Environmental Improvement Commission

MINUTES Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission Tuesday, September 22, 2015 Roll Call: Chairman Ted Witte called the meeting to order at 7:30. Present were Cathy Coleman, Nancy Flynn, Phil Landrum, Tony Majszak, Kay McKeen, and Tony Pope. Absent were Nancy Allured, Piya Salgia, Hanna Self, Joseph Wilmarth Tyna, and Bob Young. Minutes: Tony Pope moved that we accept the minutes of the August meeting. Phil seconded. The minutes were approved. Public Comment: none Budget Report: Bob emailed that there were expenditures of $80 for compost delivery and $315 for banners, leaving $5105 open to spend. Other Reports: 1. Bike Committee Report: NONE 2. Adopt a Highway: Nancy Flynn reported that she has obtained waivers from EIC and the Democratic Party of Milton Township. She is working on signing up the high schools and the Knights of Columbus. On 9/12 the Democratic Party of Milton Township held a clean up with seven volunteers, and they collected four bags of trash and five bags of recycling. On 10/19 EIC held a clean up, and Tony Pope, Tony Majszak, Ted, and Nancy Flynn collected four bags. 3. Monthly Electronics Recycling: On September 12, Joe Tyna, Bob Young, Nancy Flynn, and one WWSHS student worked the event. Frank Novakowski, a teacher, helped for a while. Kay reported that DuPage County is trying to help New Life get more money. The old electronics recycling law required companies to recycle weights equal to their sales. Older electronics are much heavier. Also, people have held on to huge quantities of outdated electronics. The new law increases the weight requirements starting 1/1 and some companies are making the funds available now. Also, our program is for residential electronics recycling, so when someone comes with a truckload of office equipment, they can be turned away. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronic Recycling: Tony Pope will be crew chief on 10/10. 2. Adopt a Highway: Nancy Flynn scheduled the next clean up for Make a Difference Day, 10/24, at 8am at Chick.fil.A. Unfinished Business: 1. Helen Bartlett Memorial: Bob emailed that Kevin Maloney will plant a crabapple tree this fall beneath the Prairie Path. Kevin or Bob will get a memorial plaque. 2. Street Lamp Banners--Design: Kay will work on a list of criteria to include and we will plan a school contest. 3. Tony Majszak reported that he asked about the in-street in addition to the pedestrian crossing sign and is waiting for a reply. New Business: 1. Bike Sub-Committee Annual Budget: tabled 2. Food Scrap Composting: Kay reported that three proposed laws were combined into two, and one deals with special events and food scrap transfer stations. The transfer station would be a roll-off where restaurants and stores could drop off their food scraps, and it would be exchanged for one which has been cleaned out each day. 3. Pumpkin Composting Event: This will be held November 7. 4. Special Cooking Oil Collection: This will be held November 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Kay is hoping to develop stickers about the event which can be taken to local stores and placed on the large containers of cooking oil people buy to deep-fry turkeys. 5. Recycling Extravaganza: The date for this is April 9, 2016. The paper shredding company is already signed up. The Prairie Path Clean Up and the Native Plant Sale will be April 30. Adjournment: Cathy moved that the meeting be adjourned. Tony Pope seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2015, at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Coleman