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West Chicago honored with DuPage County Earth and water-quality flags; commission cites 1,000+ trees and expanded recycling
Summary
At its April 20 meeting the City of West Chicago was recognized by DuPage County with an Earth Flag and a water-quality flag; the Environmental Commission and SCARCE highlighted recycling drives, cooking-oil collection, electronics and bicycle reuse, and more than 1,000 street and yard trees planted in recent years.
West Chicago received DuPage County’s Earth Flag and a county water-quality flag during the City Council meeting on April 20, 2026, after a presentation from the city’s Environmental Commission and remarks from SCARCE.
Alan Rodriguez, a volunteer commissioner for the Environmental Commission, told the council the commission has worked with Public Works and community partners for several years to expand recycling and sustainability programs. Rodriguez highlighted an annual recycling event (now billed as an "extravaganza") that accepts flags, eyeglasses, hearing aids, medications, and — newly this year — electronics and bicycles. He said the city and partners have planted “over 1,000 trees” in recent years and plan to distribute another 500 trees this year.
The city’s efforts were publicized in a SCARCE presentation led by Kay McKeen, SCARCE’s founder and executive director, who thanked the city and said the combined actions of energy-efficiency projects, recycling education and water-quality measures supported the county’s recognition. A DuPage County proclamation read on behalf of County Board Chair Deborah Conroy commended West Chicago’s longstanding recycling and water-conservation practices and formally awarded the flags.
Rodriguez described other ongoing programs: rain-barrel preorders distributed at events, cooking-oil drop-off sites at three locations to prevent sewer contamination, a pumpkin-composting program that collected multiple tons last year, adopt‑a‑highway cleanups, and outreach through schools and Bloom Fest. He singled out partners including Jewel-Osco and local churches and praised Public Works staff for operational support.
McKeen urged council members and residents to view the awards as recognition of many small, persistent actions: “It’s not one or two things that you guys are doing. You should feel really, really proud of what you’re doing,” she said.
The presentation concluded with ceremonial flag presentations and a photo opportunity. City leaders and commission volunteers said they will continue outreach through Bloom Fest and school flyers to increase participation in recycling and tree-planting programs.
The council did not take formal legislative action on these items; the presentation and proclamations were part of ceremonial business on the council agenda.
