Chicago Compost Program features Local Drop-Off Sites

By: Miguel Zurita

Here in the United States, people are often left with excess food waste and leftovers that people may not know what to do with them besides throwing them away in the garbage cans and dumpsters. Instead, there is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of doing so- by taking them to your local food scrap drop off sites. Whether it be leftover fruits, vegetables and other food-related items, these can serve different purposes instead of piling up in a landfill that will only hurt the environment. This will also reduce the amount of waste and garbage that collects at your home or in alleys.The nearest drop-off site to the Wright College campus is located on 6453 West Higgins Avenue, on the corner of Higgins and Neenah Avenue.

(Food Scrap Drop-Off Bins at a local site. Photo Courtesy: City of Chicago chicago.gov)

“Taking all of your leftover food to the food scrap drop off is much better because you are helping out the environment, especially the plants. These leftovers aren’t going to waste, they are soon becoming compost for these plants which will help them grow big and strong” said George Hernandez, an employee from the City’s Department of Sanitation, on what he thinks about people taking their food leftovers to the food scrap drop off.

(Accepted and Not Accepted Items at compost bins. Photo Courtesy: City of Chicago chicago.gov)

Food scraps that are allowed to be disposed of in these bins include fruits and vegetables, cooked food, eggshells, bread and many other things. Things that are not allowed include any type of bags, pet and yard waste and other things. It helps people differentiate it from a regular garbage can. The scrap drop offs are open daily from 7 am to 7 pm. For users who are concerned about odor from food scraps at home, according to the city’s website, users can minimize this by visiting the compost sites once a week or by storing their food scraps in the freezer. 

Anthony Mariano, student, said that he loves the drop off sites and his family takes their food waste over to one of the locations once a week. He said that it gives them more space at home.