Environmental Improvement Commission

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 7:30 I. Call to Order: Chairman Ted Witte called the meeting to order at 7:30. Present were Shamili Ajgaonkar, Cathy Coleman, Nancy Flynn, Kay McKeen, Tony Pope, David Popham, Allison Torrence, Jessica Wozniak, and Bob Young. Absent were Brian McKee, Christine Richardson, and Seema Wadia. II. Approval of Minutes: Bob moved that the minutes from the September meeting be approved. Kay seconded. The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote. III. Budget Report: Bob reported no new expenditures, so $2966.55 remains open to spend. IV. Public Comment: None V. Reports: 1. Electronic Recycling (10/9): Tony reported that he, Kay McKeen, and David Popham of EIC, with volunteers Jim Truesdale, Andrea Garcia from COD and SCARCE, Morgan Mosley from Wheaton College and SCARCE, Daniel Robbins and Nikki O’Keefe from Wheaton North HS and SCARCE, plus six employees from E-Works handled about 200 cars from 17 communities. In addition to electronics, three Gaylords of textiles and clothing, approximately 350 fluorescent bulbs, 10 gallons of cooking oil, and scrap metal were collected. 2. Adopt a Highway: Nancy reported that the Democratic Party of Milton Township conducted their second collection on October 9, and they collected 9 trash and 4 recycle bags. On October 23 Nancy, her husband Brent, Tony, Nancy Allured, Bob, and Seema collected 6 full bags. VI. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronics Recycling (11/13): Bob, Tony, and David will work this event. 2. Pumpkin Smash (11/6): This event is 9-12. Kay reported that there will be 21 events in DuPage County and 54 in northern Illinois. She, Bob, and Tony were featured on the Weather Channel with film of previous events. 3. Cooking Oil Collection (11/27): From 9-11 Kay and Nancy will collect cooking oil. VII. Unfinished Business: 1. Nurses’ Closet: Nancy reported that Gary Memorial Methodist Church and Milton Township both have this service. Wheaton still has a few things to work out between the city and the library before they begin collecting items for this program. 2. Battery Recycling: no news 3. Proposal for spray can and small propane container collection: Kay reported they are not willing to pick them up every Monday, so the program will not happen.  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES October 26, 2021 4. Sustainability Award: Shamili has made some tweaks, and she will send out what she has come up with. At the next meeting we will finalize criteria. VIII. New Business: 1. Funding for EIC events—none needed 2. Kay reported that the Downtown Business Association has formed a group to work on green initiatives for Wheaton businesses. Tanya from Andrew’s Garden, Dick O’Gorman from Ivy, and Kay have been meeting to talk about ideas. They would like to see less garbage trucks downtown, so they are researching sending a Request for Proposal to choose a downtown hauler. This would have to be implemented over time as existing hauling contracts expire. Many would like to see food scrap composting as a part of this. As they work on this, they will be sending email blurbs to businesses to inform them about opportunities like the monthly electronics events and the pumpkin smash, and they are hoping to facilitate a sharing location for bubble wrap and cardboard boxes to be reused. 3. Recycling Extravaganza (April 2, 2022): Kay reported that the date is set, she has reserved three trucks for paper shredding and many vendors have committed. IX. Adjournment: Bob moved that the meeting be adjourned. Nancy seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for November 23, 2021, at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Coleman 2