Clark Street Composts: Andersonville Pilot Program Success
A 9 month, neighborhood-wide composting program in Chicago has demonstrated the possibility of large-scale composting projects. Andersonville’s Chamber of Commerce works in partnership with WasteNot to promote and support local businesses in their composting journey.
About the Program
The Clark Street Compost Program in Andersonville connected a large group of businesses with affordable composting service in order to increase the sustainability of participating businesses and direct environmentally focused customers to those businesses.
This was the first project of its kind in Chicago, enlisting 22 businesses in Andersonville to begin composting. By introducing composting on a neighborhood-wide scale, greater amounts of waste could be diverted.
WasteNot teamed up with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to create the pilot program. Andersonville’s director of business services, David Oakes, emphasized their commitment to sustainability: “Andersonville has always been rooted in environmental initiative. We were the first to offer on-street recycling–as early as 2009.” The Chamber made it possible for local businesses interested in the project to join and begin composting on a commercial scale.
Pilot Success
The pilot program showed great success throughout the nine month period. “With these businesses that are participating, we want to make sure that we take data along the way of how much trash they’re averting,” Oakes said. “It’s those data points I want to show other folks that they can do this within their neighborhoods.”
Only 6 weeks into the pilot program, 13,150 pounds of waste had already been diverted between the 22 participating businesses. By the end of the project, over 120,000 pounds of waste were diverted from landfills. This is equivalent to 81,840 pounds of CO2 emissions successfully diverted.
"This allows us to see how this would work if composting was mainstream, which is the direction that it seems to be going." Donnelly said. "How many savings can we pass on to customers, how we can operate efficiently—as much as it’s a way to help the businesses participating, it is helping us."
What’s Next?
The program success indicates a growing interest and commitment to sustainability through composting. WasteNot is looking to expand services and awareness throughout Chicagoland communities, and use the Clark Street Composts pilot as a composting model for neighborhoods.
Are you a business looking to begin composting? Fill out our commercial inquiry form here.
Read more about the Clark St. Compost program in this feature from TimeOut Chicago.
