Turning Food Scraps Into a Local Resource

Purple Cow Organics is proud to partner with Dane County to help keep food scraps out of the landfill and put them back to work in our community.

Through Dane County’s Food Scrap Program, participating residents and businesses separate accepted food scraps for collection. Those materials are then brought to Purple Cow Organics, where they are managed through the composting process and transformed into a useful soil resource.

Why It Matters

Food scraps still have value after they leave the kitchen. Composting gives those materials a second life while helping reduce the amount of organic material sent to the landfill.

By working together, Dane County and Purple Cow Organics are creating a more local, circular approach to managing food scraps and supporting healthier soils throughout the community.

How the Program Works

1. Dane County Collects the Food Scraps

Residents and participating businesses separate accepted food scraps through Dane County’s collection program.

2. Purple Cow Organics Composts Them

Collected materials are brought to Purple Cow Organics and incorporated into the composting process.

3. The Finished Compost Goes Back Into the Community

Compost created through this program is used for landscaping projects or returned to the community, helping put those nutrients back to work locally.

Good to Know: Compost produced through the Dane County Food Scrap Program is not sold through Purple Cow Organics’ retail product line. Purple Cow’s retail products are made from plant-based materials.

A Growing Community Effort

The Dane County Food Scrap Program continues to grow as more households and businesses take part.

As of May 2026, more than 3,200 households had registered for the residential program, and approximately 610,000 pounds of food scraps had been diverted through residential and commercial participation.

Every pound kept out of the landfill is another opportunity to turn food scraps into something useful for our local community.

Want to Participate?

Dane County residents can participate through free Food Scrap Stop locations throughout the county. Residents must register with Dane County to receive the combination lock code used to access collection carts.

Accepted Residential Materials

• Fruits and vegetables
• Coffee grounds and loose-leaf tea
• Eggshells
• Beans, seeds and nuts

Not all materials labeled “compostable” are accepted through the residential program. Always check Dane County’s current guidelines before dropping off food scraps.