Cart-based Composting Now Available In Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Just in time for Earth Day, Downers Grove now offers a cart-based system for homeowners who want to compost organic scraps. The aim of the composting carts, which are available for rental in a variety of sizes through Republic Services, is to help keep yard waste and food scraps from releasing dangerous greenhouse gases in landfills.

According to the village, Republic Services will pick up the yard and waste carts on each resident's scheduled trash collection day. The composting carts can be used for the following items if they are clean and free of debris:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Breads, pastas, cereals, crackers
• Cheeses and yogurts
• Meat without bones
• Basic yard waste

The following items should not be placed in your composting cart:

• Plastic
• Food packaging or labels
• Paper
• Rubber bands
• Liquid waste, including juice and milk

Village officials will evaluate participation in the composting program in October to decide whether or not to continue it in the following season.

Cart sizes and monthly pricing is as follows for composting services and is expected to increase with each subsequent year of service.

• 35-gallon cart: $17.34
• 65-gallon cart: $19.73
• 95-gallon cart:$25.82

Customers are billed quarterly and are not charged for months when there is no compost collection (Jan.-March).

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