Dear Organics Diversion Partner,
We are writing on behalf of the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC).
Contamination in all recycling streams is a profound problem, and we have prepared some information to help residents and contractors make informed decisions when sorting their organics for composting (landscape, food scraps, etc.). The intention is to inform and educate your customers, residents, and other constituents so that they can better understand which materials are acceptable for organics recycling, and which are actually contaminants which should be sent to landfill (ex. plastics) or diverted to other recycling pathways (ex. cans) instead.
Each composting site/hauler/municipality relationship is unique, and the exact list of acceptable materials does vary. Some contaminants are consistent and we aspire to point those out, while also informing the responsible generators/homeowners/business operators that for certain materials (ex. food scraps) they should contact you or your local partners or contractors to learn what is and what is not accepted in your organics recycling stream.
The IFSCC hopes that you will consider distributing this information broadly and often.
- Haulers, please communicate with your customers and employees.
- Municipal waste management administrators, please communicate with your residents and any contracted or permitted haulers in your community.
- Solid Waste Agency leaders, please communicate with officials in the communities you serve.
Every and any means of communication should be considered; social media, inclusion in regular weekly e-mails, special e-mails, direct mailing, etc. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.
Respectfully,
Benjamin Krumstok – Executive Director, Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition executivedirector@illinoiscomposts.org
Mike Dimucci – President, IFSCC Board of Directors, Owner, Garden Prairie Organics mike@gpocompost.com
PSA – Yard Waste – IF IT GROWS IT GOES
Now that yard waste pick up has started and spring is officially here with some sun and rain, we would like to inform and remind everyone about yard waste disposal, and what should go and should NOT go into the yard waste totters and kraft paper bags (landscape collection paper bags) .
While working in your yards and gardens this season, remember, “IF IT GROWS IT GOES”. Grass, leaves, sticks, brush, garden waste, yard debris, shrubs, trees, sod, soil (no clay) and roots are all items which should go in your yard waste bin or kraft paper bags.
Items that DO NOT belong in the bin or bags: ANYTHING THAT DOES NOT GROW IN YOUR YARD!!! Plastic bottles, Mulch plastic bags, soil plastic bags, pots or trays the plants came in, candy wrappers and snack chip bags, landscape timbers, ANY WOOD other than that that has been removed from a living or recently deceased tree, PLASTIC BAGS of ANY KIND (this includes the dog droppings in grocery bags picked up and disposed of in the yard waste bins), string of any kind (including twine or string wrapped around bales of branches or bales of straw), landscape netting or ground cover netting, and PLEASE under any circumstances NO GLASS or LITHIUM BATTERIES (VAPE PENS, etc.)!
Food waste has different restrictions for each town and you need to go to your individual town, hauler, or compost site to check out their program.
If you question whether an item should be put in the yard waste bin, then it should probably go to the landfill. “When in doubt throw it out.”
Check out your local composter or reseller for where to buy finished compost:
https://illinoiscomposts.org/resources/where-to-buy-finished-compost
Whoever or wherever you’re getting your compost from, make sure it has been tested and certified by an independent national organization, either OMRI or STA certified. Not all compost is created equal!
Please feel free to contact Mike or Benjamin if you have any questions about yard waste and other organics recycling, or compost and its benefits.
- Benjamin Krumstok – Executive Director, Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition executivedirector@illinoiscomposts.org
- Mike Dimucci – President, IFSCC Board of Directors, Owner, Garden Prairie Organics mike@gpocomost.com