Oswego Offers Rain Barrel Discount Program

OSWEGO, IL — The Village of Oswego, Upcycle Products and the Illinois Conservation Foundation have partnered to offer Oswego residents the opportunity to buy rain barrels for about half their retail price.

Rain barrels collect rain runoff from roofs and gutters and store it for later use on gardens and lawns. In addition to saving our community’s precious water resources and reducing water bills, rain barrels are often beneficial to gardens because rain water can be softer and have fewer minerals in it than ground water.

A portion of proceeds from rain barrels purchased through the Village’s partnership with Upcycle Products also benefit The Conservation Foundation, which is responsible for conservation projects across Oswego and the region. Local projects have included rain gardens, native plantings, and watershed protection plans.

Rain barrels are available in black, grey, blue and terra cotta red and cost between $55 and $60, about half the price of similar models purchased on Amazon. They are made from food-grade upcycled materials, including former pickling containers, and are specially washed clean for garden use.

Residents may purchase barrels at www.upcycle-products.com/oswegoil.html, for pick-up at the April 13 community recycling event. Online orders for pick up on April 13 must be placed by midnight April 9, 2019. Mail in orders for pick up on April 13, 2019, must be received by April 5, 2019. Home delivery is also available throughout the year for an additional $5.

For more information, visit www.upcycle-products.com/oswegoil.html or call Upcycle Products directly at 815-735-9535.

Learn more about rain barrels on March 13!

Still not sure what a rain barrel does or if it’s right for your home?

Learn about rain barrels -- how to install and maintain them and use the water; about rain gardens; and how native plants can solve many water issues and help conserve water in your yard at “Rain Barrels and Other Water-friendly Landscaping Ideas.”

This workshop will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the Oswego Public Works Building, 100 Theodore Drive, Oswego.

Rainwater is a precious resource! Come learn how to collect and keep it on your property through the use of rain barrels and other means. Each attendee will receive a native plant guide and learn how they can get a free yard visit to help solve their specific problems.

Sponsored by The Conservation Foundation and Village of Oswego, this workshop is free to attend, but pre-registration is required.

RSVP by March 11 to jchurch@theconservationfoundation.org or phone 630-553-0687 x204.

Submitted by the Village of Oswego