A Call for Universal Composting in Oak Park
Date: August 27, 2026
To: Village Manager Jackson
Chief Sustainability Officer Roland Nieratka
Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees
From: Oak Park Climate Action Network
Re: Universal Composting
Oak Park Climate Action Network (OPCAN) strongly endorses universal composting as an integral part of a holistic climate program, reducing climate pollution and increasing community resilience. We know that the Village Board of Trustees is already interested in this idea, so we urge the Village of Oak Park and its Trustees to design and enact a universal composting program as soon as a new contract can be negotiated with LRS.
Why is universal composting important for our climate and sustainability goals?
There are three major points to consider:
Reduces Emissions. Decomposing organic waste generates methane when it goes to landfills and decomposes anaerobically. Methane causes 28 times more climate warming than the equivalent carbon dioxide over the next 100 years. According to the recent Oak Park waste characterization study, organic matter accounts for 36.6% of Oak Park’s total residential waste, which could be diverted from landfills to prevent methane generation. Because it’s so potent, methane is what we must reduce first.
Improves Soil Health. A closed-loop program that returns finished compost to Oak Park institutions and residences can significantly improve soil health. Finished compost increases moisture retention, reduces erosion, and helps retain soil carbon over the longer term–and richer soil stores carbon dioxide so serves as an aid to emissions reduction. This is particularly important as we feel the increasing effects of climate change with hotter, longer summers and more intense precipitation events. Finished compost also enriches topsoil, helping lawns and gardens grow and kitchen gardens to thrive with fewer chemical inputs. In today’s economy, these food and herb gardens supplement grocery purchases as prices escalate.
Supports Equity and Local Economy. Universal composting provides more access to this service for all households in Oak Park. It reduces Oak Park's contribution to landfill volume in Illinois; we know that landfills are often situated near low-income communities and communities of color, alongside transfer stations and polluting incinerators. If we move to universal composting, it will extend the lifespan of existing landfills and reduce the environmental burden on frontline communities that border transfer stations and incinerators. In addition, universal composting catalyzes more local green jobs in collection, processing, and urban landscaping and agriculture that rely on finished compost.
For these reasons, we strongly urge the Village of Oak Park to incorporate a plan for universal composting in its next waste contract by specifying this goal in the RFP and including this as a high-priority area in the RFP scoring rubric.
Following Highland Park’s example
Universal composting is not a new concept, and we are fortunate to have a local and proven example to follow in Highland Park, IL. In 2022, they began designing their program with LRS (the same vendor as Oak Park) and launched universal composting in 2024. In their program, all residents pay for composting, along with garbage and recycling as part of their base fee. Residents can choose to opt out, but they still pay regardless. There are many options for additional pickup, larger bins, driveway pickup, etc. Since launching, their composting subscription rate has reached 83%.
A major factor of Highland Park’s success was a long and sustained resident outreach and education program, which they started two years in advance, and accelerated six months out. This included social media posts, staff and board members using bins and posting about it, and giving away countertop bins at events.
An alternative is to utilize communal or shared bins, such as the proposal designed by Mac Robinet that OPCAN shared with the Village Public Works. An advantage of shared bins is that households in greater than five units could use any cart even though they do not pay. Also, the cost can be adjusted by changing the number of bins, leading to a more cost-effective contract for Oak Park and all residents.
Next steps
Although the contract with LRS is still two years away, there are immediate actions to take in order to prepare for successful universal composting that achieves the above goals. We believe effective preparation requires:
Undertaking technical and in-depth exchange with Highland Park and other municipalities to learn about their successful experiences with universal composting and how they achieved a cost-effective program for their community;
Conducting a pilot program for universal composting and communal bins on key blocks with high levels of opt-in composting; and
Expanding outreach and education with residents on composting, via additional outreach events and Green Block Parties.
For this last action, OPCAN is willing and able to support new programming and outreach. We look forward to working together to reach more residents and support Oak Park’s transition to universal composting as a core component of implementing Climate Ready Oak Park (CROP). Starting now to prepare for the transition to either a shared bin program or a program like Highland Park’s is essential, so we are urging the Board and staff to determine which of the two approaches will be best for Oak Park and to launch the outreach and education soon after that so that residents know this is coming and why.
The OPCAN Policy Team