WAUKESHA, Wis. — The City of Waukesha is encouraging residents to reduce the amount of the food sent to the landfills.

That’s why it started its Food Waste Compost Pilot Program.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it was estimated that in 2020, more than 600,000 tons of food scraps ended up in landfills across the state.

Melissa Tashjian is the founder of Compost Crusaders. The organization picks up food scraps and yard material that is recycled and turned into compost.

Her organization has compost bins at the Waukesha Recycling Center.

“It’s quite amazing that people are contributing this much,” said Tashjian. “I was told this bin was empty at the beginning of the day today. The center has only been open for a couple of hours tops and already it’s almost 75% full.”

In most of the municipalities that Compost Crusaders work with, the group is only able to offer curbside pickup.

Tashjian said Compost Crusaders recently began a partnership with Waukesha. It is providing city residents a food scrap drop-off point. 

“We need to grow food,” said Tashjian. “We like to grow flowers in the summer and things like that. You need good soil in order to do that and recycling food scraps and combining with yard material that is already being recycled in this fashion. It is just a great win-win to create a nutrient rich compost that is healthy for our planet.”

Mariana Neeb now brings her food scraps there every week.

“I live in a condo,” said Neeb. “I can’t compost at my home so this is absolutely great and I can’t believe how many food scraps I get in a week.”

Mark Prabucki said he is thrilled that the city has a place to drop off food scraps.

“I think I’ve noticed on a weekly basis when I collect the garbage — and to me that bag was really heavy. And now it is just like, ‘What happened to all of the garbage?’” said Prabucki. “It’s like a third of the weight. It’s all in here now and it’s just a good way to do it. Rather than going in the garbage, which seems like a waste, now it’s organic and it’s being put to a good use.”

Dustin Nolan is Waukesha’s recycling and solid waste coordinator. He said the city began this Food Waste Compost Pilot Program in November.

Nolan also said it is encouraging to see residents ready to help protect their environment.

“The last month or so has been great,” said Nolan. “The residents are positive and they are coming out with their food scraps, which is appreciated and for the most part, we are getting a lot of ‘thank yous’ and they are glad we are doing this and they hope we continue it for a long time.”

For Tashjian, it’s important to reduce the amount of food in a landfill. She said that’s because it is the number one contributor of methane gas.

“Everyone’s participation really truly adds up and you don’t realize that this five-gallon bucket of material is going to make such an impact, but when you do it once a week for years on end and you are sharing that knowledge with your family and friends and then they start doing it, it has a huge impact,” said Tashjian.

Tashjian said it also becomes a way of life. She said she believes since it is easy to do, it’s a practical way to achieve a culture of sustainability.

Residents of Waukesha can only bring their food scraps to the city’s recycling on Saturdays during the winter.

The only other community to have a drop off point for food scraps in southeastern Wisconsin is Sturtevant.