CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) — Just in time for Global Earth Month and Earth Day 2026, Champaign County Environmental Stewards (CCES) has partnered with WasteNot Compost to bring a community composting program to Champaign-Urbana.
Starting this April, residents can sign up for a $15 monthly membership to drop off up to five gallons of food scraps per week at a drop-off bin near Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.
“CCES has been looking for ways to reduce food scrap in the Champaign-Urbana area since our founding,” said CCES Board President Dominique Gilbert. “Partnering with WasteNot, whose mission aligns with ours, was a natural fit.”
The program helps divert food waste from landfills and wastewater treatment plants, preventing environmental damage and producing nutrient-rich compost for growing plants. WasteNot accepts all compostable items, including bones, dairy, breads, and pasta—materials that can be difficult to compost at home.
CCES Executive Director Susan Monte explained, “For people who may have considered composting at home but don’t have the space, resources, or time, this program is an easy alternative. We want to make it easy for people to compost.”
Residents can learn more or sign up at cuwasteless.org/compost.