Working groups review ideas for a sustainable Elgin
Creating a citywide organic recycling program. Connecting a network of Elgin organizations all working toward sustainability goals. Reducing vehicle idling within the municipal fleet and the community at large.
These are all recommendations found within the current draft of Elgin’s Sustainability Action Plan. Nine working groups have developed suggestions spanning multiple realms of sustainability. Now they are ready for feedback.
The above suggestions came from Healthy Living and Community Education, Recycling and Waste Management as well as Transportation and Mobility when members of each group presented at Gail Borden Public Library this week.
Karen Morse, an Elgin resident and educator, joined the Healthy Living and Community Education group about a year ago.
“Working with children is my work and passion,” Morse said. “I think the logical place to find change is in children.”
Morse said many of the goals on her committee have been set with an eye toward keeping the other working groups connected to each other and getting information into the community.
The sustainability network would make sure groups working toward similar goals know about each other.
Aaron Cosentino, Elgin’s sustainability coordinator, said this is one way to reduce redundant efforts, including by Elgin itself.
“The city isn’t trying to recreate the wheel here, we’re just trying to connect the pieces,” Cosentino said.
The Recycling and Waste Management group will recommend the city council pass an ordinance mandating recycling for all Elgin businesses. It also wants the city to look into organic recycling options, starting with a test run of about 200 families.
Families joining the pilot for organic recycling, or composting, will get an extra bin on garbage day.
“If it’s successful we’ll make it citywide,” Cosentino said.
The Transportation and Mobility group’s recommendations focused on reducing energy from vehicles, reducing energy and pollution related to infrastructure and promoting alternative transportation options. That’s where the no-idling push will come from. Cosentino hopes community members will self-police idling to make the effort successful beyond the municipal fleet.
Three more groups will present their ideas at each of the last two community meetings from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 10 at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive; and 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 39W830 Highland Ave.
For community members who want to get involved but can’t make a meeting, go to cityofelgin.org/green to take the sustainability survey. A comprehensive draft of the plan will also be available online before it goes to the council in April.