[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6300117,"mediaKeyId","2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42","parentId",2493787,"title","County staff report on group solar buy and first waste‑hauler survey results that will inform DuPage’s solid‑waste plan","audioSeconds",63,"startMs",1906750,"endMs",1970410,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42&start=1906&end=1970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42/thumbnail_1906750.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300117/DuPage-County/Illinois/County-staff-report-on-group-solar-buy-and-first-wastehauler-survey-results-that-will-inform-DuPages-solidwaste-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300117-992629a1847c5426fc7b45e97964a9ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181368&Signature=mFsLxhHxZFeQV4CDlADCKXCiZ~NUdTNAMT6ouhoj9ON3hdS9RHqAVD~23M6xMIyBeYQgMO9hQRr51NXXjzmWLcKyO4G0x0CDhzf4G723XrDv~eTX0gH~m965bI2tvgova1Z2F~d5CBhFpYrbeKIzHGPQAuvpWmquyUHcDKuOaBKf2i5a8MkaD5if2GkF~NTOQZ1GI1r1DM63jvJlE8aKV7ncGmRTJrNQI8VQSgx9S-ojU3HfUw2a4oDaP1dTxZiuvWks2IXmALZDmuuEZJqmaQNkLaGxZuzuvVxY6uTl6hKKbbyMkoU0QSLkeG-BPNOROHp6nZT~2M~zkKF-9rYzpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DuPage County, IL","date","2025-03-04T17:50:10Z","article","Joy (county staff) updated the committee on two staff items. First, she described a group solar procurement program run in partnership with the Citizens Utility Board, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and neighboring counties. Joy said the program uses a group‑buy model that solicits vetted solar firms and that participating residents have saved about 20% on installation costs; staff said about 80 rooftop installations have taken place through the program to date.

Second, Joy briefed the committee on the county’s new waste‑hauler reporting ordinance. She said the committee and county board had asked waste haulers to report commercial, industrial and residential tonnages, and that staff has begun to receive those numbers for the first time. Joy said those data will inform updates to the county’s solid‑waste management plan.

No committee action was taken on either item; staff reported progress and outcomes and the committee did not vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DuPage County Environmental Committee Meeting, Tuesday 3/4/25","oneSentenceSummary","Staff described a group solar purchasing program with partners that has yielded installations and savings for residents, and reported initial results from a new waste‑hauler reporting ordinance that will feed into the county’s solid‑waste management planning.","taxTitle","DuPage County, Illinois","taxId",2547,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6300122,"SCARCE reports record pumpkin‑smash turnout, expanded cooking‑oil collections and wider recycling outreach in DuPage County",511,1381035,1892235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42&start=1381&end=1892","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42/thumbnail_1381035.jpg","/articles/6300122/DuPage-County/Illinois/SCARCE-reports-record-pumpkinsmash-turnout-expanded-cookingoil-collections-and-wider-recycling-outreach-in-DuPage-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300122-58faabb46f6ccbcfeedd21b2aaed8bac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181368&Signature=g0y7lpvP979Pi3RUVZDMXxZsREHgZmbqXeFzDIuTG3uyv9BqL-yR-j~guQEb4HYQ5p-HwH1WdTOpeFECx1pD5Ah3DB9omiRTnHziYFkPZkEiQ8caRRhfBhqZ4nmFpdMA6c8b~UtVumJXhkYt09pAlI49kegMgZjP47QihB444halbHoZuxktrJRptmelKvGqPM-3aTTS9Nsgo6LGlcGHQ4Mg7aghh0AmVtL-CkS-gkzFVC2KVx2ahNsepYOXeRVJp35NkbJuy7aTEewR0JNlZ1KZRnmkKdg4nLKCsvgmAtmRCviKXoIyMHC86UbefOWB9BYihB~TZ3Ged2RNWloEnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kate (SCARCE) told the DuPage County Sustainability Committee that SCARCE saw its largest pumpkin‑smash turnout and highest tonnage collected in DuPage County during the last season. The program expanded to three Naperville locations and the group captured more compostable material to reduce landfill methane, she said.

SCARCE reported more than 200 gallons of cooking oil collected at several pop‑up sites on a single morning and said Itasca now offers cooking‑oil drop‑off five days a week. The group also noted improvements in recycling data: in 2024 SCARCE reported more than 500,000 pounds of paper, cardboard and books recycled, and nearly 5,000 pounds of scrap metal reported through a new partnership with Capital Metals.

The organization said it is moving more books into reuse channels — for jails, food pantries and literacy projects — rather than recycling them. SCARCE also highlighted 89 programs run around the holidays that reached about 1,200 people, a repair fair on Jan. 25 that had about 90 attendees and 190 items repaired or sharpened in 3½ hours, and the return of a Downers Grove recycling event on Oct. 4.

SCARCE described a teacher institute, a design challenge for high school students on April 15, and an Earth Flag ceremony planned for April 22 at Forest Glen School in Glen Ellen. The group said two former design‑challenge participants have applied for SCARCE internships, demonstrating continuity between programming and local workforce opportunities.

Kate asked committee members to note the geographic size of DuPage County and the group’s effort to locate events across the county to maximize access, and she summarized this year’s calendar: SCARCE already has 27 Saturday events scheduled for 2025, including sustainability fairs and collections.

Why it matters: SCARCE’s expanded collections and reuse partnerships reduce materials sent to landfill, provide community education, and help local jurisdictions meet waste‑management and sustainability goals.","SCARCE said 2024 brought the county’s largest pumpkin‑smash collections and growth in reuse and recycling programs, including new cooking oil pop‑ups, increased book reuse outlets and 27 events already planned for 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6300125,"DuPage County committee hears calls to remove single‑use plastic bottles; staff warn of impacts to care center revenue and residents",1331,43295,1374580,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42&start=43&end=1374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493787-aaf12325964bc447335c11eee2a8ca42/thumbnail_43295.jpg","/articles/6300125/DuPage-County/Illinois/DuPage-County-committee-hears-calls-to-remove-singleuse-plastic-bottles-staff-warn-of-impacts-to-care-center-revenue-and-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300125-1d2fb1396f91126aa9709eb685a3b197/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181368&Signature=DpL9YlOc-4aMfuZZwBpV1g4nJ-5LYiZKuTNSh69rC8V987ymizyDXIETqeGhymp1OD8Zp00UbTRIldNXFiFEXs4gh4HhlwSdP2LeLaNLbCbPMzE3zccltCbBUPqe3h2tzmJ7bV0GvEEuLLgAQlfLeBkO~DpLE7d9mzJCA7EV1J9w1xCcmjBg0AHix5CHGcO0PWbVGNAWx3F2J0oPBOA6Lwe3zkdV7y~7PB90wtsoiRhByBSrqY3diGrpAyPrUR6CP0JVUT09bFdpUpPCa0Z7HxrZ3zinFCkAIzzaScEPZEEOfcqFmqACTRD65Q9t5daGlN7XILqx25Ktuhs-zre6rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacqueline Casaza, president and co‑founder of the environmental nonprofit Go Green Glen Ellen, and Wendy Vernon, plastic‑reduction chair for the River Prairie Group chapter of the Sierra Club, urged the DuPage County Sustainability Committee to stop selling single‑use plastic water bottles in county vending machines and cafeterias.

Casaza told the committee the county should reduce single‑use plastics because of potential health and environmental risks: “I would strongly support this,” she said, and recommended installing refill stations and, if single‑use containers are still necessary, offering single‑use aluminum bottles while ensuring a recycling system for them.

The committee received a detailed operational briefing from Diane Worski, manager of support services at the county care center, who said the care center has already replaced many disposable items and absorbed about $50,000 a year in additional costs for those changes. Worski described trials to replace bottled water with aluminum cans and said the trial produced very low sales in February, which she characterized as roughly “an 81% decrease” in canned water sales compared with prior bottle sales in the care center’s test location.

Worski also outlined resident‑safety and staffing concerns if the county switches from bottled water to cans or other formats. She said cans spill more when residents carry them in wheelchairs or walkers, creating slip risks and additional cleaning demands for housekeeping staff, and that open cans are harder for nursing staff to manage in clinical areas amid current infection‑control concerns. “The bottles are better for our residents because of the spills, because they can put it in the refrigerator,” Worski said.

Committee members pressed for hard numbers before advancing any policy. A member identified as Greg asked about total revenue from vending; Worski said vending and cafeteria sales together approach six figures and that the county receives both a flat payment (noted as $5,500 in the presentation) plus a percentage of sales, but she told the committee the vendor has not yet provided a firm projection of revenue impacts from removing plastic bottles. Member Subhad and Member Jacob asked staff to supply comparative monthly sales for bottled water and canned alternatives to assess likely revenue changes.

Several members said the care center’s budget and resident services depend on cafeteria and vending revenue. Member Jacob said he could not support a change that would reduce revenue for the care center, and Member Lucy Evans said the committee’s initiative was not intended to force changes at the care center. The committee did not vote on any policy change; members asked staff to return with comparative sales data and further analysis of alternatives, including refill stations and the potential cost and availability of aluminum bottles.

Procedural note: the committee approved minutes from its Feb. 4, 2025 meeting by voice vote earlier in the session; the motion carried with no opposition recorded but without a recorded named mover or second.

Why it matters: committee members must weigh environmental and public‑health goals against immediate operational and revenue impacts at facilities that provide services to residents with medical needs. The committee directed staff to supply sales comparisons and additional details before deciding whether to recommend removing single‑use plastic bottles from county machines and cafeterias.","Citizens urged the committee to remove single‑use plastic water bottles from county vending machines and cafeterias. County staff outlined operational, revenue and resident‑safety implications and asked the committee for direction and comparative sales data before making a policy change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County staff report on group solar buy and first waste‑hauler survey results that will inform DuPage’s solid‑waste plan

SCARCE reports record pumpkin‑smash turnout, expanded cooking‑oil collections and wider recycling outreach in DuPage County

DuPage County committee hears calls to remove single‑use plastic bottles; staff warn of impacts to care center revenue and residents