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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING LIAM DONNELLY, FOUNDER OF WASTENOT COMPOST, FOR HIS DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Liam Donnelly, resident of the 12th District of Cook County, grew up composting his household waste. When he took a job as a dishwasher at a local café in 2012, he volunteered to take the business’ compost home every night and add it to his family’s compost pile; and
WHEREAS, other commercial businesses took notice and asked if Liam could pick up their composting as well. In response, at the age of 15, Liam Donnelly co-founded WasteNot Compost with Lauren Kaszuba, a high school classmate; and
WHEREAS, WasteNot Compost first serviced 12 households and three cafes. Liam Donnelly used his bicycle to tow a small trailer and hauled five-gallon compost bins to avoid vehicle emissions. As the business grew to 500 residential customers and 50 businesses, using a bicycle became less and less feasible; and
WHEREAS, in July of 2018, WasteNot Compost launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to purchase an electric van. By September, 2018, the campaign raised $11,115 and WasteNot Compost purchased its first electric van; and
WHEREAS, from its humble beginnings, WasteNot Compost has grown exponentially and now has over 7,000 clients across Cook County. WasteNot Compost is Chicagoland’s leading compost collection provider and one of the largest electric fleet owners in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, in September 2021, WasteNot Compost partnered with Clark Street Composts as the service provider for more than 20 businesses throughout Andersonville. The pilot program was funded by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to encourage more businesses to compost food scraps, hair, paper products, and other compostable waste; and
WHEREAS, Liam Donnelly and WasteNot Compost have received a number of prestigious awards. In 2022, Liam Donnelly was named one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability. WasteNot Compost has been ranked the #1 compost collection service in the United States for three years running by TreeHugger.com. WasteNot Compost recently received the People’s Choice Award from the Chicago’s Innovation Awards;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, hereby honor and celebrate Liam Donelly for his achievements and leadership in environmental sustainability and the success of WasteNot Compost; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Liam Donnelly and WasteNot Compost.
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