In 2011, Naval Station Great Lakes added composting and recycling bins. 3 years later, the Navy had diverted 300 tons of food and yard waste and recycled 114% more waste

Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois expanded its approach to waste management after joining the Federal Green Challenge in 2011. The Navy's largest training station introduced a food composting program, increased the number of recycling collection bins and expanded efforts to divert materials from landfills.

By February 2014, the station had increased the amount of materials recycled by 114%. Its composting program had also diverted more than 300 tons of food scraps and landscape waste from area landfills.

Composting and recycling efforts expanded across the station

Food waste from the installation's five galleys was collected for composting, while additional recycling bins were made available throughout the facility.


The station also reused construction and demolition debris and switched to biodegradable plates, cutlery and napkins to further reduce the amount of material sent to landfills.

Employees nd trainees helped increase collection

The recycling and composting programs relied on employees and trainees to maximize collection and reduce contamination of recyclable materials by trash.

Naval Station Great Lakes tailored its communication to a military audience, educating people about the importance of recycling in relation to domestic and foreign policy.

The station also asked its recycling and composting vendors to track and report the tonnage of material produced at each collection point. This encouraged friendly competition among different areas of the facility to increase the amount of recyclable material and food waste collected.

Leadership support helped implement the changes

Support from senior officers and managers was important to the success of the recycling and composting programs.

The commanding officer received quarterly reports showing the tonnage of materials recycled at each collection point. With high-level support established early, the changes were more easily integrated through the chain of command.

The largest challenge was financing the composting program. While the recycling program was self-funded through the sale of recyclable materials, the market for composted materials was inconsistent and had to be closely monitored. By working with its composting vendor, Naval Station Great Lakes reduced the cost of compost collection to the cost of trucking the materials from the site.