Illini Campus Partners with Q-C Businesses to Clear Air of Leaf Smoke

SILVIS, ILLINOIS - The patients of Illini Campus and the residents of Crosstown Square and Illini Restorative Care will breathe a little easier again this fall because of a partnership between Illini and two Quad Cities businesses that gives neighbors in the area an alternative to leaf burning.

Anchor Do-It Center in Silvis will supply free yard waste bags to many residents in the neighborhood of the Illini Campus. Allied Waste Service of Bettendorf will pick up the bagged leaves without charge on the next two Tuesdays. Ten free lawn bags will be available to each home on these streets: Hospital Road; 11th through 16th avenues; and, 3rd Street in Silvis.

Free bags are available from the front desk of the hospital from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents in the hospital neighborhood can rake their leaves, bag them and have them hauled away without charge on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Tuesday, Nov. 6.

“We’re pleased to be able to do this again this year not only for our patients and the residents of Crosstown and Illini Restorative Care, but also for the neighbors of the hospital,’’ said Chuck Bruhn, CEO of Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus. “Many studies have shown the harmful effects of the smoke from burning leaves. We hope to be breathing a lot easier in the Illini neighborhood this fall and are pleased to again have the generous support of Anchor and Allied. There has been a noticeable difference in air quality around the hospital when we’ve given residents this alternative to harmful burning in the past.’’

Burning leaves is a tradition that has been snuffed out in most communities. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaf smoke produces particulate matter and hydrocarbons, which contain a number of toxic, irritating and cancer-causing compounds. Leaf smoke also contains carbon monoxide.

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