Kane County is poised to help launch four large-scale composting initiatives aimed at reducing food waste within the community, with the help of a federal grant.
"This is an exciting step forward for Kane County," said Clair Ryan, Kane County Recycling Coordinator. "Expanding composting programs allows us to make a significant impact in reducing our reliance on landfills and greenhouse gas emissions, which is a major component of Kane County’s Climate Action Implementation Plan.”
Ryan applied for a nearly half-million-dollar grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreement. The funding will support waste management programs at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Kane County Adult Corrections Facility, the Kane County Cougars stadium, and Sherman Hospital in Elgin.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank receives large quantities of perishable and canned food donations, a small proportion of which are not suitable for distribution. NIFB will use the funds to de-package fruits and vegetables for anaerobic digestion. Currently, they are working with another nonprofit organization to convert food waste into renewable energy.
Kane County’s Adult Corrections Facility will work with the Recycling Program Coordinator to train inmates and kitchen staff to separate food scraps from packaging. Grant funds will be used to purchase separate bins and compostable liners for the food scraps, which will be picked up frequently and transported to a compost facility by a contractor. Similar programs will be implemented at the Kane County Cougars stadium and Sherman Hospital to manage concession stand waste and prepared foods more sustainably.
Additionally, the grant will provide funding to purchase compost for distribution to small farms and community gardens throughout Kane County, promoting healthier soils and supporting local agriculture.
Looking ahead, Ryan hopes to establish a dedicated food scrap drop-off point at Kane County’s recycling center on Fabyan Parkway in Batavia, making it even easier for residents to participate in composting efforts.
Read more about Kane County’s recycling and sustainability efforts at:
kanecountyil.gov/Recycling or kanecountyil.gov/Sustainability.
