Home Composting Overview

Home composting yard materials and certain food scraps can provide valuable material for gardens and landscaping while reducing costs for off-site composting or disposal.

Wisconsin law bans the landfilling of yard materials such as leaves, grass clippings and branches less than 6" in diameter. Composting is a preferred alternative to burning such materials (which is banned in many communities), and by doing it at home, residents can enjoy the benefits of the finished compost. Certain food scraps can also be easily composted with yard materials at home.

Home composting can be done in bins or in a heap; however, bins are a better way to manage the materials. There are a number of home composting containers available commercially, and it is also fairly simple to create your own. Your community may also offer composting bins at special sales. For more information on different types of home composting equipment, see the DNR brochure Home Composting: The Complete Composter [PDF 219KB]. If you do not include food scraps in your compost, you may not need a specialized container.

DNR does not regulate small-scale, home composting operations of less than 50 cubic yards. All composting should be done in a nuisance-free and environmentally sound manner, however. This includes minimizing odors, not attracting excessive numbers of rodents and other pests, and not siting compost piles in wetlands or other sensitive areas.

Be sure to follow recommendations on what types of food scraps can be composted in order to prevent odors and avoid attracting animals and other pests.

Home Composting Resources and Contacts

• DNR Web page on handling yard materials
• University of Wisconsin-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC) [exit DNR], use the keyword "compost" to locate documents related to composting.
• Home Composting: The Complete Composter [PDF 219KB]
• Home Composting: Reap a Heap of Benefits [PDF 158KB]