In this newsletter
  • Save the Date for the Fall Forum
  • IDOT Project Update
  • Composter Map
  • Commissioner Frank Avila interviews IFSC
  • Compost Market Development Committee Update
  • Member Success: Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd.
  • We Compost update
  • Municipal Food Scrap Composting
  • EPA Small Business Innovation Research Grant Phase 1 Solicitation
  • New Composting Best Practices Report
  • New Organic Waste Bans Toolkit
SAVE THE DATE! Get the Dirt on Composting in Illinois
Join us for a fall forum to learn about the status of composting in Illinois and where we go from here. After the forum, follow us to Riverside Pizza & Pub or The Office for drinks.

When: November 6th, 1-3 pm
Where: Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
3795 Campton Hills Road
St. Charles, Illinois 60175
Who should attend: Anyone interested in learning more about the state of composting in Illinois
Space is limited, save your seat early!
IDOT Project Update
As you all remember, last year Public Act 100-0951 was passed, requiring IDOT to conduct two pilot demonstrations using compost amended soil that meets STA level standards and then report the findings.

The first of the IDOT Pilot Projects has begun for the improvement of US 20 and Harmony Road in unincorporated Coral Township in McHenry County. Approximately 3000 cubic yards of compost is to be utilized on this project which will include the construction of a roundabout, erosion control features, and planted areas. You can read more about the construction features of the project on IDOT's website.

The second project has just recently been let and will include a building demolition and reconfiguration at IL 394 and Sauk Trail. We will keep you informed as this project progresses.
Interactive Illinois Compost Facility Map
Come explore our Illinois Compost Facility Map. This map includes locations of compost facilities and details of compostable materials accepted at each IFSC member site. Make sure your facility is listed and up to date. To enter details for your site, click here.
Commissioner Frank Avila Interviews IFSC Chair Jennifer Jarland
Compost Market Development Committee
Why have so many people from a diversity businesses and organizations in the food scrap movement joined the Compost Market Development Committee? Benjamin Krumstok, CMD committee chair gives us a glimpse into this very active committee and what they've been up to.


Member Spotlight: Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd.
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. , recent winner of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) Sustainability Award, hosted a June 12th meeting at which more than 50 IRTBA Members toured their facility and learned about their IFSC partnership as well as HB4790 - an Illinois Policy that may impact future road building projects.
We Compost is growing!
We Compost currently recognizes...
  • 43 Businesses
  • 11 Grocery Stores and Farmers Markets
  • 47 Municipalities
  • 12 Organizations & Institutions
  • 49 Restaurants & Caterers
  • 54 Universities & Schools

Thank you We Compost partners for helping keep food waste out of landfills and thank you IFSC members for your support of We Compost partners.

Do you know of a business or organization that is composting and deserves recognition? Email illinoiscomposts@gmail.com to let us know!

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County is taking the lead in Illinois to directly educate businesses in Lake County on the value of composting and improved recycling. With help from Bright Beat, they have engaged over 50 businesses in Grayslake, Libertyville, and Highland Park!
Municipal Food Scrap Composting
Municipal food scrap collection is expanding in Illinois! The following 47 municipalities offer curbside food scrap composting:
Arlington Heights
Bannockburn
Barrington
Batavia
Carol Stream
Deer Park
DeKalb 
Downers Grove
Elburn
Elmhurst
Elmwood Park
Evanston
Fox Lake
Geneva
Glen Ellyn
Glencoe
Glenview
Grayslake
Gurnee
Hawthorn Woods
Highland Park
Highwood
Island Lake
Kaneville Twp
Kildeer
LaGrange Park
Lake Barrington
Lake Bluff
Lisle
Lombard
Mill Creek SSA
Mount Prospect
Mundelein
Naperville
North Barrington
Oak Park
Park Ridge
Port Barrington
River Forest
Riverside Pilot
Riverwoods
Round Lake Beach
Tower Lakes
Volo
Wheaton
Wilmette
Worth
EPA Small Business Innovative Research Grant Phase 1 Solicitation
The upcoming SBIR solicitation includes food waste prevention. SBIR provides grants to eligible small businesses in developing and commercializing innovative environmental technologies. Please visit epa.gov  for more information on EPA’s SBIR program and funding opportunities. EPA is calling for small businesses to apply for Phase I awards for up to $100,000 to demonstrate proof of concept in one of the SBIR solicitation topic areas. Successful Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II funding, up to $400,000 for two years, through an additional application process.
Proposed Research Areas & Topics.

A New Report Provides Best Practices for Composting Waste
Composting all organic waste, including food scraps and yard trimmings could eliminate nearly one-third of all materials sent to landfills and trash incinerators across the United States. That’s according to Composting in America , a new report released today by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Environment America Research and Policy Center and Frontier Group. The study outlines best practices for composting programs, which are critical for mitigating the negative impact of waste on the climate and public health.   

New Organic Waste Ban Toolkit
The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, with support from the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), releases a toolkit on organic waste bans and their potential to reduce food waste and strengthen local economies.

(Cambridge, MA – July 15, 2019) Forty percent of food in the United States goes to waste–this amounts to $218 billion each year spent on food that is never eaten. The majority of this wasted food ends up in landfills, where it produces harmful greenhouse gases and contributes to states and localities running out of landfill capacity.  Bans and Beyond: Designing and Implementing Organic Waste Bans and Mandatory Organics Recycling Laws ,  published by the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) in partnership with the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), is a resource to advise states and localities looking to address food waste through policy.

Organic waste bans are as an innovative policy solution to divert food waste from landfills. These policies limit the amount of organic waste, including food waste, that businesses and individuals can dispose of in landfills. Organic waste bans thus drive more sustainable practices, such as food waste prevention, food donation, sending food scraps to animal feed operations, or sending food waste to composting or anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities. Just ten years ago, these policies were largely unheard of; today, six states and seven municipalities have passed organic waste bans.

Sustaining Partners
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Illinois Food Scrap Coalition