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Park Forest 2010 Vehicle Sticker

Students' artwork lands on Park Forest vehicle sticker Design is from kids at Matteson School District 162 Published Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by Bonnie Miller Rubin Some art is prized for being one of a kind. And then there are other works — like Andy Warhol's soup cans –– that gain notoriety for their connection to everyday life. Park Forest's new vehicle sticker would definitely fall into the second category. Few people give much thought to that sticky-backed decal affixed to our windshields. For students from Matteson Elementary School District 162, it is more than a source of tax revenue — but of civic pride, as well. The 2010-11 sticker is the winning design in a competition, sponsored by the Chicago Botanic Garden and the state of Illinois, soliciting ideas for art on a rain barrel. More than 30 teams of eco-conscious youths participated in the contest, which the organizers hope will raise awareness about conserving water and other natural resources. The design features brightly colored renditions of flora and fauna. The Park Forest effort was directed by art teacher Lynn Lazarus, who was delighted to see the kids' art "go viral" without Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, she said. Typically, the village uses photos of local landmarks or professionally designed logos for its vehicle stickers. But this time, it opted for home-grown talent, said Jason Miller, spokesman for the village. "We saw this as a great way to showcase the talent of our students, while at the same time illustrating Park Forest's continued commitment to green initiatives," he said. The village plans to honor the young artists at a board meeting. Now this original art is owned by some 12,000 residents. Source: Chicago Tribune

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

On August 13, 2009, Illinois passed a new composting bill, Senate Bill 99. The bill, sponsored by Senator Heather Steans, opens the door to commercial composting in Illinois. The Environmental Law & Policy Center and other groups provided technical support for drafting and negotiating the bill.

Statewide, organic waste represents 1/3 of the trash brought to Illinois landfills. The new bill creates smarter regulations for commercial composting, making it economically attractive for investors to begin commercial operations. Business plans are already in the works for services that pick up food scraps from Chicago restaurants, compost the material and sell the end product. Composting businesses will create new income and four times as many jobs as traditional waste disposal according to the Institute for Local Self Reliance.

“This bill will literally allow Illinois businesses to make wealth out of waste,” said Mel Nickerson, Staff Attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center. “We’ve gotten a lot smarter about reducing waste from materials like paper and aluminum. Now Illinois can change how we deal with food waste, allowing us to create rich compost, lower green house gases and turn a profit.”

Let us help you connect the dots at www.howgreenismytown.org