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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING "INTERNATIONAL COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK”
WHEREAS, sustainable communities begin with composting, which serves as an effective method of waste reduction, reuse and recycling, helping divert waste from landfills; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only 2.6 million tons of food scraps were composted, compared to 35 million tons that were landfilled; and
WHEREAS, organic materials like yard trimmings, food scraps, pizza boxes and spent coffee grounds can be composted and converted into a beneficial product known as compost; and
WHEREAS, returning organic resources to the soil reduces water consumption across all soil types, decreases reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and diverts waste from landfills; and
WHEREAS, globally and domestically, approximately one-third of all food goes uneaten. In the United States, much of this uneaten food ends up in landfills or sewers, where it decomposes in the absence of oxygen, producing methane; and
WHEREAS, methane is 28 times more effective than carbon dioxide (CO₂) at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Over the last two centuries, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled, largely due to human-related activities. Methane is responsible for approximately 30% of the increase in the global temperature since the Industrial Revolution; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. EPA, municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions from human activities in the United States. Food waste makes up 24% of solid waste in landfills, but causes 58% of resulting methane emissions; and
WHEREAS, nationally, greenhouse gas emissions from landfilled food waste are equivalent to the annual emissions of 15 coal-fired power plants, or equal to the energy use of seven million homes; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2023 Illinois EPA report on Landfill Disposal Capacity, the Chicago Metropolitan Region landfills have a lifetime expectancy of eight more years, with 9,763,412 cubic yards of waste reported at the landfills’ gates in 2023 alone. When the Chicago region’s landfills reach capacity, waste will be hauled to landfills further afield, increasing net diesel fuel emissions from the garbage trucks; and
WHEREAS, composting is a fundamentally local process, as food waste is typically collected and processed near the point of generation. Composting strengthens local economies, reduces methane emissions, and diverts waste from landfills; and
WHEREAS, Cook County supports composting and waste diversion efforts through its Solid Waste Management Plan, which aims to divert 45% of waste from regional landfills by 2030, while advancing a circular economy that keeps materials and products in use for as long as possible; and
WHEREAS, composting supports the creation of green jobs and infrastructure, and enhances community gardens, fostering green spaces that provide fresh produce, recreational opportunities, and community gathering places; and
WHEREAS, May 4th through 10th, 2025, is International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), an annual educational campaign supported by compost industry organizations around the world, including the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition. Moreover, State Senator Laura Fine has introduced a resolution in the Illinois State Senate (SR0100) recognizing "Compost Awareness Week" in the State of Illinois; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Cook County hereby recognizes May 4th through 10th, 2025, as "International Compost Awareness Week" and encourages composting practices and awareness activities throughout the County.
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