Top Composting & Food Waste in Mount Prospect, Illinois Ranked

For restaurants in Mount Prospect, managing organic waste is a streamlined process thanks to the Village's municipal contract with a designated hauler. This program provides a clear pathway for food service establishments to divert food scraps from the landfill, contributing to local sustainability goals while potentially accessing financial incentives. The system is built around specific guidelines for container types, accepted materials, and collection schedules to ensure the quality of the compost produced. By participating, your restaurant can effectively handle its food waste recycling needs in compliance with local service structures.

WasteNot Compost

chicago

WasteNot Compost provides food waste and composting services for homes, businesses, and events in Chicago, IL. Their service uses 100% electric vehicles to collect compostable waste, offering scheduled pickups with clean, sanitized receptacles. Members can also access a shop for compostable and sustainable products with zero emissions delivery. WasteNot Compost has been serving the community since at least 2015, focusing on reducing landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions through convenient composting solutions.

4.9

197 Reviews

Block Bins

aurora

Block Bins provides food waste composting and recycling services for restaurants, homes, schools, and events in Aurora, IL. They offer locked shared bins to reduce contamination and clutter, with regular pickups and power washing to maintain cleanliness. Subscribers pay for a set volume of compost space, making it a flexible and community-friendly option. Block Bins has been serving customers for over five years and supports sustainable waste diversion through dedicated-stream recycling bins.

4.9

59 Reviews

Collective Resource Compost Cooperative

evanston

Collective Resource Compost Cooperative provides food waste composting services for restaurants and households in Evanston, IL. They offer customized container-swap programs with flexible options ranging from small 5-gallon buckets to large 32-gallon totes, supporting communal composting in multi-unit buildings and neighborhoods. The cooperative emphasizes easy composting with expert guidance and manages various waste streams, including food scraps and certified compostable products. They have exclusive franchise agreements in several municipalities and serve a broad area within Chicagoland. With over a decade of experience, Collective Resource promotes sustainable waste reduction and soil regeneration through community-focused composting programs.

4.9

56 Reviews

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Understanding Mount Prospect's Commercial Organics Program

The Village of Mount Prospect has organized its solid waste services, including commercial organic waste collection, through an exclusive contract with Republic Services ¹. This means that restaurants and other food service businesses within Village limits are eligible to receive composting services as part of their overall waste management package. The program is designed to handle both food scraps and yard waste, turning potential landfill material into beneficial compost.

For a restaurant owner, this centralized system simplifies the process. Instead of shopping the market for a private food waste recycler, you work with the Village's designated provider. The Public Works Department administers the contract and can provide the foundational information, while Republic Services handles the day-to-day service logistics, from container delivery to scheduling pickups ^{1 2}.

Eligible Materials and Contamination Control

The success of any organics diversion program hinges on keeping the stream clean. For Mount Prospect's commercial composting, the focus is strictly on food scraps and yard waste.

Accepted items typically include:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat, fish, and bones
• Dairy products
• Bread, pasta, and grains
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags (staples removed)
• Food-soiled paper (like napkins or uncoated paper plates)
• Yard trimmings and leaves

Critical contaminants to exclude are:

• Plastic bags, wrap, or utensils
• Glass, metal, or foil
• Styrofoam or other packaging
• General trash
• Liquids or cooking oils

Plastic bags are a common point of contamination; materials should be placed directly into the designated cart or use only approved compostable bag liners ³. Maintaining a clean stream is essential to avoid rejected loads and to produce high-quality compost from the collected material.

Container Options and Collection Logistics

Republic Services provides rigid carts for commercial organic waste collection. The size of your cart will depend on your restaurant's volume of food scraps and the space available for placement.

• Cart Sizes: Carts are available up to 95 gallons. It's important to note that carts larger than 32 gallons must be equipped with wheels to be compatible with hydraulic arm collection vehicles ².
• Weight Limits: For smaller, manually tipped carts (32 gallons or less), there is a weight limit of 50 pounds per container to ensure worker safety ².
• Collection Schedule: Pickup for commercial organics generally aligns with your establishment's regular commercial trash and recycling schedule. However, the specific day and frequency (e.g., weekly, twice-weekly) should be confirmed directly with Republic Services or the Public Works Department, as they can tailor service to your needs ².

Setting up the right container size and pickup frequency from the start helps ensure the system works smoothly for your kitchen staff and prevents overflow or odor issues.

Costs, Savings, and Local Incentives

The cost for commercial composting service in Mount Prospect is integrated into the waste hauling contract managed by the Village. Your fees will vary based on the service level you select, including the size of your organics cart and how often it is serviced ².

A notable local initiative that has provided direct financial incentives is the Takeout 25 program. In April 2024, this local environmental effort offered a $500 incentive for the first 25 restaurants that signed up for composting services, along with access to preferred rates with composting partners ². While this specific sign-up drive has concluded, it highlights the type of community-supported programs that can emerge. It is worthwhile to inquire with local sustainability groups or the Village to see if similar incentives or grant opportunities are currently available.

Beyond potential incentives, participating in food waste recycling can lead to indirect savings. By diverting heavy, wet organic material from your trash stream, you may be able to reduce the size or frequency of your general waste dumpster service, potentially offsetting the cost of the composting program.

Steps to Enroll Your Restaurant

Getting started with food scrap recycling in Mount Prospect is a straightforward process.

1. Contact Mount Prospect Public Works: Your first call should be to the Village's Public Works Department. They can confirm your eligibility, explain the Village's contract details, and provide an overview of the program ^{1 2}.
2. Set Up Service with Republic Services: The Public Works department will likely direct you to contact Republic Services directly to finalize your service. This is when you'll discuss and decide on the specific details: the appropriate cart size for your kitchen, your preferred pickup day and frequency, and any questions about onboarding your staff ².
3. Implement Internal Collection: Before your cart arrives, set up a simple system in your kitchen. Place small, clearly labeled collection bins (with liners, if using approved compostable bags) in prep areas and near dish stations. Train your staff on what goes into the compost bin versus trash or recycling.
4. Inquire About Ongoing Programs: Ask both Republic Services and the Public Works Department if they are aware of any current local incentives, like follow-ups to the Takeout 25 initiative, that could benefit your business ².

Benefits Beyond Compliance

Embracing organics recycling offers advantages that extend past simply following a available service.

• Environmental Leadership: Demonstrates a commitment to sustainability that resonates with a growing segment of environmentally conscious customers.
• Waste Diversion Goals: Actively helps the Village and the state of Illinois meet waste reduction and recycling targets.
• Soil Creation: The food scraps from your restaurant are transformed into nutrient-rich compost, which can be used to enrich local soils, closing the loop in the local food system.

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