The City of Madison is bringing back its free food scraps recycling drop-off at the Westside Community Market starting May 3, 2025. Residents can contribute spent coffee grounds, eggshells, and eligible vegetable and fruit scraps for composting at the market site.
Located at 505 South Rosa Rd, within the Research Park area, the market offers ample free parking. The food scraps drop-off will operate from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm every Saturday, starting from May 3 and running until November 1, 2025.
Accepted items for composting include coffee grounds, eggshells, raw fruits, and vegetables. However, the drop-off site will not accept meat, bones, baked goods, compostable plastics, paper products, grease, or dairy products. Residents seeking guidance on suitable scraps can visit the Streets Division’s Food Scraps website or ask on-site staff for assistance at the drop-off tent.
Additional food scraps drop-off locations are available across Madison, including the Eastside Farmers’ Market at McPike Park, which started on April 29, and the South Madison Market opening on June 3, 2025. The Dane County Department of Waste and Renewables will also offer drop-off points, including two sites in Madison, beginning in June.
The City of Madison aims to compost 40,000 pounds of food scraps this year. This goal follows previous years’ targets that equaled the weight of two hippopotamuses in 2023 and two mammoths in 2024, which were successfully achieved. The community is encouraged to participate to help reach this year’s ambitious target. Residents are invited to contribute to this collective effort by bringing their food scraps to the designated markets.
For more information on food waste prevention, food donation, and food scraps recycling, visit the City’s dedicated page at www.cityofmadison.com/FoodScraps.
