Environmental Advisory Board
The Environmental Advisory Board spent most of its January 20 meeting on practical, small-scale ideas: recycling aluminum cans in public places, better public education before weed enforcement, and whether “greener” takeout containers are realistic in a county without composting options.
A resident pitched secure aluminum-can recycling bins in parks, at the beach, and at events—arguing the city could capture value from cans now going in the trash. The board showed interest but took no action.
The board dug into the city’s noxious weed rules and the gap between enforcement and public know-how—staff said the city mostly responds to complaints and doesn’t have resources to hunt weeds proactively, so education and outside partners may be the realistic path.
Members debated pushing restaurants toward alternative takeout containers, but ran into a basic problem: “compostable” containers don’t break down well in landfills, and Manitowoc County doesn’t accept them for composting—so the easy “green” fix isn’t actually available locally.
He urged the city to add secure aluminum-can recycling containers at parks, the beach, and public events, saying he recently got about $0.70 per pound for cans and the city could stop throwing that value away. He said he also planned to raise the idea with the Advisory Recreation Board; the EAB found it interesting but took no immediate action.