The Village of Skokie’s composting partner, Collective Resource, has notified the Village of updates to the list of items accepted for composting at free drop-off locations and through the “orange bucket” curbside pickup program.
The commercial composting facility where Collective Resource’s compostable materials are deposited recently changed. The new facility, in an effort to make the best finished compost possible, has different regulations on what is accepted.
One change to be aware of: Pizza boxes and other corrugated cardboard are no longer accepted for composting through Skokie’s curbside and drop-off programs. Instead, clean parts of pizza boxes can be recycled and food-stained portions placed in your trash container.
What’s staying the same: The most important thing to remember is that all food waste, including meat (and bones), fish, dairy products, baked goods, fruits, vegetables, and processed foods should still be composted.
In the United States, food waste is the single most common material landfilled, comprising 24 percent of municipal solid waste. By removing food waste from your garbage toter, you continue to take major steps towards reducing the Village’s carbon emissions.
In April, Skokie collected 12.5 tons of compost, a 16 percent increase from March! We encourage all our new (and our more seasoned) composters to continue to compost your food scraps.
Some paper products may still be accepted for composting. As the Village receives updated guidelines, we will continue to update residents via SkokieNews, skokie.org, and the Village’s social media channels. Signage and other informational materials will also be updated. Consult the Collective Resource website for the most up-to-date information.