Streets & Urban Forestry

Drop-off Sites Closed on July 4, 2026

Drop-off sites closed on Saturday, 7/4/26 for the 4th of July holiday.
Sites reopen on Monday, July 6.
Recycling Survey

Help us help you recycle better by taking our recycling survey.
And, maybe test your recycling knowledge with our brief recycling quiz.

Home Composting Resources

Resource Guides

City of Madison Home Composting Guide

Paper copies available at Madison Public Libraries, or mailed to you upon request.

Home Composting - The Complete Composter

A pamphlet created by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Master Composter Home Study Course

University of Wisconsin - Madison Extension Dane County thorough Master Composter guide.

Home Composting Basics

Institute for Local Self-Reliance guide for home composting.

Composting 101

Ecocycle's Composting 101 website.

UW Extension Dane County - Compost Steward Class

Online class to learn more about composting.

Home Composting Guidelines

Use a bin. You can learn how to build one or purchase one.
Have the right mix of "browns" and "greens" in your bin. The rule of thumb is 3 "browns" to 1 "green." Browns are your carbon source, which would be like dried leaves. Greens are things like fresh grass clippings, and that is your source of nitrogen.
If you are composting food scraps, be sure you are only composting raw fruits, vegetables, and other compostable waste like coffee grounds or egg shells. Do not compost meat, fats, oils, greases, or pet waste.
Water your compost pile. Keeping it about as wet as a wrung out sponge will help your compost bin work.
Turn your pile after 4 to 5 weeks at least. Turning the pile helps colder areas of your pile compost, and prevents unwanted critters from making their home in your compost pile.
Follow the City of Madison ordinance for placement, pile size, and restrictions on what can be placed into your compost within Madison. Do not let your pile become a nuisance!