ICAW Archives

ICAW 2025, May 4-10: Sustainable Cities Begin with Compost

This theme was chosen to highlight composting in all kinds of communities at any scale--from the backyard home composter, to community composters, to large-scale facilities, to all those who recognize the many benefits of using compost on our soil.

Learn more about ICAW events across the country and the globe by visiting the Compost Research and Education Foundation (CREF) website.

ICAW in Illinois 2025 Almanac & Memory Book

On behalf of the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition and the IFSCC ICAW team, led by SWALCO’s Programs and Education Director, Merleanne Rampale, we would like to thank everyone who participated in ICAW activities, programs, and events this year. Thank you to everyone throughout the state, including our Lake County municipalities and organizations. This year, IFSCC’s ICAW adventures took place across 13 counties in Illinois, with thousands of people attending a variety of informative programs, events, and activities that provided opportunities to learn about the importance and benefits of composting and utilizing compost. These programs also included fun events, such as farm festivals, storytimes in gardens and at libraries, games, crafts, plant sales and giveaways, compost givebacks, farmers' markets with special booths and displays, compost demonstrations, tours, and more. In addition to compost and composting, the week included information sharing and conversations surrounding all the interrelated issues and topics of soil health, conservation, wasted food reduction and diversion, how to grow healthy food, combating climate change, hunger, and more. To see some of the fun and learning that took place during ICAW 2025, and learn more about it, check out our 2025 Almanac and Memory Book!

Virtual Events