Chicago expands food scrap drop-off program

In response to growing demand, Chicago has added 13 food scrap drop-off locations through its Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, increasing the total number of sites to 33. The new sites, positioned outside of 13 Chicago library locations, are a result of a partnership between Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) and the Chicago Public Library (CPL).

Launched in October 2023, city officials say the Food Scrap Drop-Off Program has engaged more than 7,400 households, and more than 1 million pounds of food waste have been diverted from landfills to composting.

“Diverting food waste from landfills to composting is one of the easiest and most impactful actions individuals and cities can take to fight climate change,” Johnson says. “This collaboration between CPL and DSS makes composting even more convenient for Chicago residents and builds on our shared vision of a cleaner, greener and healthier city.”

The program accepts fruit and vegetable scraps, cooked food, meat, fish, bones, dairy, eggshells, bread, grains, coffee grounds and tea leaves.

Materials are collected by DSS and transported to the Harbor View Composting Facility, operated by Whole Earth Compost.

“We’re excited to partner with CPL in this effort to make composting more accessible for all residents,” DSS Commissioner Cole Stallard says. “It will increase our material diversion rate and help meet goals in the City’s 2022 Climate Action Plan and 2021 Waste Strategy.”