DuPage County's Environmental Committee accepted the 2027 budget for the county's Environmental and Sustainability Division on Tuesday, Aug. 4, moving the spending plan one step closer to final adoption later this year.
The vote, at the committee's regular meeting at the county's Wheaton headquarters, came after Environmental Program Manager Joy Hinz presented the budget alongside the county's 2025 Waste & Recycling Annual Report. Committee member Andrew Honig made the motion to accept and place the budget on file; Greg Schwarze seconded it.
No one opposed the motion.
The budget acceptance is a preliminary step. The full DuPage County Board must still approve the 2027 spending plan through its broader budget process before it takes effect. Dollar figures and line-item details were not recorded in the meeting minutes.
Recycling report covers landfill capacity, diversion rates
Hinz also walked the committee through the 2025 Waste & Recycling Annual Report, which covered Illinois landfill capacity, hauler reporting, residential recycling and diversion rates, and areas of focus going forward, according to the meeting minutes.
The specific data from the report has not been made publicly available. Committee members Honig and Schwarze asked questions of clarification during the presentation, and Chair Saba Haider thanked Hinz for her work.
DuPage County's annual waste report draws on statewide landfill capacity data required under Illinois law and pairs it with local hauler and recycling reporting relevant to communities including Wheaton, Warrenville and West Chicago.
Public comment highlights dark-sky advocacy, SCARCE events
Two speakers addressed the committee during public comment. David Barcus, a volunteer and advocate for DarkSky International, shared an update on the organization's programs and how they apply to local communities. Kay McKeen, executive director of SCARCE, reported on successful recycling and sustainability events the nonprofit hosted recently.
SCARCE regularly partners with DuPage County on recycling and sustainability programs. McKeen and Haider appeared together in April when they presented Earth Flag and Water Quality Flag awards to the City of West Chicago at its April 20 council meeting.
Haider opened the Aug. 4 meeting by thanking staff for the county's "Distilling Change" Chicago Climate Week event held July 23.
What's next
The 2027 budget will proceed through the full county budget process before final adoption. The Environmental Committee meets monthly; the next meeting date has not yet been posted to the county's legislative calendar.
