Happy 2026! We're still working for a more sustainable and green Chicago since 1975.
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Composting in Chicago
Ken Dunn was a pioneer in Chicago composting and used the compost for community gardens and to prepare lots for healthy planting. Ken helped drive the movement of composting starting in the late 1960s. Now in 2026, the City of Chicago has 33 free drop-off locations, plus there are viable small businesses for pick-up.
why compost?
Studies show that food waste makes up over 20% of municipal waste. Once in a landfill, food waste produces large amounts of methane -- a "greenhouse gas" even greater than CO2--contributing to the problem of climate change.
Composting helps reduce:
- Methane gases from landfills (which contribute to climate change)
- Leachate from landfills (which pollute soil and groundwater)
- Carbon emissions (required to transport food/organic waste to landfills)
- Stress on our sewer systems and the amount of chemicals needed to keep our municipal water systems clean, by helping the land and soil be permeable and able to absorb rainwater (hard, desiccated soil results in run-off).
- Compost helps trees and plants grow so they can sequester carbon and helps soil recover and stay arable for growing healthy food.
