Composting
Composting is one of the most significant ways to reduce your food waste and carbon footprint. Although the City of Chicago does not offer municipal composting, we've listed a variety of local composting services to help Chicagoans reduce food waste in addition to resources to learn more about composting.
Residential & Commercial Composting Services
Block Bins (Website Sponsor)
Block Bins is Chicago's most affordable, convenient, and accessible compost solution with a network of more than 600 bins in neighborhoods across the city. Join a shared bin or start one for your block starting at only $10 per month. Their carbon neutral compost pickup service provides an easy way to divert waste from landfills and reduce your carbon footprint, all while keeping your neighborhood cleaner.
Collective Resource is proudly woman-owned and led since 2010. They offer residential and commercial container-swap, door-to-door service. They also provide consulting and staffing for zero waste events. All active customers receive finished compost each spring.
Star Farm is a nonprofit urban farm that offers residential compost service in the form of weekly 5 gallon bucket pickup. They are the only composting service headquartered on the south side, in Back of the Yards neighborhood.
The Urban Canopy offers residential, commercial, and event composting. They mainly provide pickup services, but customers can also drop off waste at their office location and some farmer’s markets. (Please note- Healthy Soil Compost is now part of The Urban Canopy)
WasteNot is the only zero-emissions compost collection service in Chicago, with a fleet of electric vehicles! They provide both residential 5 gallon bucket pickup and commercial composting service.
Chicago Compost Pickup & Dropoff
City of Chicago Food Scrap Dropoffs - The City of Chicago launched its first-ever citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off Program in October 2023. All Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their household food scraps for composting at one of 17 locations across the city, for free.
The Eco Flamingo - Accepts compostable waste through a Block Bins drop-off point. It’s $10 for a 5 gallon bucket of waste. Lincoln Square
Global Garden Refugee Training Farm - Will accept your compost for a $20 enrollment fee. Albany Park
Plant Chicago - Dropoff is free. Back of the Yards
Urban Canopy Facility - Dropoff is $8. Heart of Chicago
Some Farmer’s Markets (check their website before you go). There is generally a small fee.
A community garden near you may accept it, but you have to contact the garden’s admin to ask.
MWRD - Free EQ finished compost is available with free delivery to schools, non-profit organizations and residents with a 10 cubic yard minimum. If you need a smaller amount, bring your own buckets, bags and shovels to pick up free compost at six of their water reclamation plants. More details can be found at the link.
DIY Composting Resources
Standard Home Composting
Garfield Park Conservatory Home Composting Guide
Illinois Food Scrap Coalition - Composting At Home
University of Illinois Extension’s Composting in the Home Garden
Vermicomposting: The practice of using worms to break down your organic waste!
Nature Museum Composting Guide to Vermicomposting
Or visit Chicago Environmentalists on Facebook and ask your fellow composters for some of their extra worms. We always encourage utilizing the circular economy!
Banner Image Credit: Healthy Soil Compost
Did we miss something? If there’s a composting service, drop-off option, or online resource we forgot, let us know by filling out this form! (Asterisked lines are required)