Environment	Issue Pages: TIFs Preserving Cook County Hospital Health Care Taxes and Fiscal Responsibility Environment Equal Rights Women's Issues

Commissioner Mike Quigley's devotion to the environment is unsurpassed on the County Board. The Commissioner has fought to protect the forest preserves even in times of financial hardship and has brought many innovative environmental programs to the County.

Going Green Saves Green
Commissioner Quigley recently passed ordinances banning the use of County and Forest Preserve District funds for the purchase of bottled water. Currently, Cook County spends over $400,000 annually on bottled water for its employees. Bottled water in reality is not cleaner, safer, or healthier than tap water, and the production of botted water consumes many resources.

Supplying the plastic for the water bottles used by Americans requires more than 47 million gallons of oil annually, equivalent to the release of one billion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to the Container Recycling Institute. In addition, 86 percent of plastic water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter.

Click here to download the ordinance for the County and the Forest Preserve District.

Innovation
As chair of the County Board's Environmental Committee, Commissioner Quigley conducted a series of hearings on sustainability and in April 2005 released "Greening Cook County," a comprehensive report proposing a number of ordinances designed to make Cook County the "greenest" county in the nation. Click here to download a copy of "Greening Cook County" (Adobe PDF file).

In 2002, Commissioner Quigley introduced and passed an ordinance requiring that any new construction by the County must meet the guidelines for green buildings developed by the United States Green Building Council. The Commissioner achieved the passage of similar legislation for the Forest Preserve District in 2005.

Recycling
Mike Quigley sponsored amendments to the Recycled Purchasing Ordinance, which require the County to buy recycled and recyclable products. As a result, most of the paper products, as well as many other products that the County purchases, have recycled content.

The Commissioner also successfully sponsored an ordinance requiring the County to reduce its waste stream by at least 25 percent. In 2005, the Commissioner passed a green purchasing ordinance for the Forest Preserve District (FPD) as well as an ordinance directing the FPD to develop a plan to reduce its waste stream by 25 percent.

Open Space
Currently, the Cook County Forest Preserve District is acquiring land at a slower rate than during the Depression and war years. As our last remnants of open space succumb to development, Commissioner Quigley is working to help the FPD reach its statutory maximum of 75,000 acres. Commissioner Quigley sponsored and passed a resolution requiring revenues from surplus land sales to fund future land acquisition. He also passed a legislative initiative to protect environmentally sensitive land in the preserves.

In another example of his ongoing commitment to land acquisition, Commissioner Quigley issued a report entitled "Make No Small Plans," urging the Forest Preserve District to acquire 1,190 acres in the Lake Calumet region. The area is home to over 2,000 species, many of which are listed as endangered by the State of Illinois. Click here to download a copy of "Make No Small Plans" (Adobe PDF file).

Protecting Natural Lands
In addition to land acquisition, Commissioner Quigley is committed to the protection of our lands. He passed legislation reaffirming the FPD land policy and ensuring that all uses of FPD land are consistent with the core mission of the District.

Ongoing Commitment
Commissioner Quigley is committed to cultivating our next generation of environmentalists. He teaches Environmental Politics at Loyola University Chicago every fall. Each year he also serves as a site captain for River Rescue Day (sponsored by the Friends of the Chicago River) and organizes over a hundred school-age volunteers to clean the Chicago River.

For his efforts, Commissioner Quigley has been recognized by a number of environmental advocates:

• Chicago Area Chapter, National Audubon Society, "Defender of the Environment: Political Action Award"
• Chicago Recycling Coalition Certificate of Recognition
• North Branch Prairie Project "Environmental Excellence Award"

In addition, when running for his first term in 1998, Commissioner Quigley became the first County Board candidate ever to receive an endorsement from the Sierra Club.