Chicago’s Right T0 compost
WasteNot is Chicago’s largest compost collection service provider.
On October 16th 2025, a new ordinance was approved by the Chicago City Council to affirm Chicagoans’ Right to Compost.
The ordinance prohibits landlords from placing bans on composting practices in apartment buildings as long as tenants follow proper storage and sanitation requirements. Compostable waste will have to be kept in sealed, fully closed containers that are designed to keep out pests - such as a WasteNot bucket.
According to the official Chicago ordinance, landlords can no longer impose blanket bans on composting so long as tenants follow proper composting methods. This ordinance removes an unnecessary hurdle that many tenants and renters faced when it came to utilizing a compost collection service. Tenants now have clearer protections if disputes arise with landlords over composting practices which will help to make sustainable living more accessible in the city. By removing unnecessary restrictions on composting while still maintaining reasonable sanitation standards, the city is helping normalize composting as part of everyday, urban life.
The Environmental Protection Agency notes that composting reduces the amount of food waste entering landfills, which lowers methane emissions produced by decomposing organic waste. In a dense city like Chicago, where large amounts of waste are produced daily, policies like this play a vital role in making sustainability more accessible for all residents.
“We had heard from a number of residents as well as providers there were times where an individual was not able to use composting services … with little to no reason given,” said Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward), who introduced the municipal code amendment.
This new ordinance builds on the momentum from Chicago’s Recycling Ordinance from 2017 which requires large buildings and multi-unit dwellings to provide tenants with recycling bins.
Learn more about how you can compost in your apartment or condo building in Chicago here.
