Recycled oil brings funds for outdoor recreation in Hampshire
By Denise Moran For The Courier-News July 6, 2012 1:22PM
Updated: August 9, 2012 6:29AM
HAMPSHIRE — Shelling out money for oil and gasoline these days has become an expensive but necessary routine.
By running a recycling program, the village has found a way for local area residents to get an added benefit from their motor oil purchases.
Trustee Jan Kraus has volunteered one Saturday morning every month from April to October for the past five years in order to collect used oil for recycling.
On April 14 of this year, the village took in 684 gallons of used oil. According to Kraus, it was the largest amount ever collected by the village.
Until recently, the money raised from the recycling was kept in the village’s general fund. The village services committee decided last month that the money should be used for plantings and for the purchase and maintenance of equipment related to outdoor recreation in Hampshire.
The village board Thursday night unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation.
According to Village Administrator Doug Maxeiner, the funds derived from used oil recycling will be designated for promoting outdoor recreation.
Hampshire’s used oil collection is open to all Kane County residents at the street department building, 100 Klick St.
The four dates remaining this year for dropping off used oil are from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the Saturdays of Aug. 11, Sept. 8, and Oct. 6.
According to the Kane County Recycles website, other used motor oil drop-off locations include Advance Auto Parts stores in Aurora, Batavia and Elgin; Auto Zone stores in Aurora and Elgin; Rock’n’Roll Automotive in Carpentersville; Spring Hill Ford in East Dundee; and Valvoline Instant Oil Change shops in Aurora, Batavia, Carpentersville and St. Charles.
Easier to find
Residents from other municipalities who come to Hampshire for recycling their oil and other needs may soon find it easier to get around thanks to a proposed “Way Finding” sign program.
“These signs are mostly for people from out of town,” said Village President JeffMagnussen. “Each sign would have a maximum of six names.”
Maxeiner came up with a list of 30 places that might be included in the signage program.
“I did a windshield survey,” said Maxeiner. “The survey included any business you can view from the street. Points of interest included parks, places of worship, and government buildings such as the fire station, post office, township offices, and the wastewater treatment plant.”
Village trustees Thursday night each received a copy of the list. They were asked to bring back their recommendations during the next board meeting in order to determine which businesses and points of interest should be included on the proposed signs. Board members also will decide if businesses in the industrial area should be identified by a different type of sign than the one being considered for the “Way Finding” program.
