Dane County Launching New Free, 24/7 Food Scrap Drop-Off Sites on June 1st

May 29, 2025
execmedia@danecounty.gov
County Executive, Waste & Renewables

MADISON - The Dane County Department of Waste + Renewables is proud to announce the grand opening of its Food Scrap Stop program, with 24/7 kiosk access for Dane County residents to drop off their food scraps to compost for free. Four Food Scrap Stop drop-offs will be open for use beginning June 1st including kiosks at: Warner Park and the Henry Vilas Zoo in the City of Madison, the Quarry Skate Park in the City of Middleton, and the Public Works building in Village of McFarland. The Food Scrap Stop located at the Badger Prairie Needs Network in the City of Verona will open by August 1st. Residents may also drop off food scraps in the orange collection carts located at the Dane County Landfill during operating hours.

 

Organic materials, such as food scraps, make up roughly one third of all the materials entering the Dane County landfill, making diversion of food scraps into compost a priority for the County. Food scraps collected by the program will be recycled into compost by Purple Cow Organics, as a part of their broader partnership with Waste + Renewables to divert organic resources from the landfill. The Food Scrap Stop structures and paired signage were designed and built-in collaboration with the Madison Children's Museum. 

 

“With the launch of the Food Scrap Stops, we’re making it easier for residents to reduce waste and help build a cleaner, greener Dane County for generations to come,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “This program is a key step toward a more sustainable future for our entire community.”

 

Though participation in the program is free, the carts will be locked to prevent non-compostable item contamination and pests. Residents can sign-up using the online registration form, to receive the combination lock code for access to all sites. The Food Scrap Stop program is funded in part by a 2024 Compost and Food Waste Reduction award provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

 

June 1 Grand Opening Events

 

On June 1, Dane County Waste + Renewables staff will be on-site at the Food Scrap Stop locations to assist residents with registration, answer questions, and distribute free stainless steel countertop collection buckets at the times below:

 

  • 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Warner Park, Madison
  • 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison
  • 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: McFarland Public Works
  • 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM: Quarry Skate Park, Middleton. (This event will also feature the Trash Lab, an interactive mobile exhibit focused on waste reduction and education.)

 

Exact locations of the kiosks and further details on the Food Scrap Stops can be found on the program webpage or on social media at @ReneWaste. 

 

For questions, contact Delaney Gobster, Program Coordinator, at Gobster.Delaney@DaneCounty.Gov