Before my family made the switch to an artificial tree a few years back, we always took advantage of Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful's (KNIB) drop-off spots.
I don't know if it's a deal-breaker for you or not, but in order to take advantage of the cash and free beer contest, you'll have to go to Hoegaarden, Belgium.
Due to the dangerous weather conditions, Xfinity is offering free WiFi to all in the Chicago area (including the Rockford area) until the end of January.