Home Composting & Food Waste
Compost Bin Sale
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) is hosting its 15th annual Backyard Compost Bin Sale. DPW is partnering with Recycling Connections, a Wisconsin-based non-profit focusing on waste reduction, recycling, and resource conservation to host this year's annual compost bin sale. Order on the Recycling Connections website. Orders must be picked up on Saturday, June 6 between 9 AM and 4 PM at DPW Sanitation: 4031 S 6th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53211.
Free Food Scrap Drop-Off Pilot Program
Thanks to funding from a USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreement, the City of Milwaukee's Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) launched the FEED MKE Pilot Project in June 2024. This two-year initiative brings together public, private, and governmental partners to address key community challenges - including food insecurity, waste reduction, landfill diversion, and environmental impact. As part of the grant agreement, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is supporting this effort by funding the Food Scrap Drop-off Pilot Program.
Sign-up is required to participate. Find a drop-off location nearest you using the map below and sign up using the Compost Crusader form. Don't see a location near you? DPW is still looking for partners to join the network by hosting a self-drop cart. Please send your suggestions of community organizations that would be interested in hosting a cart to [email protected]. Hosting a site is at no cost to the organization.
Collection Guide
Accepted (Food Waste Only):
- Raw or cooked fruits & veggies
- Eggshells
- Cooked meat (and animal and fish bones)
- Cheese/dairy
- Breads and baked goods
- Pastas, grains (rice, cereal) and beans
- Nuts and seeds
- Loose tea leaves, coffee grounds and filters
- Brown paper bags
Not Accepted:
- Yard waste (grass, leaves, branches and brush)*
- Food packaging
- Liquids (soda, juice)
- Tea bags
- Raw meat
- Cooking oil and grease
- Biodegradable products (utensils, to-go containers)
- Plastic, metal, glass
- Garbage
*Yard waste is compostable, but not accepted in this program to maximize cart space for everyone. Please contact Compost Crusader if you're interested in curbside yard waste collection. Yard waste is also accepted year-round at the Drop Off Centers.
Download the Collection Guide
Need supplies?
Order collection buckets and liners here.
Food and Yard Waste Diversion Strategies
Home composting is a great way to create a soil additive from the leaves and garden trimmings. Learn more about these options from the DNR.All compost piles in the City of Milwaukee must be in a bin constructed of commercial-grade materials such as heavy-duty plastic, cinder block, brick, or wood and have a hood, per City Ordinances.
Basic Backyard Composting Guide/ Compostaje Básicoen el Jardín Guide
Diversion at Home
- Information on food waste prevention
- Grass-cycling and leaf mulching (check out the how-to videos!)
- Garbage Disposals
- Learn more about Basic Backyard Composting with a video below
City Collection Services
Drop Off Sites
- Food Scrap Drop-Off Locations (Food Waste Only: see sign-up above)
- City of Milwaukee Drop Off Centers (yard debris only; no food waste)
Organics Collection Services
- Several companies provide subscription-based organics collection services that you can sign up for. Here are a few companies we're aware of that provide services in the City of Milwaukee.
- Don't live in the City of Milwaukee? Brew City Compost currently serves the following locations in Waukesha County: Oconomowoc, Delafield, Pewaukee, Hartland, Nashotah, Okauchee, Dousman, Brookfield, & Elm Grove.
Basic Backyard Composting Tutorial
Find more tutorials on composting, recycling, reducing, and reusing: