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Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables
Finished compost from Purple Cow Organics

Compost Services

Organics such as food scraps are one of the largest waste streams entering the Dane County landfill, at over one-third of all incoming materials. In order to divert local organic resources from the landfill, the Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables (W&R) is partnering with Purple Cow Organics to recycle these materials into compost.

As of Fall 2024, W&R is partnering with local businesses for food scraps collection. County residents will be able to compost their food scraps with the program by using designated drop-off locations opening early Summer 2025.

For other local compost information, please visit our Composting Resources page. For related projects, visit our Sustainability Campus page.

Commercial Food Scraps Collection

For the 2024 season, W&R will be collecting food scraps from local businesses for composting, in coordination with haulers and Purple Cow Organics. W&R staff will work with customers to provide collection education, establish best practices, and intervene in cases of contamination.

Residential Food Scraps Drop-off

COMING SOON

Free to residents starting Summer 2025!

Partnered with host municipalities, W&R will collect from drop-off locations across the county.

Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables’ Organics Management Grant
 
The Organics Management Grant is closed for 2024, make sure to check back next year to apply to the 2025 grant cycle!

The Organics Management Grant is intended to help fund projects that reduce or eliminate the volume of organic materials, such as food scraps and yard waste, disposed of at the landfill. Projects that support food waste reduction or creative reuse will also be considered under this grant.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for funds include, but are not limited to:
  • The construction or purchase and set up of on-site systems for collection of food scraps, yard waste, and garden debris for composting. The system must be available for use by all applicant community members or employees.
  • Establishing an on-site compost system for a community, institutional facility or business.
  • Development of an innovative new program to promote and enable efforts to reduce food waste at its source, and/or provide reuse options.

Some examples of project expenses that qualify include the purchase of equipment & supplies, and any printing and fabrication cost. Past projects are available on the Dane County Waste & Renewables’ Composting Resources page.

Each applicant may receive up to $2,500 during this round of funding. More funding may be awarded on a case-by-case basis depending on requests. A total of $10,000 is available in grant funding. Applicants may submit more than one proposal.
Awardees may qualify for reimbursement of up to 75% of the cost of approved project expenses. Awardees may receive credit for in-kind donations of goods, services, or labor to cover the remaining 25% of project expenses.

All Dane County businesses, institutions, municipalities, Native American tribal governments and organizations, community groups, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. 

See the application below for more details:

2024 Organics Management Grant Form


 

Contact

For businesses or municipalities within Dane County interested in organics diversion, please contact Delaney Gobster at Gobster.Delaney@danecounty.gov or (608) 206-6952 for more information.

FAQs

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