SAVE THE DATE!  Illinois Soil, Food, Water and Compost Summit on November 3, 2017
In this newsletter

Message from the Chairman

Our committees:

  • Communications & Outreach
  • Education & Projects
  • Market Development
  • Membership
  • Policy & Permitting
  • Social Media & Website
  • We Compost

National Spotlight: Organics Recycling Lands At Major Airports - BioCycle

Sustaining Partners

Message from the Chairman
What started in 2012 with a small group of motivated people has grown beyond my wildest dreams. I am talking about the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC) which is now registered as a non-profit with 101 members and 7 partners, and a 15-member board of directors, which I am honored to be chairperson of for the next year.  This is IFSC’s first newsletter which is in response to a survey of the members who asked that we provide a newsletter to augment the general membership calls.  We plan on doing two newsletters a year to share what we are doing and to expand the outreach and message of the IFSC. 

Essential to IFSC’s success in growing food scrap diversion programs has been the hard work and collaboration of the members who represent a broad spectrum of public and private sector entities.  We must continue to expand our network and to have members take an active role in the Coalition.  The newsletter contains updates from IFSC’s seven standing sub-committees, please consider joining one, and further strengthen the Coalition. 

The IFSC Board has entered strategic alliances that we believe will enhance our mission, including alliances with Illinois’ community colleges via their IL Green Economy Network (IGEN), and the IL Restaurant Association.  The Board also has agreed to...  (read more)
Committee Chair: Stephanie Katsaros ( steph@brightbeat.com


The communications and outreach committee seeks to find opportunities to connect members with news and events related to composting and celebrate member successes via the accomplishment page.  Current initiatives include developing a template for press releases and creating eye-catching tabling materials that not only generate interest in what we do, but also serve as a resource.   

Committee Chair: Jen Nelson (jennifer@sevengenerationsahead.org)


The Education and Projects Committee works on specific projects designed to educate stakeholders about food scrap composting policies, best practices and programs, and makes recommendations for priority strategies and policies that will achieve the goal of advancing food scrap composting across Illinois. The committee also educates stakeholders and the general public about food scrap composting initiatives, success stories and resources.  


Current initiatives include:

  • Developing website resources
  • Posting a step-by-step checklist for holding 1-day food scrap events
  • Creating a flier on permanent drop-off locations for food scraps
  • Work on webinars for higher education and targeted campaigns for legislation 
 Committee Chairs: Benjamin Krumstok ( benjamin@compostingpartners.com) & Kay McKeen  ( kay@scarce.org


Are you a compost manufacturer, food scrap/organics collector, or other interested party?  Do you have experience in a field or industry where compost application is valuable and you want to help educate others about the value of its use?  Have any other skills or general interest and want to help advance the agenda?  Please join the Market Development Committee!  This committee is involved in a substantial conversation with IDOT about incorporating compost in their highway projects.  A survey is being prepared to engage with the farming community in collaboration with IFSC member, Seven Generations Ahead as they work on a White Paper addressing compost use in the Illinois farming community.  A new survey is also being prepared to engage with golf courses.
The Market Development Committee has three active subcommittees;


  • Major Markets 
  • Municipalities, Local Agencies, and Organizations
  • Composters

Committee Chair: Jennifer Jarland ( jarlandjennifer@co.kane.il.us)

The membership committee is dedicated to building our member base which provides funding with an aim to support the work of the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition.  Current activities include a campaign to develop partnerships with related movements to elevate each other’s work.  In cooperation with the Social Media and Website Committee and Communications and Outreach Committee, our general work focuses on:


  • Conducting a campaign to invite memberships and sponsorships
  • Maintaining existing memberships and sponsorships
  • Keeping members and sponsors informed and engaged
  • Building a strong network among stakeholders
  • Assuring delivery of benefits to members and sponsors

Committee Chair: Jen Walling (jwalling@ilenviro.org)

 

The Policy and Permitting Committee of the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition analyzes and proposes policy that supports food scrap composting.  This committee is working to make sure that food scrap composting is allowed and appropriately regulated, businesses opportunities for food scrap composting are encouraged, and residential dwellers and commercial businesses have access to affordable composting pick up or drop off opportunities.  Current activities include: 


  • Anaerobic Digester Law
  • Tiered Composting System
  • Draft Municipal Model Ordinances
  • Accessing information about Food Scrap Permits
  • Encourage End Use of Product

Committee Chair: Joy Scrogum (jscrogum@illinois.edu)

 

The Social Media and Website Committee promotes events, resources, case studies, and news related to food scrap handling and reduction via platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The committee raises awareness of relevant issues, and highlights activities performed by IFSC and member organizations within IL, as well as those of like-minded groups beyond IL. This committee also develops and maintains content for the IFSC website, and works with members to ensure a steady stream of fresh content on the IFSC Blog. This specialized committee coordinates with the broader Communications and Outreach Committee and Education Committee.

Committee Chair: Jodi Wine (jodi.wine@icloud.com)


The We Compost Committee oversees the work being done on the We Compost Recognition Program, a free recognition program that promotes businesses and institutions that participate in a commercial compost program. Their goals are to highlight entities that compost and encourage more people to patronize businesses that are managing their food scraps responsibly.  They are currently developing maps to help our members and fans support businesses and institutions that compost.  We Compost is continually seeking to reach restaurants, businesses, and institutions who currently compost and should be recognized!  If you know of a place that composts and should be recognized, email Illinoiscomposts@gmail.com and we’ll do the rest!  


We have updated our Accomplishments page.  Check out how far we've come since our inception in 2012!  Don't miss out on the excitement, join a committee today and magnify your impact on composting in Illinois! 

Too busy to join a committee?  Consider joining the IFSC through an individual, organizational, or sustaining membership.  Memberships support the ongoing work we do to improve education, access, legislation, and recognition of composting in Illinois.  
National Spotlight
Organics Recycling Lands At Major Airports - BioCycle

Where local infrastructure exists, systems are being put in place to make composting an easy addition to waste diversion programs. Many airports, including Seattle, Portland, San Diego and Chicago, are realizing what benefits composting can have on..

Read more
www.biocycle.net
Thank you all for reading our first newsletter and for your passion and support for the IFSC!  Don't forget to attend our next phone meeting on Monday, August 7th at our NEW meeting time, 12 noon.  After committee updates, we will hear from Charlotte Dreizen, Project Associate at Composting Collaborative during our "Speaker Spotlight".  We look forward to having you on the call!

Sincerely,

The Illinois Food Scrap Coalition
Platinum Sustaining Partner
Gold Sustaining Partners
Silver Sustaining Partners

Illinois Food Scrap Coalition