Request to Address Council from the Alternative Learning Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Action Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Request to Address Council from the Alternative Learning
Center Students
SUMMARY: Request from the students of the Alternative Learning
Center to address the City Council regarding what they
have learned this semester about Sustainable Dubuque.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Council
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Request for Alternati e learning Center Students to City Manager Memo
Address the City Council-MVM Memo
Request to Address Council Staff Memo
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBE I
erica .i
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Request for Alternative Learning Center Students to Address the City
Council Regarding Sustainability
DATE: December 3, 2015
Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach requests the City Council approve a
request from the students of the Alternative Learning Center to address the City Council
during the December 21, 2015 City Council meeting regarding what they have learned
this semester about Sustainable Dubuque.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Micliael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBE I
erica .i
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
SUBJECT: Request for Alternative Learning Center Students to Address the City
Council Regarding Sustainability
DATE: December 3, 2015
The purpose of this memo is to request that the students of the Alternative Learning
Center be invited to address the City Council during their regularly-scheduled December
211 2015 meeting regarding their learnings this semester about Sustainable Dubuque.
In October, I worked with ALC teacher Tim Hitzler to develop a unit for the Global
Science curriculum where students would learn about the Sustainable Dubuque
initiative and work with various community leaders to contribute to existing efforts. The
students have completed community tours, worked alongside Green Iowa Americorps,
and completed research on recycling glass, and would like the opportunity to present a
brief summary of their work to the City Council.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Cc: Tim Hitzler, Alternative Learning Center
How Dubuquers Repurpose Glass
Drinking glasses
Food storage containers
Canning
Crafts (candles, vase, centerpiece, bird feeders, mosaic,
Containers for homemade goods
Lawn Art
Housing materials for walls
Hardware containers
Additional Sources
"Sustainable Glass Management Options Study". May 2010.
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/waste/dubuquesustainableg
lassmgtoptionsstudv.pdf
Glass Packaging Institute http://www.gpi.org/recycling/glass-recycling-facts
Interview of Scott Dittmer at the Dittmer Recycling location on 11/9/2015.
"Glass Recycling Options in Dubuque" July 5, 2011.
NO CLEAR SOLUTIO\
GLASS RECYCLING IN DUBUQUE
ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER
http://www.kwwl.com/story/15029421/glass-recycling-options-in-dubuQue Alta Vista Campus
Class discussion with Cori Burbach (Sustainable Community Coordinator for
the city of Dubuque) on 12/8/2015.
DECEMBER, 2015
Why We Chose This Topic
We chose to research glass recycling after our tour of Dittmer
Recycling. We learned that many people in Dubuque drop off their
glass at Dittmer Recycling thinking it will be recycled. In reality, the
glass is transported and added to the Dubuque landfill.
Facts About Glass Recycling
Pros
* Glass is 100% recyclable
* Making new glass with recycled glass uses less energy than
making glass without recycled glass.
* Recycling glass preserves natural resources and habitats.
Cons
* In Dubuque, the glass purchaser is not within a reasonable
distance.
* Because glass is not toxic to the environment, recycling it
wastes time and money: transportation to recycling center,
sorting, cleaning, processing, etc.
* Danger to workers during the sorting process and damages
equipment.
* Glass might cross -contaminate other recyclables.
Proposal to Provide Information
Based on our survey results, there appears to be misconceptions about
recycling glass. We propose the following steps to clear up these
misconceptions:
1. Add more information about glass recycling to the city's website
2. Learn ways to repurpose glass rather than recycle it
3. Encourage Dubuquers to research the issue for themselves
4. Our class will use our school Facebook page to provide glass recycling
information
SURVEY RESULTS
(OUT OF 251 RESPONDENTS)
1) What do you do with your glass?
Recycle
39%
Repurpose
Throw it away
53%
■ Throw it away ■ Repurpose =. Recycle Other
2) Do you think the city of Dubuque should collect glass for recycling?
No 015%
■ Yes • No
Yes
95%
3) Do you think glass is harmful to the environment?
No
32%
Source:
J
■ Yes ■ No
Yes
68%
• Survey conducted by ALC Global Science class in December, 2015.