Algonquin officials announce new 'green' initiative

Kermit the Frog always said it's not easy being green, but Algonquin leaders are taking steps they hope place a premium on protecting the environment.

Tuesday, the village's ECO committee detailed several new environmentally friendly projects it will undertake to “Engage” the community to “Conserve” energy and “Optimize” existing resources.

The village's goal is to reduce its waste by 50 percent.

So far, they are at 45 percent, said Katie Parkhurst, a senior planner and ECO committee member.

“It's a priority for us because we like to be a leader in our region,” Parkhurst said. “We were a leader in growth and economic development and water conservation and now we're trying to broaden that and be sustainable for all environmental initiatives.”

The new programs include:

Ÿ Educating people about the benefits of composting food and plants, as far as what's appropriate to include, how to go about doing it and what you can do with the final product.

Ÿ Publicizing in-house office recycling programs to current employees. For example, letting village know they can recycle batteries at work.

Ÿ Embarking on a campaign involving rain barrel sales. Rain barrels help conserve rain water and authorities have not decided whether to tie them in with an art component.

Officials will also continue promoting existing programs, including: holding an e-waste recycling event in 2011, offering the Gold Leaf Award that recognizes locals and businesses doing things to better the environment, ongoing efforts to receive the bike friendly community designation from the League of American Cyclists, devising new bike routes, and investigating commercial and multifamily recycling options.