Home and Community Composting

Basic Backyard Composting/ Compostaje Básicoen el Jardín Guide now available!

Home composting is a great way to create a soil additive from the leaves and garden trimmings.

Both cold composting (a slower, less involved process) and hot composting (a faster, more involved process) can be achieved most months out of the year in Wisconsin. 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.

Ready to get started with backyard composting? Each spring the City offers a compost bin sale.

Food and Yard Waste Diversion Strategies

Take advantage of these tips, services, and other collection programs:

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

• Brush
• Fall Leaf Collection

Drop Off Sites

• 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 service in the City of Milwaukee.
  • Compost Crusader
    • Service in 32- or 64-gallon cart – online account and bill pay – monthly, quarterly, and annual billing options
  • Curby's Compost
    • Service in 2- or 5-gallon bucket – online bill pay – monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual billing options
    • Service in 32- gallon cart for yard waste
  • Waste Not
    • Service in 5- or 10-gallon bucket – online bill pay – monthly and quarterly billing options
• 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

Learn more about Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful and find more tutorials on composting, recycling, reducing, and reusing.