Mayor Brandon Johnson, Department of Streets and Sanitation, And Chicago Public Library Expand Food Scrap Drop-Off Program To 13 New Library Locations
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) and Chicago Public Library (CPL), have announced a new partnership to expand the city's Food Scrap Drop-Off Program. This collaboration will bring the program to 13 library locations, increasing the total number of drop-off sites across Chicago to 33.

The Food Scrap Drop-Off Program was launched in October 2023 and has already seen strong participation from residents. Over 7,400 households have signed up for the program, resulting in over one million pounds of food waste being diverted from landfills to composting facilities. In response to this growing demand, the city has decided to expand beyond the current 20 DSS facility sites and bring drop-off locations to neighborhood libraries.

Mayor Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating that diverting food waste from landfills is one of the most impactful actions individuals and cities can take in fighting climate change. He believes that this collaboration between CPL and DSS will make composting even more convenient for Chicago residents and aligns with their shared vision of a cleaner, greener, and healthier city.

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Guided by the city's climate goals and the success of the program thus far, DSS worked with CPL to identify library locations that would bring environmental action closer to where people live, learn, and gather. DSS Commissioner Cole Stallard stated that this partnership will not only increase their material diversion rate but also help meet goals outlined in the City's 2022 Climate Action Plan and 2021 Waste Strategy.

The new drop-off locations include Avalon Branch, Dunning Branch, Edgebrook Branch, Hegewisch Branch, Lincoln Belmont Branch, Portage-Cragin Branch, Scottsdale Branch, Sherman Park Branch, Toman Branch, Uptown Branch, Vodak-East Branch, West Chicago Avenue Branch, and Woodson Regional Library.

CPL Commissioner Chris Brown expressed his pride in the library's role as a neighborhood destination for climate learning and action. He believes that by offering composting at select locations, residents can not only participate in the program but also pick up a book to learn more about it. Brown emphasized that CPL is committed to connecting Chicagoans with knowledge and tools that help build healthier and more resilient communities.

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The Food Scrap Drop-Off Program is free and open to all Chicago residents. To get started, residents can sign up at chi.gov/composting and watch a short instructional video. They can then start collecting their household food waste and bring it to the green carts at their selected drop-off site as often as needed. All types of food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy, are accepted. However, non-food waste will not be accepted. DSS will collect the food waste and transport it to a local facility in Chicago where it will be processed into nutrient-rich compost.

Aside from reducing landfill waste, composting also has significant climate benefits. When food waste decomposes in landfills, methane is produced, which is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By diverting food waste from landfills through composting, the city is taking an important step towards reducing methane emissions and fighting climate change.

For more information about the Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, including a full list of drop-off sites and how to sign up, residents can visit chi.gov/composting. This partnership between DSS and CPL highlights the city's commitment to sustainability and creating a healthier environment for all Chicagoans.

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