Neighbor News
Curbside composting service is available in Elmhurst!
Fall is almost here, and now is the perfect time to sign up for curbside composting, reduce your global footprint, and help the environment!
Curbside composting allows you to help reduce the amount of organic waste going into landfills by composting leaves and food scraps. Food waste is a significant problem in Illinois because it is the largest category of waste that ends up in landfills. In 2018, food accounted for 24% of solid waste (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2022). All this wasted food comes at a significant cost to the environment! When food scraps are deposited in landfills, methane gas is released into the atmosphere. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas - 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Along with other greenhouse gases, methane traps heat in the atmosphere, increasing the earth's average temperature, which results in global warming (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 2019).
Municipal curbside composting is a great option Elmhurst offers to lower your carbon footprint and help the environment. Similar to recycling, composting is a great earth-friendly habit to adopt. Curbside composting is simple and eliminates the need for a backyard compost bin, which can attract pests. There is zero maintenance, and the current monthly cost of $19.00 for an organic composting toter rental is offset by eliminating yard waste stickers and the expense of the biodegradable paper bags (Elmhurst IL, n.d.).
Organic waste is sent to a local commercial composting facility and converted into compost for landscapers and homeowners to use in gardens. Commercial composters accept organic waste, such as meat and other food items, not recommended for backyard composting bins. Grass clippings, leaves, eggshells, fruits, and vegetables are also accepted.
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There are so many benefits to composting! Nutrients are returned to the soil, which helps retain moisture and decreases the need for non-organic fertilizers. Most avid gardeners wouldn’t dream of giving up their compost as they use it as mulch and to amend their soil. For those people, having a backyard compost bin may be ideal. However, curbside composting is the way to go for residents who want to compost primarily to reduce their carbon footprint and decrease global warming!
Signing up is easy. Contact Republic Services at (708) 345-7050 to begin your service, schedule your 65-gallon organic waste toter for drop-off, and start your weekly service.
