Arlington Heights adding recycling to events calendar

A recycling day could soon join Arlington Heights' tree lighting ceremony, Hearts of Gold Awards and Autumn Harvest festival on the village's events calendar, officials said Monday.

Kevin Seifert, chairman of the Arlington Heights Special Events Commission, told village trustees that plans are in the works for a recycling day April 28 in the parking lots of Nokia Siemens Networks, 1501 W. Shure Drive.

“We've been looking for a new event,” said Seifert, who works at Nokia Siemens Networks. “We were talking about a multicultural fair, but several organizations do something very similar.”

Early plans call for setting up stations at the site where people can recycle goods such as electronic equipment and papers they want shredded. The event also would feature educational exhibits.

The idea of recycling can be expanded to include the collection of items like crayons and backpacks for schoolchildren in Third World countries, said Seifert.

The recycling event will not cost the village any money, he told the board.

Village leaders reacted positively to Seifert's report.

“Recycling certainly is a fitting project, one that can be fun,” said Village President Arlene Mulder, who suggested involving schoolchildren in the event.

Trustees Carol Blackwood and Michael Sidor recommended including businesses in the event through having some of the activities at a mall or having them donate coupons for people who bring certain items to recycle.

Trustee Joseph Farwell asked the commission to consider making the disposal of old prescription drugs part of the event.

The commission already sponsors several events in the village, including sponsors the tree lighting Nov. 25 at North School Park; Hearts of Gold awards dinner Feb. 11; the Mane Event on the Friday before the Arlington Million horse race; and Autumn Harvest in early October.