Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Are you looking for a special restaurant for this special occasion? We’d like to introduce you to four that are part of a composting community.
Campagnola
815 Chicago Ave, Evanston
Catch 35
35 W. Wacker Dr, Chicago
Hearth
1625 Hinman Ave, Evanston
Spacca Napoli
1769 W. Sunnyside Ave, Chicago
As co-op’s founder, Erlene wears many hats. Though she manages operations, equipment, crews, bookkeeping, and marketing, she says she enjoys the education piece the most. “When we started this in 2010, not too many people had been exposed to composting. They didn’t really know what it was. I have had a lot of conversations about what composting is and why it’s important. It’s important to reduce landfill use because food waste in landfills creates methane and CO2. It’s important for air and water quality. People call us and want this information.”
Erlene finds herself educating in many different settings. “Anytime I’m talking about the company, I’m educating about composting. It happens casually, socially, and at zero-waste events.” As a result of her efforts, Erlene was awarded the Walter Lucansky Environmental Stewardship Award.
