Curbside Composting Coming To St. Charles In April

ST. CHARLES, IL — St. Charles residents will soon be able to leave food scraps and other organic composting materials at their curb to be picked up on garbage day, city officials said Tuesday. Curbside composting is coming to the city starting on April 6 and will be offered as part of residents regular yard waste collection services through Lakeshore Recycling Services.

Lakeshore Recycling, the city's refuse/recycling contractor, will pick up the compost material on regular collection days, according to a news release from the city of St. Charles. For those interested in the service, city officials offered the following tips on how to compost materials:

• Mix the composting materials in with regular yard waste, such as grass, leaves or twigs, in either a brown paper yard waste bag with a sticker or a Lakeshore Recycling Services yard waste cart (subscription required)
• Place at the curb for pick up on regularly scheduled refuse collection days

Curbside composting is a seasonal program that is available only when yard waste pick up is offered in April through November. Accepted items include:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Halloween pumpkins
• Dairy and eggs, including shells, but no liquids
• Breads, grains, pasta, and cereal
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Teabags
• Paper products, including paper towels, napkins, and tissues

Items that will not be accepted:

• Meat, poultry and seafood
• Bones and shells
• Fats, grease, oil, and liquids
• Packaging
• Paper plates and utensils
• Plastic, styrofoam, glass, metal
• Diapers
• Pet waste

An information session on the new service will take place during a Natural Resources Commission meeting starting at 6 p.m. on March 12 at the city’s public works facility, 1405 S. 7th Avenue. Members of the Natural Resources Commission and city staff will be on hand to answer any questions.

For details about the composting program and to enroll, contact Lakeshore Recycling Services at 773.685.8811 or email them at StCharles@lrsrecycles.com.