A neighborly PSA: “If it Grows, it Goes”

Dear Organics Diversion Partner,

We are writing on behalf of the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC) and the Illinois Chapter of the US Composting Council (USCC-IL). 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 and USCC-IL Chapter hope 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 consider sending a special message during International Compost Awareness Week, May 7-13, 2023. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Respectfully,

Benjamin Krumstok – Executive Director, Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC)
benjamin@compostingpartners.com

John Lardner – Illinois Chapter Liaison to US Composting Council (USCC)

Mike Dimucci – Owner, Garden Prairie Organics
mike@gpocompost.com

(Short version) 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 or not then it should probably go to the landfill. “When in doubt throw it out.”

Check out your local composter for premium organic 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!

Remember 5 little words: IF IT GROWS IT GOES

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.

Mike Dimucci – Owner, Garden Prairie Organics
mike@gpocomost.com

Benjamin Krumstok – Executive Director, Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC)
benjamin@compostingpartners.com

John Lardner – Illinois Chapter Liaison to US Composting Council (USCC) and IFSC Treasurer

(long version) 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 inform and remind everyone about yard waste disposal, and what should go and should NOT go into the yard waste totters and kraft bags (landscape collection paper bags).

While working in your yards and gardens this 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: Plastic bottles, any bags made from mixed materials, Mulch plastic bags, soil plastic bags, pots or trays the plants came in, candy wrappers and snack chip bags, landscape timbers (these have chemicals in them and have already been cured), ANY WOOD other than that that has been removed from a living or recently deceased tree, rocks and stones, plastic and metal paver edging, paver blocks, concrete, boulders, rocks, synthetic mulch, PLASTIC BAGS of ANY KIND (this includes the dog droppings in grocery bags picked up and disposed of in the yard waste bins), common house hold garbage, card board boxes of any kind, taped up kraft paper bags, kraft paper bags lined with a garbage bag, dog toys, shoes or flip flops, all sports balls, 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.)!!!!

Please realize that all these items in the DO NOT throw category (Contaminants) are listed because they are common items found at the composting facilities that process yard waste. Yard Waste has been banned from the landfills since 1990. When these contaminants are mixed with the yard waste it creates hazards at the processing facilities. Workers pull these contaminants out of the material the best they can before the yard waste is processed. This includes pet feces hidden in half torn open plastic bags. These contaminants are a costly increase in expenses at the compost facilities. These expenses can be reduced or eliminated with a quick thought about what’s going into the bin or bag.

The Yard Waste is processed into beneficial soil amendment; Compost. Compost can be used everywhere in your landscape from gardening, fresh plantings, yard restoration, top dressing and mulch.

Please take the time to look at your local waste hauler or municipality’s website about your local programs. This will include weather or not there is a Food Waste component to the Yard Waste program. 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.