Composting
Composting is a significant way to reduce your food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. We've listed a variety of local composting services and drop-off sites, in addition to resources for composting at home.
Residential & Commercial Composting Services
Block Bins is Chicago's most affordable, convenient, and accessible compost solution with a network of more than 900 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.
Demi makes composting easier for Chicago apartment buildings with a modern, tech enabled service and smart collection stations along with a mobile app to help. Demi closes the loop on sustainable urban living and is designed for buildings with a purpose.
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.
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 Dropoff and Bins
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.
City of Chicago Backyard Compost Bins - As of October 2024, the city is now giving away a limited amount of free backyard compost bins to residents of single family homes and buildings with 2-4 units. Click the link above to learn more and see if you are eligible for one!
Plant Chicago - Dropoff is free. Back of the Yards
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
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.
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)