Organics & Composting

MARQUETTE COUNTY ONLY

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MARQUETTE COUNTY ONLY ⋆

Accepted Materials

Composting is nature’s way of recycling and returning valuable organic matter and nutrients to the soil to be used again. It can be used for gardens, lawns and even houseplants, to conserve moisture and add nutrients to help plants thrive. The Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority offers free compost and organics drop off for Marquette County residents and businesses.. Below is a list of materials accepted.

Yard Waste

Dirt
Grass
Hay/Straw
Leaves/Brush
Plants

Food Waste

Bones
Bread, pasta, and grains
Coffee filters, coffee grounds, and tea bags/leaves
Cooking Oil/Grease
Eggshells and Nutshells
Fruits and vegetables—scraps or whole
Meat, fish, and poultry scraps
Soiled paper towels and napkins
Soiled pizza boxes and paper food wrap

Not Accepted

do not place glass, metal, plastic particle board, plywood, treated wood, or large stumps in your compost container

Metal
Glass
Particle board

Plastic
Plywood
Treated wood

NO stumps or limbs that are more than 2″ in diameter! Stumps and any tree limbs/brush over 2 inches in diameter. These items are charged the current tipping fee per ton and you must have a valid landfill permit.

Six Benefits of Composting

Composting keeps organic material out of landfills. In a landfill, climate warming gases, such as methane, are made as organics decay under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions.

Because methane traps 21 times more heat than carbon dioxide, the benefits of composting organic material far outweigh the environmental costs of burning fuel to collect, haul and process organic material.

Organic material like food waste makes up about 22% of the waste residents send to the landfill nationally. Yard trimmings are 6.2%.

Incorporating compost into the soil can help to increase the soil's ability to retain moisture and reduce the need for fertilizers, herbicide or fungicide on farms, gardens and landscaping.

Compost increases infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff into our waterways.