City of Naperville to Host Free Compost Giveaway for Residents
Residents will have access to two conveniently located sites
The City of Naperville, in partnership with DuPage County, Will County, Midwest Compost, LLC, and Groot Industries, is hosting a free finished compost giveaway for Naperville residents. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at two convenient locations in north and south Naperville. Residents are encouraged to stop by and collect compost for use in their gardens and landscapes.
To best serve residents, the event will be held at two sites: the City-owned lot at 91st/Wolf’s Crossing, 2601 Wolf’s Crossing Road (Will County), and the Public Works Service Center, 180 Fort Hill Drive (DuPage County). Residents should bring their own buckets or bags to collect compost.
The ready-to-use compost is donated by Midwest Compost, LLC, one of two IEPA-permitted landscape waste facilities where Naperville’s yard waste and food scraps are processed. Groot Industries, the City’s garbage and recycling contractor, will transport the compost to both locations by truck at no cost. Public Works and Sustainability staff will be on-site to shovel compost into containers brought by residents. Signage will be in place to direct traffic flow and compost collection. Residents are welcome to take up to 20 gallons of compost that they must lift and transport in their own containers. Compost will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“International Compost Awareness Week, held during the first week of May, is an opportunity to build on Naperville residents’ growing interest in composting, as shown by the continued success of the Food Scrap Composting Program,” said Sustainability Manager Ben Mjolsness. “This event allows residents to see the benefits of composting from start to finish and highlights sustainable services in Naperville.”
Compost is considered “finished,” or ready to use, when it's black, crumbly, has an earthy smell, and organic materials like food scraps and leaves are mostly unrecognizable. Using compost in landscaping boosts soil nutrients, improves structure, increases water retention, resists erosion, and acts as a natural fertilizer, promoting healthy plants and the environment.
For more information about environmental sustainability in Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us/napersustainability. For more information about the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.
About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.