Free compost from MWRD
Pick up free compost
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) offers free compost for pick up. Bring your own buckets, bags and shovels to pick up free compost at six water reclamation plants. Click on links below (.pdf) for compost locations and time of availability. Available quantity changes frequently.
Calumet WRP, 400 E. 130th Street, Chicago Available – Wednesdays Only, 9am-noon
Egan WRP, 550 S. Meacham, Schaumburg Available
Hanover Park WRP, 1220 Sycamore Ave., Hanover Park Available – Wednesdays Only, 9am-noon
Kirie WRP, 701 W. Oakton St., Des Plaines Available
O’Brien WRP, 3500 Howard Street, Skokie Available
Stickney WRP, 6001 W. Pershing Rd., Cicero Available
10 Cubic yards – free delivery
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) offers free compost for delivery to anyone in MWRD boundaries within Cook County . Please note the minimum amount for delivery is 10 cubic yards which is the size of a small car. To place an order for delivery of 10 cubic yards of compost, complete this form
About MWRD’s Exceptional Quality (EQ) Compost
The compost is a sustainable and environmentally beneficial product derived from the water reclamation process. The MWRD collects woodchips from routine tree trimming programs from Chicago and blends this with MWRD biosolids. Woodchips, grass clippings and leaves are used as a bulking agent. The process raises the temperature of the biosolids and bulking agent mixture which destroys pathogens.
EQ Compost can be:
blended with topsoil and potting soil for establishing plants
used as a mulch around already established plants.
EQ Compost supplies organic matter and improves the structure and porosity of soils which allows plants to more effectively utilize nutrients.
Biosolids have been used to improve soil quality at popular destinations like Maggie Daley Park and the 606 Trail and on golf courses and athletic fields at both public parks and schools in the Chicago area for more than 20 years.
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