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Monona sustainability committee updates: recycling, trees, solar outreach and stormwater rebrand
Summary
Committee members reviewed program updates including a 5,800-lb electronics-recycling haul, near-900-lb Nextrex plastic-collection progress, a pending tree-planting program and outreach ideas, promotion of expiring solar tax credits, and a proposed stormwater rebrand centered on the lake.
At its Aug. 7 meeting the Monona Sustainability Committee reviewed several ongoing programs and outreach efforts, including electronics recycling, a tree-planting program, a Nextrex plastic-collection effort, solar-incentive promotion and a stormwater rebrand.
Thor (city staff) reported the city collected 5,800 pounds of electronics at this year’s recycling event — lower than a recent 10,000-pound outlier but similar to 2022–2023 totals — and recommended keeping the event on an annual calendar date (the committee discussed the last weekend in June). “This year, we collected 5,800 pounds of electronics waste,” Thor said.
The committee discussed the Winona tree program and strategies to expand access in lower-income and apartment neighborhoods: targeted flyers, outreach through building managers, discounted options and partnering with community leaders to assist with applications and aftercare. Members noted Parks is finalizing details before broad advertising and suggested volunteers and committee members help publicize the program once Parks confirms plans.
Unidentified Speaker 3 updated the group on a Nextrex plastic-film recycling effort that was close to meeting its goal: nearly 900 pounds had been collected with an October 1 deadline, and the project stood to earn a bench if the goal is met.
On solar incentives, the committee discussed a city newsletter reminder that federal tax credits are expiring at year-end; speakers reported many local installers were fully booked but exploring financing options to retain owner interest. The committee also described a stormwater-program rebrand emphasizing the lake as the central message and planned promotion via newsletter, yard signs and flyers.
Finally, the committee discussed the August outreach campaign (coloring contest, leaf-truck event) and asked members for help promoting events; Thor will print magnets for the leaf trucks and staff are coordinating participation at fall festivals.
