Environmental Stewardship
The City of West Chicago is committed to
the protection and improvement of the environment,
efficient management of natural resources,
promoting a sustainable community, and
enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the city
A New Era is Upon Us
Today, West Chicagoans are making everyday choices with greater care to sustain a healthier life and a cleaner environment for themselves and their families.
Our Community is pursuing smart growth to improve quality of life. We're partnering with all stakeholders to create incentives that can lead people and organizations to voluntarily make environmentally-sound choices.
Air: Sustain clean and healthy air
Ecosystems: Protect and restore ecosystems functions, goods, and services
Energy: Generate clean energy and use it efficiently
Land: Support ecologically sensitive land management and development
Materials: Use materials carefully and shift to environmentally preferable materials
Water: Sustain water resources to ensure quality and availability for desired uses
Explore How West Chicago is Making a Difference
- Paper Shredding
- Rain Barrels
- Adopt-A-Highway Cleanups
- Monarch Butterfly Habitats
- Recycling Events
- Partnerships with Schools
- Horticulture Events
- Smart Street Lighting
West Chicago is developing a strategic plan in partnership with all stakeholders
Please help us design the best possible strategic plan for Environmental Stewardship.
We're asking all stakeholders to give us your input and volunteer in the effort to create an exceptional game plan that's built to serve all of West Chicago's needs for now and the future.
Recent News about Environmental Stewardship in West Chicago
City Releases 2020 Water Quality Report
2020 Water Quality Report – .pdf 768kb The City of West Chicago has released the 2020 Water Quality Report which summarizes the quality of water that was provided to its customers during the 2020 calendar year. The report provides details about the sources of water, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by Federal and State regulatory agencies. The City believes residents and businesses will find this Report helpful in answering questions regarding the quality and safety of its drinking water.
Paper Shredding Event at METRA Parking Lot – June 5, 2021
The West Chicago Environmental Commission will again be hosting an On-site Paper-Shredding event on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. – *12:00 p.m. at the METRA parking lot. The main entrance to the west METRA parking lot will be used to enter, the trucks will be setup in the east METRA lot and cars will exit out of the east METRA lot entrance. A map is provided for illustration purposes. Confidential materials are destroyed on premises by trained professionals in a matter of minutes while you watch. Local residents and businesses may bring up to 10 boxes for on-site […]
West Chicago Joins Regional Tree Planting Initiative
West Chicago is joining the Plant Trees for Communities initiative to plant at least 340 new trees in the Chicago region in 2021 to build a healthier urban forest. The effort involving the seven-county Chicago region and all 50 City of Chicago wards is being spearheaded by the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI), a partnership of more than 200 organizations taking coordinated action to improve the health, diversity and equitable distribution of trees in the Chicago region. Earlier this spring, the City planted a redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) adjacent to the Fox Community Center. The attractive ornamental tree adds a […]
Bees Take Flight at the Kruse House Gardens
Shedding the feelings of isolation that many experienced during the year of the pandemic, twelve West Chicago Garden Club members emerged this spring like bees from a hive to reconnect over a community project that held the promise of excitement and fun for each, as well as the enrichment of the entire community. The active group wanted to build on the success of The Butterfly Effect of 2019, a public art project of which the Garden Club spearheaded with other community partners. A total of 36 artist-designed butterflies were spread throughout town, with seven designated for the Kruse House Gardens […]
Spring Services Return in April
The City of West Chicago would like to remind residents of the return of the following seasonal services: One-week Free Leaf Collection: Residents may dispose of an unlimited quantity of leaves during the week of April 5 – April 9, 2021 on the regularly scheduled garbage pickup day. No stickers are required for leaves during this week; however, no other yard waste may be mixed with them. All leaves must be placed in a biodegradable “Kraft” yard waste bag or a 95-gallon yard waste cart. Leaves will not be accepted in plastic bags or cardboard boxes. Yard Waste Collection: Yard waste collection will […]
West Chicago Renews Commitment to Monarch Butterflies
A call for West Chicago residents and City staff to take steps to continue and increase the planting of milkweed and nectar plants to preserve and strengthen the monarch butterfly population is included in a Proclamation declaring March 31, 2021 as “Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Day” in West Chicago. The Proclamation will be read at the City Council meeting of Monday, March 15, 2021 and is a reaffirmation of the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF’s) Pledge, originally taken by Mayor Ruben Pineda in 2017. West Chicago has been part of an expanding North American network of cities working to create habitat in […]
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month
In Illinois, on any given week we could see blue skies, thunderstorms and torrential rainfall. The changing weather is second nature to many of us, but as the calendar flips from winter to spring, it is important to not become complacent about severe weather threats that exist in our state. As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Month, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have teamed up to publish a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide to help Illinoisans be better prepared when severe weather strikes. “Making people aware of weather hazards and how to prepare for them, is […]
Online Rain Barrel Sales Underway
If you don’t have a rain barrel in your yard, or you’d like a second one, now is the time to get it. The West Chicago Environmental Commission spearheads the annual Rain Barrel Sale in conjunction with The Conservation Foundation. It’s easy to order your rain barrel online through The Conservation Foundation and Upcycle Products, Inc. A rain barrel is an easy way to collect a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use to water plants, to wash your car, or to top a swimming pool, FREE! The barrels are repurposed, industrial-sized food containers that would otherwise be […]
DuPage Monarch Project Releases Video Featuring West Chicago Among Other Cities
Last summer, Mayor Ruben Pineda contributed to a video produced by the DuPage Monarch Project, which was just released. In it, Mayor Pineda speaks about his signing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in 2017, and the momentum it created for monarch conservation in West Chicago. Since signing the Pledge, West Chicago residents and community organizations have installed new pollinator gardens, launched several public art projects focused on monarchs, and inspired a greater interest in monarch conservation. Their collective efforts rewarded West Chicago with a national designation from the America in Bloom organization as the Best Pollinator Program among it s member […]