Superior launches composting initiative

May 13—SUPERIOR — Six food waste drop sites opened May 6 in the city. The program, launched on Composting Awareness Week, aims to take the strain off Superior's landfill while providing hundreds of pounds of compost for gardeners.

"A Wisconsin DNR study from 2020-2021 found that wasted food and food scraps account for more than 30% of what goes into Wisconsin's landfills," said Darienne McNamara, environmental regulatory manager for the environmental services division of public works. "Most of this material could be diverted from landfills and composted instead. That would leave room for other materials that can't be reused or composted, ultimately reducing the need for new landfills."

That's particularly important for Superior, which expects to shutter its landfill in 2026.

"I imagine if we would have started this program, you know, 10 years ago, how much we could have saved from being put into our landfill," said 7th District City Councilor Ruth Ludwig, a lifelong composter. "And so ... we have to think about as it gets near to our own landfill here in the city closing, what are things that we can do to cut down on our waste."

Decomposing food waste also creates methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide.

"Food waste is responsible for more methane emissions than any other landfilled materials," McNamara said.

Calls from city residents, and a 2019 green infrastructure city audit, prompted Ludwig to consider adding a composting component in Superior. City leaders toured Western Lake Superior Sanitary District in 2021 to see their composting program in action. Planning for the city to offer drop sites for food waste kicked off in fall 2023.

"I believe having a drop-off site makes it more convenient for our residents," Ludwig said.

McNamara said each of the bins will be picked up weekly and brought to

WLSSD's large-scale composting site in Duluth

. The end product, Garden Green, is sold each spring to local gardeners.

"I have used their compost, both personally and over at our community garden, and I can attest it is excellent compost," Ludwig said.

The $10,000 cost to launch the program covers weekly food waste pickup as well as a supply of free bags for residents and outreach.

"As we look ahead to the city's landfill closing in 2026, the cost for disposing of residential garbage is likely to go up," McNamara said. "The more that residents can reduce their garbage now and build the habit of composting food waste, the more they are likely to save on disposal costs in the coming years."

She gave credit to Ludwig for championing the composting program from the beginning, and to Ida Sampson with the city's Environmental Services Division for coordinating the logistics to launch the program successfully.

The basics

Food waste must be bagged in BPI-certified bags and can include all solid foods such as vegetables and fruits, pasta, rice, desserts, bakery items, dairy, meats and bones. Liquids, grass clippings, leaves, brush, cardboard and paper products are not allowed.

BPI-certified composting bags, as well as baskets to collect food waste in, can be found for free at Superior Public Library, the public works office in room 210 of the Government Center, the city's Environmental Services Division, 51 E. First St., and the Superior Landfill, 15 Moccasin Mike Road. BPI bags can also be purchased at many local retailers.

Drop sites include the following:

* Barker's Island public boat launch.

* Bear Creek Park.

* Loon's Foot Boat Landing.

* Billings Park Maintenance Garage parking lot, 25 Billings Drive.

* Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Association's Solid Rock Safe Haven garden, 1009 N. Sixth St.

* Bethel Lutheran Church (5821 John Ave).

Visit the

city of Superior Environmental Services Division page on composting

for more information.