HH Green Task Force 2026 Meetings - Highland Heights Green Task Force

What’s Next?

FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.

POTLUCK
- Members came together to enjoy an evening of great conversation and food. Participants bring their own plates, water bottles, utensils, and a dish to share without creating waste.
FREECYCLE
- Took place June 28th and was another success. Thank you, volunteers!
- Planet Aid stats: Clothes: 908 lbs, Shoes: 82 lbs, Household Items: 694 lbs, Trash: 137 lbs
E-WASTE COLLECTION
- Collected at the Free Cycle event
- No stats yet for 2026. 2025=1,977 lbs, 2024=1,102 lbs , 2023=1,018 lbs, 2022=1,188 lbs
- 2022-2025 Total: 5285 lbs
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
- Only about 14 people participated this year.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
- Being maintained and restocked by Ellen Schwartz and our members….Frank and Beth Popotnik. Thank you!
AUGUST FIELD TRIP
- Visited Planet Aid, which takes items remaining at the end of the Free Cycle
- 23 attended
UPCOMING MOVIE NIGHT
- Movie might has been moved to September 30th due to the Highland Heights Park Halloween Party
- The movie will be: The Plastic Detox
ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
- To be scheduled in October
SAD NEWS
- Carol Mulhern’s husband recently passed after an extended illness

FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.

UPCOMING EXPENSES
- $1,000 Scholarship – one winner
- Only had one applicant this year
DONATION TO THE STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
- Passed a vote to donate another $50 this year
MEMBERSHIP DUES
- $20 by cash or check
SIGN-UP BOOK
- Need more volunteers for the Freecycle/E-Waste Drive on June 28th. Kristi Pinkley will be running the event this year.
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
- Was 4/25/2026. This was the 4th year! Fewer participants, but good to see some council members participating!
ARBOR DAY TREE DONATION TO HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
- Advisory Board and membership voted to donate $250.00 to the city for a tree for 2026. Tree planting was at 3pm on Friday, 4/24/2026, Arbor Day.
- This year a Valley Forge Elm was planted. This was the 6th year we donated towards the purchase of a tree. All trees have a green stake under them showing the year they were planted. Thank you to our members! We received a handwritten thank you note from the Mayor!
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
- Being maintained and restocked by Ellen Schwartz and our members….Frank and Beth Popotnik, thank you!
REMINDER
- Drop off aluminum cans to the Fire Department

FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.

UPCOMING EXPENSES
- $1,000 for Student Scholarship
- $250 for Annual Arbor Day Tree Planting
MEMBERSHIP DUES
- $20 by cash or check
HHGTF TAXES
- Judy successfully filed both State and Federal Tax Reports
SCHOLARSHIP
- The membership voted to award only 1, $1,000 scholarship in 2026. Update: We only have one applicant and the scholarship committee will interview them next month.
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
- Saturday, 4/25/2026
ARBOR DAY TREE DONATION TO CITY?
- Advisory Board and membership voted to donate $250.00 to the city for a tree for 2026. Tree planting will take place at 3pm on Friday, 4/24/2026, Arbor Day.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
- Being maintained and restocked by Ellen Schwartz and our members….Frank and Beth Popotnik, thank you!
STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATE
- Cancelled.
REDUCE, REUSE, REPAIR FAIR
- March 21: Kristi Pinkley and Deb Kramarz manned our HHGTF outreach table. Thank you!

FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.

HHGTF TAXES
- Judy successfully filed both State and Federal Tax Reports
SCHOLARSHIP
- The membership voted to award only 1, $1,000 scholarship in 2026.
- Update: We have just one applicant, the scholarship committee will interview the applicant next month.
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
- Saturday 4/25/2026
ARBOR DAY TREE DONATION TO CITY?
- Advisory Board and membership voted yes on $250 for 2026. Tree planting will be on Friday, 4/24/2026 (Arbor Day) at 3pm.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
- Being maintained and restocked by Ellen Schwartz and our members….Frank and Beth Popotnik, thank you!
STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATE
- Per our bylaws we need to have a meeting this month, committee watch for suggested dates.
MARCH 21st REDUCE, REUSE, REPAIR FAIR
- Sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.
- 10 am – 2 pm, City of Independence Civic Center,6363 Selig Dr, Indepedence
- Members Deb Kramarz and Kristi Pinkley will man our table.
COMMENTS? Suggestions for Change?

Nurdles & Plastic Pollution – Brodie Longo, Beyond Plastics
- Presentation will give an overview of what has happened over the past year, and plans going forward.

FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing. Judy successfully filed both State and Federal Taxes for HHGTF.

MEMBERSHIP DUES
- We are accepting dues for 2026. Thank you!
SCHOLARSHIP
- The membership voted to award only 1, $1,000 scholarship in 2026.
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
- Probably Sat., 4/18/26 (Earthday is Wed., 4/22)
ARBOR DAY TREE DONATION TO CITY?
- $250.00 as in past? Advisory Board voted yes on $250 for 2026. Anyone tonight have comments? Tree planting should be on Fri, 4/24 Arbor Day)
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
- Being maintained and restocked by Ellen Schwartz and our members….Frank and Beth Popotnik, thank you!
STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATE
- Founding member Cathy Murphy has moved to Columbus.
- More sad news, for those who don’t know, HHGTF long time member, and past Richmond Hts. mayor, David Roche passed away late last year.
COMMENTS? Suggestions for Change?
WEBSITE
- Kristi and Angela are working on adding Kristi as admin to make website updates.
SOLID WASTE DISTRICT EVENT
- March 21, 10-2, REDUCE,REUSE, REPAIR Fair, Kristi Pinkley and Deb Kramarz will work a table for HHGTF, March 21 from 10:00-2:00 at the Independence Civic Center.

No meeting this month.