Column – Summer and Recycling Go Hand-In-Hand
By Will County Executive – Larry Walsh
For More Information Contact:
Roxane M. Geraci. Director of Communications
Will County Executive
815-740-8376 or rgeraci@willcountyillinois.com
As your Will County Executive, I have the privilege to oversee the day-to-day operations of 20 departments and offices that exist primarily to make a positive difference in the lives of our residents. When I’m out in the community and talking with the citizens living in this great county, it is evident that many are not aware of all the services provided and issues addressed by departments that report to my office. So what I’d like to do in today’s column, as well as in the future, is to provide information and insight that will hopefully benefit Will County residents and businesses.
Because of all the great publicity our electronic recycling program has received recently, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the other services provided by our Land Use Department - Waste Services Division, where the recycling programs are housed.
First of all, it is important to note that the Will County Land Use Department oversees six separate divisions that include the Historic Preservation Commission, Building, Community Development, Planning/Zoning, Subdivision Engineering and of course, Waste Services. While I will detail many of the department’s services in upcoming columns, I felt it a good time to be familiar with Waste Services since we are in the middle of a season filled with summertime fun and outdoor activities that often generate a great deal of trash.
Before we get into the recycling efforts of Waste Services, I’d like to acknowledge that this division serves to benefit the county’s environment and is responsible for proper waste disposal education, long-and-short term solid waste planning, and helping residents and businesses reduce waste. The very qualified staff also assure proper disposal of waste - and inspects and enforces environmental regulations.
As you are aware, recycling is here to stay – and in fact, is now an important part of our daily actions, as well as our environmental infrastructure. Through Waste Services, the County offers recycling programs for both residents and businesses that help take the clutter out of garages and garbage cans, as well as off of the curbs. And knowing what to do with your trash and non-useable items greatly helps to keep hazardous waste from penetrating our landfills and environment.
One of our newest programs for residents, electronics recycling, is already a big hit and grows more popular each day. This year-round, county-wide program addresses the need for a disposal alternative due to the ongoing increase in electronic products.
From computers to telephones to televisions to VCR’s – anything with a computer chip, the EPA estimates that 20-50 million tons of electronic waste is generated nationally each year, with about 85% of it ending up in landfills. With this new program, toxic materials such as lead and mercury will less likely be released into the environment through landfills. Instead, many of the electronic components recovered can be used for new products.
Currently, three electronic recycling drop-off sites have officially opened in the Village of Bolingbrook, Channahon Township and Troy Township - with Washington Township in cooperation with the Village of Beecher scheduled to open on July 31. Troy and Washington Townships also offer traditional recycling for residents and business - and due to the program’s success, there are plans to open more sites in the near future.
While the use of items with a computer chip continues to increase, so does the use of household chemicals and paint. These products also are problematic to the environment if they aren’t disposed of properly - and are not only harmful to our air, water and land – but to humans and living creatures as well. The county’s Waste Services Division offers Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events throughout the year and the City of Naperville operates a permanent HHW facility currently open on Saturday and Sunday at Fire Station Number Four. This permanent facility is one of only three in the state of Illinois.
Residents also can help preserve the environment by taking advantage of our used tire collection which is held periodically throughout the year. If your garage space is cluttered with used tires, keep in mind that the next collection is scheduled for Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Will County Highway Department’s Crest Hill Facility. Used car, tractor, and light truck tires will be accepted free of charge from Illinois residents.
Although I have addressed some of the recycling programs primarily designated for residents, I’d also like you to be aware that our Waste Services Division offers a Business Recycling Guide (available online) that includes numerous recycling options and services for Will County businesses. Through the division, the County also offers the services of a waste consultant for businesses and municipalities at no charge. Telephone, email and personal on-site visits are available to assess recycling possibilities and additional assistance may be offered for employee education, collection contract bidding and/or strategic placement of collection containers.
We have come a long way in Will County when it comes to recycling and addressing the environment – and I am extremely proud of our staff and the partnerships we have formed who have helped to make these programs possible. Thanks to their hard work and insight our homes, businesses and overall environment are safer and cleaner as we move toward the future.
As residents of Will County, I urge you to learn more about our Land Use Department and its Waste Services Division programs by going to www.willcountylanduse.com or call them at 815-727-8834. Enjoy your summer – and remember to recycle.
Test photo inserted
For More Information Contact:
Roxane M. Geraci - Director of Communications
Office of the Will County Executive - Larry Walsh
815-740-8376 or rgeraci@willcountyillinois.com
Will County Government Offers Reimbursement for
Progressive Employee Training Program
By Will County Executive, Larry Walsh
All of us who live and work in Will County want to see a vibrant economy and qualified workforce. And as a county, we are fortunate to have community, business and governmental leaders who have worked successfully toward that goal. In the past decade, we have experienced a significant increase of business and industry throughout the region – and the pace is not slowing down.
Across our 37 municipalities, we are thriving for various reasons including available land, available workforce, accessibility and great pro-growth initiatives. According to the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED), the number of Will County business establishments exceeded 20,000 in 2006 – and that number continues to rise.
As your county government, we also play a key role in economic development. One of the ways is through the Workforce Investment Board of Will County, which is one of the 18 areas that serve under my office as Will County Executive. With a goal to help build a workforce system, the Workforce Investment Board makes sure they are aligned with the needs of our local businesses.
While the Board has brought together employment, training and education services to help develop a strong workforce and offers many successful programs to promote economic vitality, I’d like to focus today’s column on their Business Grants for Employee Training program.
The grant program, made possible through the U. S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is available exclusively to local companies in Will County. It allows the Workforce Investment Board to partner with businesses and offers reimbursement to companies for their employees who successfully complete training.
Truly a win-win situation, the program provides resources to the companies so they may train their workforce to remain competitive while addressing changing skill requirements caused by new technology, retooling, new product lines and organizational restructuring. It also helps the Will County retain skilled workers -which is always plus.
Over $300,000 has been awarded through the grant and many success stories have taken shape. For example, Riverton Custom Cabinetry in New Lenox received funding through this program, and six production managers were trained in Lean Manufacturing techniques. According to Scott Koca, training manager, “the training allowed us to not only assess the challenges we knew existed, but helped us to realize aspects of our current systems that could be improved…”
Pollmann North America, Inc. of Romeoville, an electromechanical assembly manufacturer, also benefited from the county’s employee training grant program. The training helped to increase in-house skills and technical knowledge so company machines and equipment are utilized in the most efficient way, while keeping service calls to a minimum.
A third benefactor of the grant, Joliet Equipment Corporation, held a 2-day motor repair training program for 20 of its employees and forklift training for eight of the company’s mechanics. Rande Taylor, Joliet Equipment Corporation controller, felt that both trainings resulted in staff having a better understanding of motor repair analysis and forklift safety and maintenance. He also plans to research other training opportunities with the Workforce Investment Board of Will County.
Nearly 30 businesses in Will County already have taken advantage of the Business Grants for Employee Training program. Participating employers are required to match the training costs in the following way.
· 10 percent of the cost for employers with 50 or fewer employees
· 25 percent of the cost for employers with 51 to 99 employees
· 50 percent of the cost for employers with 100 or more employees
Another unique thing about this program is that employee wages paid while they are in training can be used as the employer match. This means that for some companies, the training may not require any additional resources.
Businesses also must meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for funding and priority is given to Will County businesses that promote high skill, high wage jobs for emerging demand and high technology occupations. With a successful year of completion, grant funds and applications will again be available in September 2007.
Thanks to so many in the community, we have moved milestones when it comes to Will County’s economy and workforce. Included in these efforts is our very own Workforce Investment Board, staff and partners - who have helped make the vision of a vibrant economy and trained workforce become a successful reality. For more information on the Workforce Investment Board and/or eligibility requirements for the Business Grants for Employee Training program, I encourage you to contact them at 815-727-5679 or at mgajcak@willcountyillinois.com.
Test photo inserted above