COMPOST DROP OFF SPOTLIGHT #6:Jenny Ftacek

Go Green Park Ridge is proud to spotlight our neighbors COMPOSTING! This interview is part of a series raising awareness of reducing wasted food, seeing the various opportunities to compost right outside our doors and inspiring each other to keep making a difference. 

Join us in becoming better stewards of the soil, partners in sustainability and proud participants in a greener future. Together we are building a more resilient Park Ridge by composting.

What motivated you to begin composting?
​I’ve always been pretty passionate about the environment and reducing waste, so composting felt like a natural next step for me. Turning food scraps into nutrient-rich soil for plants and producing less methane gas seemed like a win-win. However, the idea of having a backyard bin and raising worms felt a bit overwhelming. The community bins in Park Ridge was just what I needed to get started. I heard about the bins from members of a green initiative group I'm a part of with Park Ridge Community Church. The more I learned about the benefits of composting and how simple it is, the more motivated I became to continue.
Please describe any a-ha moments when you began composting.
Composting is often misunderstood as unpleasant or odorous, but in reality, it’s a straightforward and clean process. Food scraps are either disposed of in a landfill or diverted to a composting system. Much like recycling, it simply requires placing materials in the appropriate container, making it an easy and effective way to manage organic waste.
How long have you been composting?
I'm a beginner.
Do you have advice for new folks on how or where to begin?
You don’t need a special composting bin. I personally find it more convenient to store food scraps in a container in the fridge until I’m ready to take them to the community bins. Additionally, I prep large batches of fruits and vegetables at once, which helps me make the most of each trip to the bins.
Any advice to help Park Ridge increase participation in composting?
I would love to see more composting bins throughout Park Ridge. The more accessible the bins are, the easier it becomes for more people to participate in composting.

Composting in Park Ridge