Resident Marco Moran, 33, speaks with Streets and Sanitation Ward Superintendent Carlos Cintron on Nov. 12, 2024, as he receives a free backyard compost bin on behalf of his sister, who owns the Galewood residence on the Northwest Side. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
Some Northwest Side residents who requested a free backyard compost bin were delivered their bins by city employees Tuesday, as part of a giveaway program that aims to distribute 3,000 compost bins to residents throughout Chicago.
The compost bin deliveries Tuesday were part of a second round of deliveries by employees with the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
Chicago initially allocated 20 compost bins to distribute in each of the city’s 50 wards but increased the allocation to 60 bins per ward due to demand, according to Mimi Simon, director of public affairs at the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
Galewood resident Peter Merkle, 81, who received a compost bin, said he previously tried composting years ago when he had a vegetable garden. Now, he hopes to get back into it.
“I would like to recycle as much as I can, improve the soil and give back,” Merkle said.
Chicago aims to deliver 3,000 compost bins to residents throughout the city’s 50 wards as part of a citywide giveaway program announced in October. The giveaway is a collaboration among the mayor’s office, the Department of Streets and Sanitation and the Department of Environment. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
A resident in the Montclare neighborhood, Marlene Ricchio, 68, said she plans to use the bin to compost some of the excess figs that grow on her fig tree.
Upon opening their doors Tuesday morning, some residents of the 29th Ward were greeted by the city’s first lady, Stacie Johnson, along with representatives from the mayor’s office, the 29th Ward office and the departments of Streets and Sanitation and Environment.
“I thought they were just gonna drop it off at the alley,” Merkle said. “I did not expect to see all the people out here, and it makes me feel good.”
Chicago has allocated $141,000 in federal relief funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act to host the compost bin giveaway. The giveaway, which was first announced in October, is a collaboration among the mayor’s office and the departments of Streets and Sanitation and Environment.
Foreground from left to right, Department of Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard, Ald. Christopher Taliaferro (29th Ward) and Chicago first lady Stacie Johnson on Nov. 12, 2024, in the Dunning neighborhood after greeting residents who received a free backyard compost bin. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
Composting is the process of turning organic materials — such as fruit, vegetable scraps and fall leaves — into compost that can be used to nourish soil in gardens.
Each compost bin delivered Tuesday came with informational flyers on how to compost.
The city wants to get the message out about the importance of residents composting their leaves and household food, according to Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard.
“You can take the leaves, so the leaves don’t have to go into the street, they don’t have to go in bags, they can go right into the compost,” Stallard said.
The city plans to finish distributing 60 compost bins per ward this year with hopes of continuing the program in the spring, according to Simon. Bins are still available in some wards. Others who are interested in requesting a free backyard compost bin will be put on a waitlist until more bins become available.
Streets and Sanitation Ward Superintendent Carlos Cintron, left, and Streets and Sanitation laborer Jaden Bishop carry a backyard compost bin from their truck to deliver to a resident on the Northwest Side on Nov. 12, 2024. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
