Transforming Waste Management: Key Recommendations from the Environment Board and Insights on Envision – Evanston RoundTable

On Thursday, Evanston’s Environment Board met to discuss a proposal from the Circular Evanston Working Group. This group, made up of volunteers, aims to minimize waste in the city by reusing, refurbishing, and recycling materials. Their efforts align with the city’s 2018 Climate Action and Resilience Plan.

Tom Mulhern, who leads the group, shared their draft plan, which emphasizes cutting food waste and better understanding what residents are throwing away. However, he noted that some ideas overlap with current city projects, so the group’s future direction is still being fleshed out.

The road map Mulhern presented is not just about recycling. It includes promoting composting and encouraging Evanstonians to repair or reuse products. He pointed out that manufacturing and transporting items significantly contribute to pollution. By creating local products, the city can reduce both waste and emissions.

The plan features short-, medium-, and long-term strategies. Some short-term actions include:

• Promoting food rescue apps that connect users to stores with surplus food.
• Increasing awareness about food waste.
• Conducting waste studies to understand the types of waste produced in Evanston.
• Offering support to multi-unit dwellings to reduce landfill contributions.

For medium-term goals, the group aims to:

• Implement composting services in commercial and multi-family buildings.
• Mandate recycling at commercial properties.
• Address littering and illegal dumping.
• Set emission reduction targets for waste collection trucks.

Long-term visions include:

• Encouraging buildings to be deconstructed instead of demolished.
• Creating a marketplace for reusable materials.
• Incentivizing developers to focus on reuse over demolition.
• Enhancing education on contamination in recycling and compost bins.

Co-chair Michelle Redfield asked for the city’s priorities. Mulhern suggested that boosting composting would likely yield the best results for reducing landfill waste. Board member Gul Agha proposed making recycling and trash bins more accessible in the same location and offering free composting services to encourage participation.

Topalov highlighted the importance of the board’s support in achieving the group’s goals. However, Mulhern admitted he was uncertain about how to engage the board effectively.

Later in the meeting, Mulhern mentioned he could return with specific policy ideas if the board was interested.

The board also discussed feedback on the Envision Evanston comprehensive plan. Members expressed concerns that their sustainability suggestions were not fully acknowledged during recent discussions. For example, they emphasized that incorporating green practices should be a fundamental aspect of the city’s planning.

Overall, the city aims to refine the Envision Evanston plan and revisit it with the Land Use Commission before the next Environment Board meeting. As the city strives for a more sustainable future, these discussions represent important steps in shaping effective waste reduction strategies.

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