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Y oF
Cit
WEST CHICAGO
WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET
Approved 6/17/2020
MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
January 22, 2020, 7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of a Quorum.
Chairman Beebe called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. Roll call found Commissioners Dan Beebe, John
Symowicz, Joe Cavataio, Bethany Brown, Bob Blaus, and Kris Zimmermann present.
Also in attendance was Assistant Director of Public Works, Tim Wilcox.
2. Approval of Minutes.
A. Environmental Commission Minutes of November 20, 2019. Commissioner Blaus made a
motion, seconded by Commissioner Symowicz to approve the meeting minutes of November
20, 2019.
Voting Yea: Commissioners Beebe, Brown, Cavataio, Zimmermann, Blaus, and Symowicz. Voting Nay:
0.
3s Public Participation/Presentations.
None
4, Items For Consent
None
& Review and discuss Commission Priority List.
A. Review current priority list
Chairman Beebe announced he will discuss 2020 events and their timeframes at the February Environmental
Commission meeting.
Residential Waste, Recycling and yard Waste Collection
Mr. Wilcox distributed copies of the resolution extending the residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste
collection contract with Groot Industries, Inc. The Commissioners discussed some of the additions to the
contract including timeframes for the Holiday Light Recycling Program and the Pumpkin Recycling Program.
Both will need to be looked at and discussed further.
Environmental Commission Meeting
January 22, 2020 .
Page | of 2 475 Main Street | T (630) 293-2200 Ruben Pineda
West Chicago, Illinois F (630) 293-3028 rane
60185 www.westchicago.org | Nancy M. Smith Michael L. Guttman

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Organic food waste composting is allowed in the contract starting in 2020 when residents elect to use a
calendar year yard waste subscription service. The $200 annual service includes a 95-gallon cart used for
placing yard waste and acceptable organic food waste items each week during the yard waste collection period
(April 1 — November 30). Discussion included cost comparison between stickered Kraft bag and the cart
service, an option for a smaller cart at reduced cost, and the possibility of pooling with a neighbor to purchase
the service. The list of organic food waste items was also discussed. There was some disappointment voiced
that food soiled paper products, such as napkins and pizza boxes, were not included on the list of accepted
items for composting.
There was also a question raised whether all of the items listed for recycling in the original contract are still
collected or if some are not.
B. Discuss new additions to priority list
None
6. Other Business
Commissioner Blaus discussed information from the last Clean Energy Job Act (CEJA) meeting he attended.
He said there are numerous communities locked into expensive long term energy contracts.
The Senate Bill SB1240 was mentioned and discussed. The proposed bill would create the Checkout Bag Tax
Act imposing a tax of $0.07 on each checkout bag used by a customer at a retail establishment in Illinois. The
tax would apply to single use plastic, paper, or compostable bag provided by a retail establishment at the
checkout, cash register, point of sale, or other point of departure to a customer for the purpose of transporting
goods out of the retail establishment. Some municipalities like Chicago have already imposed such a tax.
Other items discussed included banning the use of Styrofoam, lead pellets for hunting/fishing, and pushing for
return envelopes for long life smoke detector batteries.
Commissioner Blaus spoke about unserviceable clothes and fabric recycling. He said Kane County has started
taking clean clothes and textiles in any condition. Damaged or worn textiles are turned into wiping rags or
insulation blankets. The remaining damaged or worn fabric is sorted for use in fiber products like insulation,
packing material or carpeting. Wheaton started a program January 11, 2020 to recycle textiles as well.
Commissioner Blaus said he would look for a group that recycles old clothing to attend the next paper
shredding event.
Commissioner Symowicz mentioned that ComEd has almost completed switching all Chicago street lights to
LED.
Commissioners Zimmermann and Cavataio both shared their stories about seeing a bald eagle in the area
recently.
7. Adjournment
At 8:00 P.M. Commissioner Blaus made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Cavataio seconded the motion.
Motion was unanimously approved by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Wilcox, Assistant Director of Public Works
Environmental Commission Meeting
January 22, 2020
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