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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/15/1998 SWC minutesMOUNT PROSPECT SOLID WASTE COMMISSION JANUARY 15, 1998 MEETING MINUTES PRESENT George Luteri, Rod Mobus, Harold Rentschler, Mary Rosen, Ken Westlake and Mary Winkler. Lois Kazen Mount Prospect Park District Daryl Kimbrough Mount Prospect Park District Dean Geroulis Chicago Tribune Lisa Angell Public Works ABSENT Dick Bachhuber As a courtesy to Ms. Kazen and Mr. Kimbrough the Commission members agreed to alter the order of the agenda, and begin the meeting with the discussion on recycling in the parks. RECYCLING IN THE PARKS Mount Prospect Park District staff members Lois Kazen and Daryl Kimbrough were in attendance to discuss current recycling activities at the various park district facilities and the feasibility of providing recycling in the local parks. The park district supports the Village's recycling efforts and successfully promotes recycling at both the Rec Plex and Lions Park facilities. Recycling containers are available to both staff and visitors. However, efforts to provide recycling in the parks and park festivals have been less successful. Despite the availability of recycling containers at such events as the Park Fest, recyclables end up being landfilled. (Not all patrons of the Fest distinguish the garbage containers from the recycling containers and contaminate the recyclables with food waste.) While there was a lengthy discussion on implementation of a recycling program at the parks the Commission acknowledged the concerns and obstacles the park district would need to resolve before considering such a program, i.e., manpower, costs, program compliance. The discussion concluded with the Park District representatives agreeing to present the following recommendations to the Park District administrators and Board. • Park permit application would include information on recycling. At minimum residents would be encouraged to recycle all acceptable materials brought into the park. Individuals would be responsible for taking materials with them when leaving the park. • Usage of the 90 -gallon recycling toters for community events. The toters would be lined with clear bags so staff could readily identify contaminated bags. • If not already in place, recycling containers would be sited at Meadows pool and the Wave pool. Mr. Kimbrough was also going to survey other park districts in the northwest suburbs to determine if they offer recycling at park facilities. The Commission thanked Ms. Kazen and Mr. Kimbrough for coming and agreed to continue communication in this area. The meeting proceeded with approval of the minutes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the November 20, 1997 meeting were approved as written. CITIZEN FORUM There were no citizens in attendance to address the Commission. SOLID WASTE PROGRAMS AND DATA The Coordinator updated the Commission on the status of the various multifamily solid waste/recycling programs including Prospect Commons. Proper disposal of residential waste remains a problem at Prospect Commons. The property owners have been notified they will be assessed additional fees for the removal of waste outside of containers with remaining capacity; $37.50 per container/per collection. The Commission members commented on a recent article in the Pioneer Press regarding the slight decline in volume of materials collected in the residential program. The Commission believes the article was misleading. The program typically experiences seasonal highs and lows but the annual volume remains constant. The Commission was very supportive of the level of residential recycling. There was also a brief discussion on the status of the vacant Commission seats. It was suggested that for at least one of the vacancies consideration be given to a resident from multifamily housing. The Coordinator was to provide the Chairman with the name of a possible candidate. OTHER BUSINESS After seeing the article in the Pioneer Press Trustee Nocchi contacted the Coordinator and suggested the Commission consider innovative methods to encourage recycling of items generated outside of the kitchen. For instance, promoting the use of a "small recycling bin" in bathrooms for acceptable personal care containers. The Commission agreed that recycling may be less convenient in areas outside of the kitchen. A personal care container may end up in the bathroom wastebasket rather than the recycling bin. The Commission discussed various methods to promote recycling "throughout the household" and agreed at Public Works Open House would be an excellent forum to promote this practice. The focus of the solid waste display could be recycling opportunities in the home; identify items that residents may not realize are recyclable and suggestions on how to encourage all members of the family to recycle. NEXT MEETING The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 1998 in the Public Works Facility, 1700 West Central Road at 7:30 p.m. ADIOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, QQM. Lisa ngell Solid Waste Coordinator