Compost Drop Off Program

Collective Resource Compost Co-op has dropped off a 32 gallon tote in the St. Luke’s  back parking lot. You are encouraged to  bring food scraps to dump in it. It will be picked up bi-weekly to start until it fills up more quickly.

WHY are we doing this?  In Illinois, food scraps at 20% are the largest household waste category!  If we can divert organic material our landfills won’t fill up as fast. Composting turns food scraps into healthy soil that reduces the need for fertilizers and chemicals and helps soil retain water. Most importantly it reduces greenhouse gas emissions of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas driving climate change.

Collective Resource Composting Co-Op is a compost hauler that has a franchise agreement in Park Ridge offering special rates to residents for a food scrap pick up service. They trade out our buckets or small bins for clean ones and haul full ones to a commercial composter that turns the scraps into a soil amendment through windrow composting. This process is done on a massive scale and can break down all types of food including meat and bones. It heats up to very high temperatures unlike the compost piles in our yards.

WHERE? There is  a mini garbage can with a plastic liner in the  parking lot behind the church near the air conditioning units.

HOW? At our church, we currently have one bin by each coffee machine, which is usually emptied weekly. If you find it too full please feel free to take it to the bin.

At special events food scraps and napkins are collected during cleanup in large containers as plates are scraped. Liquids should go into the sink. The containers of wasted food should be taken to the tote in the back parking lot.

WHAT?  These are the items that you can put in the compost bin!

HOME COMPOST?  Can I bring my home compost to the bin at church?  YES Transporting in a plastic container is easy. Some people transport their composting in a paper bag which can be composted. You may use a plastic bag to transport scraps, but please do not throw the bag in the compost bin!

QUESTIONS? Check out these FAQ’s 

Remember the slogan—If it was once alive, you can compost it.