Glenview a Tree City USA for 27th year
Glenview has been recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry.
It is the 27th year that Glenview has earned this national recognition.
Glenview also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program. The prestigious Growth Award honors environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA communities.
In particular, Glenview received extra points to earn the Growth Award for:
The river re-meandering and wildlife habitat improvements at one segment of the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River;
Improved emerald ash borer educational workshops, including a field component and posting a video of the workshops on the Village website; and
An interpretive program for green infrastructure in the village, including a bicycle tour and a field trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden for residents interested in biological engineering techniques for stream bank stabilization.
Glenview has met four standards to become a Tree City USA community: It has a forestry team and Natural Resources Commission; a tree care ordinance; a comprehensive community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita; and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
The proclamation was read at the April 3 Village Board meeting. The Arbor Day observance will take place Friday, April 27, when a European beech will be planted during a ceremony at Glenbrook South High School in conjunction with Project Earth, GBS’ environmental club.
Village President Kerry Cummings commended Henrietta Saunders, chairman of Glenview’s Natural Resources Commission, for “conducting our Arbor Day celebrations for our schools for the last couple of years. We appreciate her leadership on this.”
Glenview’s commitment to planting and caring for trees was applauded by John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.
“We also commend a community’s elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing needed care for its trees. They recognize that trees provide numerous environmental, economic and health benefits for the community every day,” he stated.
New recycling rules for 2012
The new year – 2012 – brings new rules regarding what can be recycled in Illinois.
Illinois became the 16th state to adopt an electronics recycling law known as the Electronics Products Recycling and Reuse Act (SB2313) in September 2009. This legislation initially banned televisions and monitors from entering Illinois landfills beginning Jan. 1, 2012. Then, Governor Quinn signed legislation that expanded the Illinois Product Recycling and Reuse Act to expand the number of electronic products banned from Illinois landfills from four to 17. The list will include:
- Televisions
- Monitors
- Printers
- Computers (including tablet computers)
- Electronic keyboards
- Facsimile machines
- Videocassette recorders
- Portable digital music players
- Digital video disc players
- Video game consoles
- Small scale servers
- Scanners
- Electronic mice
- Digital converter boxes
- Cable receivers
- Satellite receivers
- Digital video disc recorders
Obsolete toxic electronic products are the fastest growing component of landfilled waste. Discarded electronic products contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium and other toxic materials that once landfilled pollute the soil and may leach into ground water posing a risk to human health and the environment. Obsolete electronic products contain valuable materials that can be recycled for reuse such as copper, gold and circuit chips – just to name a few of the reusable materials. The reuse of these products conserves energy and natural resources.
Since 1999, the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) has worked with its member communities to provide environmentally-sound recycling for end-of-life electronics through one-day collection events, permanent drop-off locations and the At Home Pick Up Program. One of SWANCC’s permanent electronics drop-off location for residents that live in a member community is the Glenview Transfer Station, 1151 N. River Road, across from the Maryville Academy. It is open most Saturdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Additionally, residents are able to utilize many retail store drop-offs during evening and weekend hours.
Here is a complete list of options.
Find more information on the new state regulations
here.
2012 Go Green Business Awards
(From left) Manish Patel of Eaternal Plates, Glenview Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betsy Baer; Ray Hillinger of Glenbrook Auto Parts; Ellen Dean, Village of Glenview Economic Development Coordinator; Matthew O'Hara, regional sales manager of Anderson Pest Solutions; and Elizabeth Fritz, Glenview Chamber of Commerce board member.
Three local businesses that are committed to operating in a sustainable manner and being environmentally responsible were recognized by the Village Board on Feb. 21.
Go Green Gold Business Award:
Glenbrook Auto Parts — 1723 Waukegan Road
This family-owned and –operated company has been serving the North Shore and north suburbs since 1962. Among its impressive array of green initiatives are: offering automotive battery recycling to customers; using GPS vehicle tracking to reduce fuel costs; reusing old printouts for scratch pads; reusing biodegradable packing materials when shipping items; and providing employees with dish-washing facilities to encourage the use of reusable cups and utensils.
Go Green Business Awards:
Anderson Pest Solutions — 1775 Chestnut Ave.
The largest family-owned pest solutions company in the Midwest, Anderson has been practicing environmentally responsible pest control since 1913. The company is committed to reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides while providing permanent solutions to pest problems for residences and commercial properties. In recognition of Anderson’s efforts, the EPA’s Environmental Stewardship Program recently designated the company as an “outstanding environmental steward,” and awarded it with Gold Member Status, its highest level of recognition. Anderson regularly hosts symposiums and seminars, such as its annual Public Health Summit, on pest-related issues of community concern.
Eaternal Plates — 2130-C Rugen Road
This locally-owned and –operated business distributes a wide variety of all natural and biodegradable bowls and plates, made from naturally fallen palm leaves. Eaternal Plates products are manufactured to be fully biodegradable, free of chemicals, resins, strengthening agents and synthetic materials. This business truly embodies the philosophy of “reuse and recycle.”
Do you know a business that has taken steps to “go green?” Submit an application for the next round of the Village’s Green Business Awards.