Building a Culture of Composting

What's so important about compost?

Food waste is a pressing environmental concern in Illinois. In Cook County — and in many counties around the state — it accounts for up to 37% of landfill material. But food waste is not just filling up municipal dump sites. It is a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas considerably more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide (CO2). By diverting organic waste materials from landfills and recycling it into compost we protect our environment by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas released into the air. Composting can reduce food waste in landfills and transform it into a valuable resource, just as recycling has reduced and transformed plastic, paper, and aluminum waste in the past 50 years. This will only happen if we all understand the impact of food waste in landfills and have opportunities to compost our organic waste.

What are we doing to address this issue?

Our primarily focus is compost education. Education can drive both the demand for and usage of compost and the adoption of composting on a large scale which in turn will help to mitigate climate change. Our formal classes, such as Compost Ambassador, and free materials provide information on the science of composting and answer practical questions such as "Why is compost important?",  "How can I compost at home?", and "What is vermicomposting?" We also address issues such as how to properly use and apply compost in your gardens and farms, and the differences between various types of compost. In addition, every fall we organize and sponsor Pumpkin Smash events to introduce and educate our residents to the concept of composting. We are also beginning compost demonstration and research.

Watch this page for more information as we develop content.