1. Food Scrap Composting Policy
Jen Walling
Executive Director
Illinois Environmental Council

2. Before 2009
Very difficult and often prohibitively expensive to obtain a permit to compost food scrap commercially in Illinois because these facilities are considered “Pollution Control Facilities” under Illinois law.
Exemptions - On-site composting which use the compost on-site.

3. Solution – Part 1
SB99, a bill introduced by State Senator Heather Steans, recently passed both the Illinois House and Senate and was signed by the Governor.
Public Act
View full text at

4. Tiers in Illinois Pollution Control Facility 807 permit
830 permit (landscape facilities)
On farm composting
Under 25 cubic yards or less
On site composting

5. Successful Illinois legislative efforts
2017, 2013– Improve infrastructure by allowing food scrap to be accepted at landscape waste composting facilities.
2015 – Drop off sites for compost allowed and regulated
2013 – Two bills passed that improved rural and urban farm composting, including community garden.

6. Use Requirements
 All State agencies responsible for the maintenance of public lands in the State shall, to the maximum extent feasible use compost materials in all land maintenance activities which are to be paid with public funds.

7. Food Recovery
Food donation - HB5530 will prohibit food service contracts that restrict unused food from being donated to soup kitchens and food pantries by public agencies and schools.  The bill was sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams and Sen. Patricia Van Pelt.

8. Local Food
HB3063: COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCTS - expands cottage food operations by removing previous restrictions on non-hazardous foods.
HB2820: FARMERS’ MARKETS vendors that the previous rules were overly burdensome and inefficient.
HB2933: SCHOOL GARDENS clarifies that produce grown in school gardens can be served in the school.

9. Siting Case Studies (See IFSC report)
California: Research facilities are eligible for simplified permitting procedures if they have less than 5,000 cubic yards (cy) on site and maximum 2-year duration.
Massachusetts: Composting facilities handling less than 40 cy/day of vegetative food waste (or 20 cy/day of any food waste) are eligible for reduced permitting procedures.
New York: Facilities handling less than 1,000 cy/year of source separated organic waste have simplified procedures for obtaining a permit (fewer requirements for submittal, design, engineering and reporting).

10. Big policies Universal Recycling Law (VT)
Organics Banned from Landfills (CT, MA, VT)
Waste diversion plans and goals (CA, MA)
Require grocery stores to donate food (France)
Pay as you throw, landfill tipping fee increases
Download the report at illinoiscomposts.org!