Chicago expands food scrap drop-off program to more library branches

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Chicago residents can now haul kitchen scraps to 40 free drop-off sites citywide, 21 of them at public library branches. The Department of Streets and Sanitation added eight library sites in the week before the report, extending a program that began in October 2023 with 15 locations.

The bins send food waste to a city transfer station and then to Patriot Acres in Des Plaines, where it becomes compost in 45 to 90 days. The city says the program has diverted about 2.4 million pounds from landfills and enrolled more than 9,500 households.

Why it matters

Chicago now runs 40 free food-scrap drop-off sites, cutting landfill methane one kitchen bucket at a time.

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Key Indicators

Drop-off sites citywide

The free program now has 40 locations across Chicago.

Library branches hosting sites

More than half of the drop-off locations are at Chicago Public Library branches.

9,500

Participating households

The city says more than 9,500 households have signed up.

2.4 million pounds

Food scraps diverted

The program has kept about 2.4 million pounds of waste out of landfills.

10,000

Household enrollment target

The Department of Streets and Sanitation aims to reach 10,000 households by the end of 2026.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Chris Sauve

Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Sustainability, Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation

Oversees the food scrap drop-off program

Organizations Involved

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation

City department

Runs the Food Scrap Drop-Off Program

The city department that collects food scraps from drop-off sites and coordinates composting.

Chicago Public Library

Public library system

Hosts 21 food scrap drop-off sites

The library system hosts many of the city's food-scrap drop-off bins, mostly in parking lots.

Patriot Acres

Composting facility

Receives Chicago food scraps for composting

A composting facility in suburban Des Plaines that turns Chicago food scraps into compost.

Timeline

October 2023 November 2026

3 events Latest: Today

November 2026
Program reaches 40 sites with eight new library branches
Today Program expansion

Block Club reports eight new library drop-off sites were installed the week before, bringing the total to 40.
Today
October 2025
Library partnership brings total to 33 sites
Expansion

Chicago adds 13 public library branches as drop-off sites, bringing the total to 33.
October 15th, 2025
October 2023
Chicago launches food scrap drop-off pilot
Program launch

The Department of Streets and Sanitation starts a free program with 15 drop-off locations.
October 2023

Scenarios

Chicago hits 10,000 enrolled households by end of 2026

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Chris Sauve, deputy commissioner at the Department of Streets and Sanitation, told Block Club the department aims for 10,000 households by the end of the year.

The program has more than 9,500 households signed up. If enrollment keeps growing at the recent pace, DSS could meet its year-end target. The outcome depends on sign-ups at the new library sites and continued outreach.

City opens a drop-off site in Lincoln Park or downtown Chicago

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Sauve said DSS is eyeing Lincoln Park and the downtown area, where residents have expressed interest.

The department has said it plans to keep adding locations. A site in Lincoln Park or downtown would fill a gap in the current map. The trigger would be an official listing on the city's program map.

Program reaches all 77 Chicago community areas

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Sauve said the expansion is part of the city's effort to provide composting services to all 77 community areas.

The city frames the current expansion as a step toward coverage across all community areas. Reaching the full map would require many more sites, including in areas without nearby drop-offs. Progress can be tracked through the official location map.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 2023

Chicago food scrap pilot (2023)

The Department of Streets and Sanitation launched a free food-scrap drop-off program at 15 locations. It was a pilot meant to keep kitchen waste out of landfills and produce compost.

Then

The city later grew the network to 20 sites.

Now

By November 2026, the program had 40 sites and more than 9,500 enrolled households.

Why this matters now

The eight new library sites are the latest expansion of that pilot.

October 2025

Library partnership (2025)

Chicago added 13 public library branches as drop-off sites, bringing the total to 33. At the time, about 7,500 households had signed up and more than one million pounds had been diverted.

Then

Libraries became the program's main visible host.

Now

The 2026 expansion added eight more library branches, bringing library sites to 21 of 40 total locations.

Why this matters now

The current expansion continues the library-based strategy, not a shift to curbside collection.