CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Departments of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) and Environment (DOE) today announced the City’s Backyard Composting Bin Giveaway to provide free backyard compost bins to Chicago residents living in homes with four units or less. Starting today, residents may request a free compost bin using an online form. Once eligibility is confirmed, City staff will deliver a free compost bin to the residents’ homes. Every ward will receive an initial allocation of 20 bins to kick off the program.   

“Following the success of our citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off program, we are taking another bold step forward in creating a greener Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This program puts the tools for positive change right in people's backyards. We are proud to launch this initiative that advances our climate action goals by keeping food scraps out of landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and returning valuable nutrients to our soil.” 

These bins allow residents to turn materials such as fruit/vegetable scraps, fall leaves, and grass clippings into compost through natural decomposition. Microbes feed on organic matter in the presence of air and water, causing decomposition. The result is a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling compost that residents can use to nourish the soil in their gardens. This citywide initiative marks a significant step in the City of Chicago's waste reduction efforts and commitment to sustainability. 

Free compost bins are available to eligible residents while supplies last. If the number of requests exceeds the number of bins available per ward, names will be added to a waiting list, and residents will be notified by email if more bins become available. 

“DSS is excited to provide another method for residents to compost materials from the waste stream so they can be processed into reusable products,” said DSS Commissioner Cole Stallard. “This backyard compost bin giveaway complements our long-standing Blue Cart Recycling program as well as the City’s new Food Scrap Drop-Off program, which is available to all residents.” 

Chicago residents can compost all food scraps (including meat, bones, dairy, and cooked foods) by participating in Chicago’s Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, which now features 20 locations. The food waste collected is processed at a commercial-scale composting facility which uses large windrows that reach temperatures high enough to kill potential pathogens and more quickly break down materials. 

“We applaud Mayor Johnson and DSS for their continued commitment to advancing Chicago’s Climate Action Plan,” said Angela Tovar, Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer and DOE Commissioner. “Recent weather events remind us of the increasingly harmful effects of climate change, and as a city we must do everything we can to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to warming of the atmosphere.” 

For more information on the backyard compost bin giveaway and all city recycling and composting programs, please visit www.chicagorecycles.org.  

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