Where I live, the road to a greener future begins right at my front door. My suburban Chicago city recently launched two new recycling opportunities in partnership with several local area organizations to further the community’s commitment to sustainability.

Through the new Food Scrap Composting Program and Clothing and Textile Recycling Program, local families will find it easier than ever to take action against waste. These free, accessible programs invite residents to drop off compostable food waste and unwanted textiles—keeping them out of landfills and giving them new life. 

The composting program, offered in partnership with my city’s refuse and recycling contractor, accepts everything from fruit rinds to bones, and has convenient, 24/7 drop-off bins across the city. Meanwhile, the textile program—supported by DuPage County, eWorks, and RewearAble—ensures that used clothing is reused, repurposed, or recycled responsibly, even offering employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.

These new programs complement existing programs offered by the city like weekly curbside recycling pickup, electronics recycling, and holiday lights recycling programs. 

By participating in these sustainability initiatives, local families are proving that sustainability really does start at home—with simple, meaningful choices that help build a cleaner, more thoughtful community.