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Urban Canopy & Collective Resource Combine Forces for Compost Pickup

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • Nov 13
  • 3 min read

Move Prompted by Pending Retirement of Collective Resource's Founder


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The Urban Canopy, based on Chicago's South Side, and Collective Resource, based in nearby Evanston, have been in the front ranks of home pickup of food waste for composting. Now they are merging their efforts.


According to a Nov. 5 joint press release from the organizations, "Urban Canopy, Inc. and Collective Resource Compost Cooperative, Inc. (CRCC) today announced the merger of their container-swap composting service businesses. CRCC Founder Erlene Howard looks toward retirement."


I have long acquaintances and lots of respect for both parties in this merger. Alex Poltorak, founder of Urban Canopy, was one of the first people I interviewed way back in 2012 as I was beginning my second career as an advocate for a better food system. I first met Collective Resource when they provided recycling services at the Good Food Festivals presented by FamilyFarmed, my former employer.


Here's the rest of the press release. Local Food Forum wishes the best for both organizations.


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“I’m thrilled that Urban Canopy, whose mission aligns so well with ours, will service our customers and employ our employees as I close this chapter of meaningful work that I began 15+ years ago,” says Erlene Howard, Founder of Collective Resource, Inc. “I’m grateful for my terrific team and our entire composting community for doing this work with me.”


Collective Resource, Inc. evolved into Collective Resource Compost Cooperative in July 2023. In order for the merger to occur, the co-op, which had 177 owners, including employees, customers and supporters, needed to be dissolved.


“The co-op structure was a unifying force that gave agency to all owners, and though it’s a bit sad that it could not continue, our team is happy that our mission will be supported through this stronger relationship with Urban Canopy and all that they do to support people and planet,” says Mary Beth Schaye, longtime employee, Zero Waste Consultant of Collective Resource Compost Cooperative. 


“There has been a strong relationship between CRCC and Urban Canopy since we have been colleagues for over a decade. I’m excited that we are combining forces and will be able to better serve our communities going forward together. This merger will create a larger staff, fleet, and infrastructure to serve the composting needs for more residential and commercial customers all over Chicagoland and beyond,” said Alex Poltorak, Founder of Urban Canopy.


The companies will merge over the winter months as CRCC’s customers are moved over to The Urban Canopy’s more streamlined software platform.



Founded in 2010 with just a few customers in Evanston and Chicago, CRCC’s Chicagoland service area has grown to include over 60 communities and neighborhoods. They routinely divert 60+ tons of food scraps a week for their 3000+ customers. Over the course of the company’s lifetime, they have diverted 16,600 tons and helped their customers to mitigate climate change by making composting easy. Their mission-based company strives to educate its customers on not only composting and zero waste but other areas of sustainability. They are active participants in Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC) which is dedicated to advancing food scrap diversion in Illinois.



About The Urban Canopy


Founded in 2011, The Urban Canopy is pioneering the local food cycle to create a more sustainable and equitable food system in Chicago. They are growers, distributors, composters and community members who seek to positively impact their city’s environment, people’s health, and local economy. They strive to make healthy produce accessible to all, reduce the miles fresh food travels, keep food waste out of landfills, and create and maintain local jobs.


To achieve this, they structure their business into seven Branches: Compost Club, Indoor Farm, Outdoor Farm, Local Unified CSA (LUCSA), Farmers Markets, Distribution and Processing. These branches complement each other in their work to change the way our food is grown, distributed, and composted. 


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