Farmers’ Market Food Scrap Drop-off

Sustain Dane aims to make food scrap collection more accessible to community members in Madison, WI. In 2022 we began coordinating education, food scrap collection, and food waste hauling to Neighborhood Food Solutions’ nearby urban farm.

According to the Wisconsin DNR, our landfills consist of 14.5% food that would be traditionally edible, and 6% “food scraps” (like peels). This makes food the largest component of our waste stream. Bringing your food scraps to drop-off sites is one way to lower your environmental impact. The land and soil, community members, and agricultural system as a whole benefit from the nutrient recycling and food waste reduction of food scraps collection and composting.

Check out The City of Madison’s Plan. Use. Create. Scrap. resources about how together we can end food waste.

Total lbs. food waste diverted from landfill in 2025

Total lbs. food waste diverted from landfill in 2022 – 2024

How do I participate?  

Drop off your food scraps at a participating market. Collection days and times vary by location, so be sure to check the details below. The program is free and open to the public for all households in Madison.

Westside Community Farmers’ Market  

    • Start date – Saturday, April 11 
    • End date – Saturday, October 31
    • Saturdays, 7:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. 
    • 505 S Rosa Rd in the parking lots of the MG&E Innovation Center.
    • Website – www.westsidecommunitymarket.org/ 
    • If inclement weather, check the Westside Madison Farmers’ Market social media updates here to see if market is canceled.

South Madison Farmers’ Market  

    • Start date – Tuesday, May 19 
    • End date – Tuesday, October 27
    • Tuesdays, 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M 
    • 1602 South Park Street on the grounds of the Madison Labor Temple  
    • Website – www.southmadisonfarmersmarket.com/
    • If inclement weather, check the South Madison Farmers’ Market social media updates here to see if market is canceled.

 

Eastside Farmers’ Market  

    • Start date – Tuesday, April 28
    • End date – Tuesday, October 27
    • Tuesdays, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
    • 202 S Ingersoll St, Madison, WI 53703 at McPike Park 
    • Website – www.eastsidefarmersmarket.org
    • Market will be open rain or shine. See Eastside Farmers’ Market social media updates here.

Capitol View Farmers’ Market  

    • Start date – Wednesday, May 27 
    • End date – Wednesday, October 14
    • Wednesdays, 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM 
    • 5901 Sharpsburg Dr, Madison, WI 53718
    • Website – www.capitolviewfarmersmarket.com/
    • If inclement weather, check the Capitol View Farmers’ Market social media updates here to see if market is canceled.

What food can or cannot be composted? 

We can accept the following materials: 

    • Raw Fruits 
    • Raw Vegetables 
    • Coffee Grounds 
    • Eggshells
    • Corn husks & cobs
    • Gourds 

We cannot accept the following: 

    • Meat
    • Dairy 
    • Bread
    • Produce Stickers & Twist Ties 
    • “Compostable” plastic (Bags, Forks, Plates, Cups, etc.) 
    • Paper Products

Please note that other composting programs may have different guidelines. We encourage you to review which foods can be composted with us before visiting the market. We will not be able to accept your food waste if it contains contamination of items that we cannot accept. Read more here or watch this video.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you!

Volunteer:

Help us make this program possible through volunteering! Volunteers will help with set up, collecting food scraps, and clean up for all or a portion of the market.Volunteer training: On-site and virtual training dates available as needed

 

Composting in Dane County  

Now there are more free ways for you to compost in Dane County! Dane County introduced six Scrap Stops around the county that offer 24/7 drop off access. Learn more here.

Check out our composting in Dane County guide here.

 

Questions?

Please contact Samantha Wordette, Sustain Dane’s Program Manager, at samantha@sustaindane.org or 608–285-2454.

Farm Information

All food scraps will be taken to Neighborhood Food Solutions (NFS) Farm which supports formerly incarcerated individuals in urban agriculture and teens in entrepreneurial and agricultural training. NFS provides farming opportunities for community members who may not normally have the access and resources to learn about and participate in farming. With this partnership, food scraps collected at the farmers markets will help to rebuild and create healthy soil at the farm to continue growing produce. Learn more here.

Partners

This project is made possible through funding from The City of Madison and partnership through Neighborhood Food Solutions (NFS) farm.