Helping make Des Plaines a greener city one day at a time.
THINK GREEN. ACT GREEN.
“What exactly does composting mean and what does it entail? Is it something that I can do in my apartment? How does it benefit the environment?”
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These are all good questions that Go Green Des Plaines would like to address
with our Food Compost Project!
What is compost?
Compost is the process of recycling organic materials such as food scraps, yard waste, and some animal products. It's ideally a combination of browns (carbon-rich products) and greens (nitrogen-rich products). When they decompose properly, it turns into a nutrient-rich substance that resembles black dirt. It can be used for gardening, farming and horticulture!
Why should you compost?
Composting reduces methane emissions - we can recycle our food scraps instead of throwing them away where they will end up in a land fill. Currently, around 1/3 of our household waste is made of food scraps and yard waste, both of which can be composted!​
Compost enriches our soil, it helps the soil retain moisture, breaks up compacted soil, and helps against erosion. ​
Composting also reduces our need for chemical fertilizers and in turn, reduces the amount of chemicals we add to our soil.
How you can compost!
There are different ways that everyone can compost! One way is to use a commercial composting company that picks up your food scraps and delivers it to a composting facility. After 6-9 months of processing, compost is produced that is used in landscaping and gardens. This option is available to all residents, regardless of the type of home they live in. It is also a great option for restaurants and businesses that deal with food.
You can also start a compost pile in your backyard. For information on how to do this, check out Illinois Food Scrap Coalition!
How You Can Get Involved
Go Green Des Plaines has provided food scrap bins to several locations throughout our community to introduce commercial composting to both residents and businesses. These bins can be found at the Des Plaines Self Help Food Pantry, the Maine Township Food Pantry, and in the neighborhood of Oakwood Ave just west of the river. These bins are from Urban Canopy. If you want to help, check out these local companies below, click on the logo to get information on their services, and start your compost journey today!
The Urban Canopy
Chicago's community-first compost pickup service.
Wastenot Compost
Local compost pickup for homes and businesses with 100% electric vehicles.
Currently, LRS Recycling, the refuse company that operates in Des Plaines, does NOT offer composting services for our city, even though they offer it in neighboring counties. Please help us create the demand for this service by emailing our city public works! You can help us create change!