Once cleared through security, passengers can refill their water bottles at designated water refill stations. This allows passengers to refill their bottles that had to be emptied prior to entering security, providing a convenient way to stay hydrated. Each water refill station fills over 100,000 bottles per year and helps the CDA reduce landfill bound waste and the frequency of waste pickups.
In partnership with HMSHost, the CDA launched a composting program at O'Hare in the summer of 2011. Composting is the natural process of recycling organic waste into a rich soil called compost. It provides a cost-effective, sustainable waste disposal solution that yields many benefits including: diversion of organic materials from landfills; use as natural, chemical-free fertilizer for food crops; and promotion of higher agricultural yields.
The O'Hare composting program helps keep waste out of landfills while also providing a substantial source of food waste to be used as compost. Restaurants including Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless, Stefani's Tuscany Café and Stanley's Blackhawks Kitchen & Tap collect pre-consumer food waste for composting. In addition, all Starbucks Coffee locations at O'Hare collect coffee grounds for composting.