Chicago Expands Food Scrap Drop-Off to Libraries
Eight more Chicago Public Library branches now accept food scraps for composting, bringing the citywide program to 40 sites.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Do you plan to drop off food scraps for composting at a city site?
Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation has added eight Chicago Public Library branches to its Food Scrap Drop-Off program, which now totals 40 sites citywide. The program has diverted about 2.4 million pounds of waste from landfills since launching in October 2023.
Why it matters
Food scraps that reach landfills break down without oxygen and release methane, a gas about 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over a short period. Placing drop-off bins at libraries gives Chicagoans a convenient way to divert that waste for composting.
The Food Scrap Drop-Off program has 40 sites, including 21 Chicago Public Library branches, and about 9,500 participating households. Waste is hauled to Patriot Acres, a composting facility in suburban Des Plaines, where full composting takes roughly 45 to 90 days.
The players
Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation
The city agency that runs the Food Scrap Drop-Off program, collecting material from bins and delivering it to a transfer station for composting.
Chicago Public Library
The city's public library system, whose branches now host composting drop-off bins in their parking lots.
The details
Department of Streets and Sanitation crews collect waste from drop-off bins, often located in library parking lots, and deliver it to a city transfer station. From there the material is consolidated and transported to Patriot Acres. The expansion adds library sites to reach all 77 community areas, and the department plans further locations, with Lincoln Park and Downtown under consideration.
Timeline
October 2023: Food Scrap Drop-Off program launched with 15 locations.
Last year (2025): Program partnered with Chicago Public Libraries, opening 13 branch sites.
Earlier this year (2026): Legler Regional Library food pantry opened to residents.
Late October 2026: Eight additional library branch drop-off sites expanded.
End of 2026: Department targets 10,000 participating households.
Roadmap
Chicago's program routes food scraps to Patriot Acres, a suburban composting facility, rather than building capacity inside city limits. The expansion to libraries extends that existing regional composting pipeline across all 77 community areas.
Chicagoans can sign up for the program at chi.gov/composting to find a nearby drop-off site, including library branches. Participating helps divert food waste from landfills and keeps methane-producing scraps out of the trash.
The takeaway
Dropping food scraps at a nearby library branch is a simple way to keep organic waste out of landfills. Check the city's composting page to find the closest site before tossing leftovers in the trash.
What happens next
The department plans to keep adding drop-off locations and aims to reach 10,000 participating households by the end of 2026.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food and how cities are handling compost in Chicago.
More information
Sign up for the program and view the drop-off map at City of Chicago composting sign-up page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Block Club Chicago.
Live Poll
Do you plan to drop off food scraps for composting at a city site?
