The landfill is no place for yard waste, and now the same holds for your leftover food.

In announcing the availability of state grant money for recycling and composting programs, David Smith of the State Energy Office, part of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, says composting is a better resolution for processors’ byproducts, such as peels, and for grocery stores’ expired produce.

“Over 20 years ago, Illinois banned the landfilling of yard waste,” says Smith. “Food scraps, instead of having you just throw them into a landfill, can be put through a process where it produces a very good soil amendment at the end.”

Local units of government, including schools, can apply for up to $50,000each in grant money, as can businesses and not-for-profit groups. Smith says the money comes from the state’s Solid Waste Management Fund, made up of landfill tipping fees.

More information is available at www.illinoisrecycles.com.

***posted 09/15/12 7:40am