Where are the garbage cans? New policy coming to Volo Bog State Natural Area
The garbage cans at Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside soon will be put in storage as an initiative to save a little money and get visitors thinking about doing their part to help the environment.
A "Pack it in, Pack it out" policy goes into effect April 1. The term used in hiking, camping and backpacking communities means exactly what it says - you bring something in, you take it out when you leave.
"People can get on board with this. It's really not hard," said Stacy Iwanicki, natural resources coordinator for education at Volo Bog and Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry.
Actually, there's little garbage at Volo Bog, she said, and the program involves only seven garbage cans around a small picnic area.
The idea is that without garbage cans there will be less trash to pick up. and less money spent to have it hauled away. Trash disposal costs will be cut and valuable staff time will be freed for other tasks.
And what of doggy waste? Receptacles will be placed a quarter mile up from the trail heads.
Iwanicki estimated the annual trash collection bill will be cut by about $1,400, which she said isn't insignificant when every penny counts in an extremely tight budget.
"That's a repair of something," she said. It also fits with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' mission to protect and manage the state's natural and cultural resources, according to Iwanicki.
"We've been tasked to find ways to lighten the impact of IDNR on the environment and save tax dollars," she said.
Aside from the tangible benefits, Iwanicki regards the policy as an educational opportunity. Having seen the practice in her travels for years, she thought with an increase in environmental awareness it was time to try it here.
"They've done it in Minnesota, they've done it in Indiana," she said. "People can learn." The program also is in place at a few IDNR facilities but is not a statewide policy, according to Iwanicki.
She said it makes good economic sense for taxpayers and good ecological sense for wildlife and the environment at Volo.
"This is a great idea," said Fox Lake resident Barb Jagla, who was enjoying the mild weather Thursday in the picnic area with her dog, Maya.
Another hope is that after encountering the new policy, visitors will consider others ways to lessen their impact on the environment.
"We're coming up on Earth Day so the timing is good," she said. "Enough talk - we've got to start doing."