Batavia Environmental Commission

05/29/2026

Donate your plastic recyclables to create a park bench!
Batavia Lions Club and Batavia Park District are teaming up for the NexTrex recycling challenge. Donate your clean plastic recyclables, and if we hit our goal, NexTrex will donate a free park bench made of the recycled material to the Park District.

Bring your clean, dry recyclable items to the Park District Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson St., and drop them in the collection box in the lobby (pictured below with Director of Parks Kim Hansen). We are collecting:

Grocery bags
Bread bags
Bubble wrap
Dry cleaning bags
Newspaper sleeves
Ice bags
Plastic shipping envelopes
Resealable food storage bags
Cereal bags
Case overwrap
Salt bags
Pallet wrap & stretch film
Wood pellet bags
Produce bags

Note: All plastic must be clean, dry, and free of food residue.

By participating, you’ll help:
Reduce plastic waste
Protect our environment
Keep Batavia beautiful
Support a community recycling effort

05/15/2026

05/11/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our new native garden along the Art of the Fox mural was installed this weekend!

This garden was designed to be visually appealing, cost-effective and provide important ecosystem services- such as essential food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife, capturing and filtering stormwater, improving soil structure and air quality - all contributing towards a healthier, more vibrant and resilient community for current and future generations to enjoy!

We hope that this space serves as an inspiration and encourages you to incorporate native plants into your own landscapes!

Be sure to enjoy some riverwalk strolls this summer to watch as it grows! (We do ask that folks refrain from walking in the bed as plants are young and becoming established.)

More information on the plants and process will be posted to our website in the near future!

🌱Installed by BEC Commissioners Nikki Matthiscyk (her daughter), Barb McKittrick, Alex Zelles and Alderperson Jennifer Baerren! THANK YOU!
🦋🌻🐝

"Build it and they will come" is the motto! We had some adorable visitors checking out the new space! 🦆

04/24/2026

Part 4/Final video from the BHS Eco Club Earth week series!

The students did a great job putting all of these videos together! 👏

04/24/2026

♻️Part 3 of the BHS Eco Club Earth Week series is on recycling!

04/24/2026

Saturday, April 24th Update: Trees have been restocked and are available for pickup!

🌳FREE NATIVE OAK TREE SAPLINGS are now available for pick up at City Hall, left of the Police Department door. Please only take what you can plant immediately.
More will be available tomorrow morning!

Species and Planting Info:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AsGxfjQew/

Cord colors:
Red - Red oak
Black - Bur oak
Natural - Swamp White oak

04/23/2026

Part 2 of the BHS Eco Club's Earth Day video series is on native plants! 🌳🌻

Have you started incorporating native plants into your landscape? What are some of your favorites?

04/22/2026

🌳HAPPY EARTH DAY! The Batavia Environmental Commission is hosting a FREE native tree giveaway! Thanks to Living Lands and Waters MillionTrees Project, we have 500 individually wrapped saplings available for residents, businesses or organizations to plant at their homes, businesses or areas within the community!

Trees clean our air, build and stabilize soil, capture stormwater, provide food and shelter for wildlife and shade and cooling in urban areas, thereby reducing energy costs. Oaks are a keystone species supporting more biodiversity than any other species and are essential in maintaining a healthy, balanced ecosystem.

Trees will be available for pick up at City Hall (100 N. Island Ave.), next to the bike pad on the left side of the Police Department on Friday, April 24th at 10AM and Saturday, April 25th at 8AM, while supplies last. Please be courteous and only take what you are able to immediately plant.

We'd love to see and share your newly planted trees, so be sure to take some photos and tag us! and !

PROJECT INFORMATION:
https://www.livinglandsandwaters.org/what-we-do/our-projects/milliontrees-project.html

SPECIES AVAILABLE: Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Red Oak: https://www.livinglandsandwaters.org/file_download/inline/99fca83d-6cfc-445d-b114-d767ff4edbc4
Bur Oak: https://www.livinglandsandwaters.org/file_download/inline/1852cd90-4382-41a2-86e1-6b2455c5ac31
Swamp White Oak: https://www.livinglandsandwaters.org/file_download/inline/97fb1037-076b-4a5d-aa31-e260c314e68b

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

Our Batavia High School Liaisons and Eco Club created a series of fun and creative educational videos that share some simple ways that you can help our environment!

Give it up to these amazing young voices advocating for our environment! Keep up the great work! 👏

We want to hear how you are celebrating Earth Day! Comment below!

(Part 1)