Environmental Improvement Commission

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WHEATON CITY HALL, 303 W WESLEY STREET, WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60187 Tuesday, April 23, 2024 7:30 I. Call to Order: Kay McKeen catled the meeting to order at 7:30. Present were Jim Boak, Cathy Coleman, Nancy Flynn, Tony Pope, Jim Wozniak, and Bob Young. Absent were Brian Malone, David Popham, Stephen Siemer, Allison Torrence, Seema Wadia, and Ted Witte. II. Approval of Minutes: Bob moved that the minutes from the March meeting be approved. Nancy seconded. The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote. III. Budget Report: Bob reported that expenditures to date equal $1608.50, leaving a $34,141.50 open to spend. IV. Public Comment: None V. Reports: 1. Earth Day Proclamation: Ted and Nancy attended the City Council Meeting to accept the proclamation from Mayor Suess. 2. Annual Recycling Extravaganza: Attendance:1100 cars estimated. Totals collected: *Paper Shredding—22,600Ibs. •Electronics—24,561Ibs. •Textiles—4542 Ibs. •Scrap Metal—2004Ibs. •Cardboard—510 Ibs. •Medicine—6 bins (approx. 401bs. each) 240 Ibs. »Sharpsand Epi-pens—3 bins (approx. 20 Ibs. each) 60 Ibs. •Propane tanks 17 large, 36 small •Bikes—55+ boxes of accessories (approx. 18 Ibs. each) 1005 Ibs. •Eyeglasses—653pairs •Hearing Aids—33•Cell phones—12•Batteries—94 (assorted sizes)«Diabetickits—5 •Medical supplies—3boxes C-pap machinesand tubingeWatkers—22•Wheelchairs—8;•Canes—9; »Bath seats—6;•Crutches—19 sets; •Raised toilet seats—5;•Professional icing machine—1•Paint—500 1 gallon buckets (approx. 11 Ibs. each) 5,500 Ibs. -100 quart containers 3001bs.—100 gallon containers 5,500 Ibs. 5 •Books—170 boxes; •Records—9boxes;•School Supplies—8boxes •CDs/DVDs—3boxes •Brita products—5 boxes •Keys—1 box «BreadTags—3small boxes •Holiday Lights—12boxes •musical instruments—15 •InkJet Cartridges—4smallboxes •Smoke Detectors—17•Mercury thermometers—6•Mercury thermostats-3 •Soccergear—225 items. Preliminary sugRestions for improvement—Havecars enter at main entrance so 2-3 lanes for different purposes can be organized immediately. Current entrance allows three lanes to enter, narrows down to one lane, and then separates into three lanes again, causing a bottleneck. Fee-based collections (Electronics and Paint) should be located offto the side on entry, so only people with those items need to wait. 3. Adopt a Highway: Nancy reported that EIC held their first clean up ofthe year on Saturday, March 30. Bob, Brian, Steve, Nancy, and Nancy's husband Brent collected 5 bags. On Saturday, April 20, Milton Township Democrats collected 13 bags oftrash and 3 bags of recycling. Both groups worked in spite ofvery soggy conditions. 4. Dark Skies Week Library Exhibit (April 2-8): Steve put together a very informative presentation on reasons dark skies are needed and how to implement strategies to help.  ENVIRONMENTALIMPROVEMENTCOMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 23, 2024 VI. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronics Recycling (Mayll): Tony will be crew chief. VII. Unfinished Business: 1. Arbor Day Ceremony (April 26): Kay reported that the event will be at Monroe Middle School at 9A.M. 2. Native Plant Sale (April 27): Tony reported that there are 17 volunteers for Friday set-up and 22 forSaturdaysale. 3. lllinois Prairie Path Clean Up (April 27): Seema has been assigning volunteers to areas 4. International Composting Week (May 5-12): Kay reported that she has been working with People's Resource Center and Food Pantries to institute food waste composting. This decreases amounts going to landfills and saves the organizations money. Loaves and Fishes is purchasing equipment to begin composting on their land. 5. City Video on Hazardous Waste: Kay has volunteered to work on this. 6. Spring Pollinator Awareness/Education: no report VIII. New Business: 1. Funding for EtC Events: none needed, but bills will be coming in for the Recycling Extravaganza and NativePlantSale. 2. Meeting on improving Recycling Extravaganza (Date TBD) IX. Adjournment: Jim W. moved that the meeting be adjourned. Kay seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for May 28, 2024, at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, CathyColeman (L (^ ^