plastic bottles or cups in the beverage tent for the first time ever.

Thanks to Go Green Glen Ellyn, a local environmental nonprofit, the chamber of commerce will be serving up beverages in aluminum bottles, cans and cups that are 100% recyclable.

The Glen Ellyn Chamber manages a beverage tent at the Taste that is staffed by community volunteers and that serves a variety of beverages including water, soft drinks, wine, beer and hard seltzers.

This year, Go Green Glen Ellyn secured a donation of water bottles from Open Water, with BPA-free aluminum packaging.

Two Hound Red Brewery of Glen Ellyn will be there to serve beer on tap, and Go Green has donated aluminum party cups which stay cool to the touch and are 100% recyclable and reusable.

Go Green Glen Ellyn is also providing volunteers to collect the aluminum cans as well as hiring a metal waste hauler to recycle the cans, bottles and cups used at the Taste.

“We are excited to partner with Go Green Glen Ellyn to make our annual Taste of Glen Ellyn more eco-friendly and reduce waste,” said Claudia Thornton, executive director of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce. “We introduced aluminum recycling with Go Green Glen Ellyn last year, and this builds upon that success even more. We are proud to be taking additional steps to reduce plastic waste and hope to serve as an inspiration for other community events.

Go Green Glen Ellyn President Jacquelyn Casazza points out that “aluminum is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be recycled again and again making it the perfect vessel to enjoy a cold beverage at the Taste.”

She added “municipalities need to take steps big and small to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated. Having 100% aluminum that is 100% recyclable in the chamber beverage tent sends a great message that if we work together we can reduce our usage of plastic by substituting greener options.”

Casazza added, “Join us for a cold one at the Taste and see for yourself!”

For more information about the event and Go Green Glen Ellyn, visit glenellynchamber.com/taste-of-glen-ellyn-2024/ or gogreenglenellyn.org.