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MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
September 16, 2020, 7:00 P.M.
Li Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of a Quorum.
Chairman Beebe called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Roll call found Commissioners Dan Beebe and
Bob Blaus present in person, Commissioners, Bethany Brown, Joe Cavataio, and Kris Zimmermann were
present via Zoom internet connection.
Staff present in person included Assistant Director of Public Works, Tim Wilcox.
Chairman Beebe read the following statement: “Mayor Pineda has determined that in-person meetings are
not practical and prudent”.
2. Approval of Minutes.
A. Environmental Commission Minutes of August 19, 2020. Commissioner Brown made a
motion, seconded by Commissioner Cavataio to approve the meeting minutes of August
19, 2020 with changes.
Voting Yea: Commissioner Beebe, Blaus, Brown, Cavataio, and Zimmermann.
Voting Nay: zero.
3. Public Participation/Presentations.
None.
4. Items For Consent
None
5. Review and discuss Commission Priority List.
A. Review current priority list
Contaminated Material in Residential Recycling
The subject of educating the residential community about what can be placed in a recycling bin was
discussed. Josh Molnar, Municipal Manager for Groot emailed a pdf copy of their new recycling flyer to
Mr. Wilcox, who then forwarded it to the Commissioners and also Rosemary Mackey, City Marketing
and Communications Coordinator. Commissioner Blaus indicated he sent it to Kay McKeen, Founder and
Executive Director of School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education
(SCARCE).
Environmental Commission Meeting
September 16, 2020
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The flyer is currently posted on the City website and the City is in the process of translating it into
Spanish.
Discussion of this topic included perceived errors noted in the pictorial representation of what is
acceptable for recycling. Noted were the paper egg carton depicted within the paper category, the plastic
nozzle attached to the metal spray can depicted in the metal section, and no mention that plastic having a
recycling symbol with number 6 is not acceptable.
Members discussed distributing the flyer as a separate pull out included with the City newsletter
(suggested by Ms. Mackey) which would cost about an additional $1,000.00 to include. An idea of
sending the flyer to grade schools as part of an education program was dismissed for now due to the
pandemic and the struggles schools/teachers are currently dealing with.
Staff will contact Groot to check with them about possible corrections to the flyer before any decision
about printing and distributing are made.
Other discussion involved Groot’s report on quantities of trash and recycling collected for each month,
how accurate, and amount of contaminated recycling specifically in West Chicago.
Promoting and getting more residents to elect to use the larger tote size (95-gallon vs. 35-gallon) could
also help reduce recycling contamination. The cost is currently $5.62 more per month than the regular 35-
gallon cart rate.
Adopt a Highway
The date of October 10, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. was set for the next collection event. Commissioner Brown said
she is planning to organize a cleanup event for Ball Seed as well this fall.
B. Discuss new additions to priority list
None.
6. Other Business
Commissioner Blaus will be volunteering at the Winfield Township Recycling Extravaganza. He will
pass out a flyer listing important recycling events and dates to participants of the event.
7. Adjournment
At 7:30 P.M., Commissioner Blaus made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Zimmermann seconded the
motion. Motion was unanimously approved by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Wilcox, Assistant Director of Public Works
Environmental Commission Meeting
September 16, 2020
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