SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education) is pretty well-known for its commitment to reducing, reusing, recycling and repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfills.
A possibly lesser-known focus is in place to protect storm drains from substances that could pollute our waterways—did you know water going into storm drains does not get filtered or treated before it is released into those waterways?
Jean Kent, SCARCE program director of environmental education, explained what the program is and how it works, saying that the medallions (signs) placed near storm drains are there to let people know not to put anything into the drains, whether it be litter or even such liquids as cooking oil (SCARCE offers cooking oil recycling).
And, it is illegal to dump any waste down the drains, per the Federal Clean Water Act.
Kent said the program was launched in 2019, pointing out that SCARCE founder and executive director Kay McKeen had spotted the medallions in Maryland, “and thought they’d be a safe and effective way to help educate individuals in DuPage County about the importance of protecting our waterways.”
McKeen previously had only seen spray-painted signage reminding people not to dump anything down storm drains — the problem with that being the painters could inhale harmful fumes, and the paint would wear off over time, sending paint particles down the drain.
So SCARCE, with support from DuPage County’s storm water management authorities, began a medallion program to provide signage that could be placed on flat surfaces on or next to storm drains reminding people not to put anything into the drains.
“They bring attention to the storm drains,” Kent emphasized, adding that there is “the potential for water to sit and collect contaminants … We don’t want anything down there.”
How it works: “Volunteer groups do this for us,” Kent continued. “The key is, it’s got to be in an area where there’s a lot of foot traffic … We want to make sure (the medallions) have the most impact.”
SCARCE pays for the medallions — a refundable deposit is required — and groups or businesses apply for them, informing SCARCE of the location(s) where they intend to install the medallions. If accepted, the volunteers receive training on how and where to install the medallions (flat surfaces only), along with supplies such as a wire brush to clean the mounting surface, and a heavy-duty, weatherproof adhesive with which to fasten the medallions.
Of course, timing is everything, including proper weather conditions.
The adhesive needs to be applied when it is not likely to rain, and when the temperature will be between 40 degrees and 80 degrees, Kent related.
“It is costly, so we want people to put them on correctly and in the right location,” she added.
It is also important that if a group or business receives the medallions that they actually be installed, in part for the same reason. Plus, “The county is trying to keep track of where they are located,” Kent said.
Emily King, SCARCE environmental educator, noted that Sacred Heart School and York Center School, in Lombard; Willowbrook High School, Jackson Middle School and a Girl Scout troop, in Villa Park; and York High School and the DuPage County Water Commission, in Elmhurst are among the participants in the medallion program.
The Addison Park District is also participating, according to a recent Facebook post.
Kent hopes to see more medallions around the county to spread the word about keeping the storm drains free of contaminants, saying of the program that “If it gets done correctly, it’s very, very exciting.”
For McKeen, it is simply “educating kids and the community about protecting our water quality.”
She pointed out that the signs are printed in both English and Spanish, “so we can engage many more residents.”
The SCARCE organization offers an educational video online at scarce.org, under “Initiatives,” along with a frequently asked questions section and a basic outline of the project procedure.
Also, click on “Education,” then “Programs,” to learn how to earn a Water Quality Flag, or visit www.scarce.org/water-quality.
