Under Wisconsin law, yard materials including leaves, grass clippings and small pieces of brush/branches are prohibited from disposal in landfills. Composting at home is a great way to manage your yard waste and household food items. There are many resources available to help you compost at home and the finished material is a great source of microorganisms and nutrients for your lawn and gardens. Benefits of using compost include:
For more on the Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables' organics diversion and compost programs, visit our Compost Services page.
The Organics Management Grant is closed for 2024, make sure to check back next year to apply to the 2025 grant cycle!
Administered by the Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables, 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. All Dane County businesses, institutions, municipalities, Native American tribal governments and organizations, community groups, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.
Examples of projects that would be eligible for funds include, but are not limited to:
Some examples of project expenses that qualify include the purchase of equipment & supplies, and any printing and fabrication cost. For the 2024 grant cycle, each applicant may receive up to $2,500, with 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.
See the application below for more details:
2024 Organics Management Grant Form
Congratulations to the following 2022 Organics Management Grant Awardees!
McFarland Highschool Eco Club
Residents can make their own compost for garden and landscape projects by composting yard materials and certain food scraps at home. Composting is also a preferred alternative to burning yard materials, something which many Dane County communities do not allow without a permit.
When at home, compost can be made in bins or a heap. Bins are generally a better way to manage materials and can be either bought commercially or made. View the DNR's home composting brochure to get started or for tips on improving your current system.
Currently, the state of Wisconsin has no regulations on small-scale, home composting operations of fewer than 50 cubic yards, but please keep in mind that all composting should be done in a nuisance-free and environmentally-sound manner. This includes minimizing odors, not attracting excessive numbers of pests, and not placing compost piles in wetlands or other sensitive areas. Check with your municipality to find out if any local regulations apply.
Information gathered from the Wisconsin DNR, read more here.
