Elgin Sustainability Commission Nov 2023 Meeting: Waste, Recycling, and Organics

The Elgin Sustainability Commission met on Tuesday, November 14th. For almost two hours, commissioners and various city staff members talked about the upcoming expiration of the Waste Hauler contract.
 
In this episode, Tia & Erik chatter about some of the following topics that emanated from the commission meeting:

• There is a new commissioners at the table
• Is Public Works Director Aaron Neal sexier than commissioner Frankie Garcia
• Results of a community survey focused on waste/recycling services provided by Waste Management
• Issues pertaining to a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste management model
• Single stream vs. multi-stream recycling
• Barriers to implementation of a citywide organics program and ideas to lower those barriers
• And so much more

Here are a few "fun" facts about Elgin's garbage situation:

• Between 2016 and 2022, the amount of garbage collected curbside has increased from 27 tons to 30 tons.
• Between 2016 and 2022, the amount of recyclables collected curbside has decreased from almost 12 tons to 10 tons
• Between 2016 and 2022, the amount of yard waste collected curbside has decreased from 3.6 tons to approx. 2 tons

As a side note, it was interesting that the proposed Single Use Bag Fee ordinance didn't come up once during an almost two hour conversation about waste.

Kinda shameful if you ask Wally the Watchman!
 
City of Elgin ordinance authorizing the creation of the Elgin Sustainability Commission

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Are you following our Season Two special podcast series -- "The Fox River Story" -- which is a fun collaboration with our friends over at Friends of the Fox River?