Food Scraps Recycling Begins at the Streets Division Drop-off Sites on June 1, 2026

Free food scraps recycling drop-off begins at all three Streets Division drop-off sites starting on June 1, 2026.

When at a Streets Division drop-off site, look for the orange food scraps carts. Place your coffee grounds, eggshells, and appropriate vegetable and fruit scraps into these carts so they can be composted.

We also have neighborhood food scraps drop-offs at the Capitol View Farmers' Market, the Madison Eastside Farmers' Market, the South Madison Farmers' Market, and the Westside Community Market.

With the four farmers' market locations, three drop-off site locations, and the additional Dane County Scrap Stops within the City, Madison residents will have 10 different free drop-off options for food scraps through this fall.

Streets Division Drop-off Site Information

Streets Division drop-off sites are available only to City of Madison residents and taxpayers. Proof of residency is required to use the sites.

Food scraps drop-off will be available only during drop-off site hours.

Locations, hours, and other information about the drop-off rules, restrictions, and other accepted materials can be found on the Streets Division website.

Streets Division Drop-off Site Information

Acceptable Food Scraps

You can bring coffee grounds, eggshells, raw fruits, raw vegetables, and other similar scraps.

We will not accept meat, bones, baked goods, sauces, pastas, prepared foods, compostable plastics, paper products, grease, oil, fat, or dairy products (including cheese), and many other items in the food scraps containers.

No Bags for Food Scraps

Do not place bags into the orange food scraps carts, including paper bags.

Staff at the drop-off sites need to check the food scraps carts for mistakes.

Empty out your containers into the food scraps carts, and either discard your bag at the drop-off site, or take your reusable container home to refill it with scraps for your next trip.

Watch for Problems: Stickers, Rubber Bands, and Twist Ties Do Not Compost

Check your scraps for stickers, rubber bands, twist ties, and other items that do not compost and remove them before you place your scraps into the orange carts.

If the orange carts become contaminated with too much non-compostable material, the scraps need be sent to the landfill instead of the composter.

Please be mindful of what you are bringing.

More Food Scraps Information

Additional information about food waste prevention, food donation, and food scraps recycling can be found on the food scraps website.