Zero Waste in Our Parks
is a Team Effort
One of the Glenview Park District’s major goals is to keep
our parks clean. But it’s not always easy when so many
people visit and enjoy these community spaces year-
round. That’s why the Glenview Park District created the
Goal: Zero Waste Campaign to reduce waste in the parks.
As our Park Services crews are spread thin during
the COVID-19 health crisis, it becomes even more
important to generate less waste in our parks.
If everyone participates, we’ll have cleaner,
safer and more enjoyable places to play.
Park Planner Ken Wexler, who leads the Glenview
Park District’s Environmental Team, explains.
Q: What is the purpose of the Zero Waste Campaign?
A: The ultimate goal is to have all of our parks free of trash.
To achieve this, the District is looking for our users to
share in the responsibility for their parks by avoiding one-
time use items that need to be disposed of in the park.
It is similar to the National Park Service’s “Carry In,
Carry Out - Leave No Trace” program, which seeks to
minimize human impacts on the environment. Visitors
are asked to carry out everything they carry in to the
park when they leave. In fact, many National Parks don’t
have any trash containers in their parks. The Glenview
Park District isn’t going so far as eliminating all trash
containers, but Goal: Zero Waste promotes reducing
and reusing, and encourages less wasteful practices.
For instance, we encourage everyone to bring a reusable
water bottle instead of a plastic one. If a refill is needed,
the Park District has water bottle fillers in the parks.
Food can be brought in reusable containers, along with
washable silverware and cloth napkins, and items can
be packed in a cloth bag. We are also asking people to
take the waste they generate back home with them to
recycle or dispose of, especially masks, gloves and other
PPE. By working together on Goal: Zero Waste, we can
all help improve our impacts on the environment.
Q: What is the Environmental Team?
A: In 2008, the Glenview Park District adopted its
Environmental Policy that addressed providing services
to the community while sustaining and protecting
the environment. At that time, the Environmental
Team was created to build awareness of the best
practices for sustainability, and to decrease the
environmental impact of the Park District.
Q: What prompted the Environmental Team to create the Goal:
Zero Waste campaign?
A: Throughout the year, there is a large volume of trash that is generated
in the parks and at events. Park District crews are continuously picking
up trash from the ground and collecting it from containers. The Park
District also offers recycling bins in the parks, but the market for recycling
materials is changing, and outlets that accept recycling are decreasing.
The Environmental Team looked at ways to reduce the large quantity
of trash and recycling that the Park District handles. Last summer the
Environmental Team launched its Goal: Zero Waste campaign.
Q: Who makes up the Environmental Team?
A: It is comprised of a representative from each facility, since they
are the ones who know the day-to-day details of their operations,
and are best able to identify the opportunities for improvement.
By having team members from a cross section of the Park District,
they are able to give input from the perspective of that facility,
and then bring back recommendations for implementation.
Q: What are the goals of the Environmental Team?
A: The Environmental Team focuses on several initiatives including:
• Reducing Pollution and Improving Health
• Energy Conservation
• Natural Resources Management
• Recycling & Reducing Waste