Waste is a significant contributor to our carbon emissions. Individuals and organizations can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and save money by reducing their waste footprint. Check out some of these tips and resources to help cut down on the waste you produce and properly dispose of and manage waste in Dane County.
For inspiration and to learn about what individuals, government, schools, businesses, and nonprofits across Dane County are doing to reduce waste and more check out the Climate Champion map which features all of the Climate Champions with details about their accomplishments, including in Waste Diversion.
Check out our Waste Impact and Reduction Infographic for a quick overview and resources to help you find ways to reduce your waste footprint.
The Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables is leading the way on reducing, managing, and creating innovative solutions and strategies to reduce the impact of waste in Dane County by transitioning from traditional waste disposal programs to responsible resource management systems in a circular economy.
Everything we buy - from cleaning products to baseballs to electronics - requires energy to produce. What's more, some items also produce emissions when we use them and also when we throw them away.
In the United States, on average, 5 lbs. of waste is produced by each person every day. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) accounts for 14% of human-related methane emissions in the United States, making it the 3rd largest source of methane emissions.
Reducing our waste and ensuring that the waste we do produce is disposed of properly can help us to reduce emissions, save valuable space in landfills, and often times save money too!
Thinking about what you are eating, where it comes from and how it is grown are all important considerations and can help reduce the emissions generated by the food we eat. Two of the biggest opportunities to reduce emissions are reducing food waste and adopting a plant rich diet.
Reducing Food Waste:
Globally around 1/3 of all the food produced is wasted and in the United States, an estimated 58% of methane produced in municipal solid waste is from food waste.
From meal planning, food prep, and food storage taking some steps to think about food can help you from over buying, save money, and prevent food from ending up in the compost bin. Here are some helpful resources:
Adopting a Plant Rich Diet
Emissions are also embedded in the food we eat, varying depending on how it is grown, where it comes from and what you are eating. Meat products have larger carbon footprints per calorie than plants. Shifting to more plant-rich meals can help to reduce our footprints. Learn more about plant-rich diets and their impact:
What we buy, wear, and how we take care of it can reduce our carbon footprint. Only around 1% of clothing is recycled and 87% of all textiles end up in landfills worldwide. The fashion industry contributes 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 each year. Here are some resources to help learn about and reduce emissions through our clothing and textile purchases.
Zero Waste
Green Life Trading Co. in Madison has a list of resources to help you find local resources and services to help you reduce your waste. Check out the Zero Waste Resources page for more information.
Buy Local
Buying local whenever possible helps to reduce the vehicle miles traveled for products. Check out Dane Buy Local for resources to find local products and services. Check out the "Quick Shopping Tips" below for more general ideas on how to reduce the emissions associated with items we purchase.
Junk Mail
Junk mail may not be something we are trying to procure, but it is something that many people deal with and end up having to recycle or throw away. Check out our blog for tips on Eliminating Junk Mail.
Take your food sustainability to the next level and think electric for your kitchen appliances and garden tools. Our electric grid continues to get cleaner as more renewable energy sources are incorporated into the energy grid. Opt for electric appliances when making new purchases, from kitchen appliances to lawn and garden tools.
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From composting, recycling, to the landfill and more, making sure that our waste materials end up in the proper location is an important component of waste management.
Help to divert organic materials from the landfill by composting it. It is also the preferred method of disposal for some items such as yard materials including leaves, grass clippings, and brush which are banned from Wisconsin landfills. Composting is a great option for yard materials and is preferred over burning. Whether you are composting at home or use a local compost service or drop-off these resource can help you.
Composting at home:
The state of Wisconsin does not regulate small-scale composting that is less than 50 cubic yards. Check with your local municipality to see if there are any ordinances or rules. All composting should be done in a nuisance-free way. Following composting guidelines like those provided below can help prevent attracting pests or strong-smelling compost. Be sure to set up your compost in an environmentally friendly space, avoiding wetlands and other sensitive areas.
Local Composting Resources:
The Dane County Waste & Renewables Waste, Recycling & Reuse Resources page is a great place to find additional information on items that can be hard to dispose of.
Hazardous Waste
Clean Sweep programs around the state provide safe ways to dispose of hazardous waste that cannot be landfilled. The Dane County Clean Sweep accepts hazardous chemicals from residents, businesses, and farms.
Electronics
If items are still functional, look into donating items before disposal. Find donation centers by checking the Recycle & Disposal Directory. Electronics from Dane County residents and K-12 schools are accepted at the Dane County Clean Sweep. Be sure to check the list of items accepted and remove all batteries from electronics to turn in separately. Electronics from commerial sources are not accepted at Clean Sweep, check the Recycle & Disposal Directory to find collectors. WI DNR has lots of resources on electronic recycling across Wisconsin visit their Electronics Recycling webpage for more information.
Medications
Check with your local pharmacy for unused medication return options. MedDrop is a program to dispose of perscriptions and over-the-counter medications in a safe and secure way.
Learn about what local businesses, groups, and individuals are doing around Dane County to reduce waste and divert from the landfills in the stories below and check out the Waste Diversion Climate Champions for some great examples of businesses and organizations that have taken action on waste diversion.
Learn about the efforts of Dane County and local organizations working to reduce food waste and build a more sustainable food system.
Eco Club students at McFarland High School are working with district administrators to set annual goals for energy use and taking action to reduce landfill waste.
Yahara Pride Farms is a farmer-led non-profit that strives to preserve agricultural heritage through environmentally and economically beneficial practices such as manure composting. Learn about how Berryridge Farms is utilizing composting to manage manure and reduce phosphorus runoff.
Dane County is home to two manure digesters that help remove phosphorus and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manure. Learn more about community manure management and other conservation practices from the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department.
Our Climate Champions program recognizes local entities that are leading on climate action, including an entire category dedicated to waste diversion. Our aim is to celebrate local leadership and inspire action from individuals, government, schools, businesses, and nonprofits across Dane County. Learn more about how you can earn a Climate Champion status for waste diversion and more.
