MISSION

To educate our community about the benefits of composting.

To encourage sustainable practices by diverting food scraps and other organic matter from landfills.

To inspire the restoration of Door County soils.

How can We get Started at HOME?

Start by putting all your food scraps from breakfast, lunch and dinner in a small bowl on your counter. In the evening, after doing your dishes, empty the bowl in a covered, 5-gallon bucket that you keep outside your back door. After a week or so, when the 5-gallon bucket is filled, you can compost in your backyard… or bring it to one of the food scraps composting sites that are being established in Door County. Most compost home compost sits follow the “static pile” guidelines. See ours here . More composting tips from “Making a Composting Pile” by Extension Door County.

Where to Drop:

See map below for our 13 drop off sites. This summer, we have a drop off at the Jacksonport Farmers Market on Tuesdays, from 9 am - 1 pm. Through a partnership with Going Garbage, participants are able to drop off at the farmers market May - October. Scraps are picked up from the farmers market and incorporated into the Village of Egg Harbor compost site.

Where to Get a Bucket:

Receive a 5-gallon compost bucket from DCCI with a $25 donation. These clean buckets have twist-off lids for handling ease and for odor / pest mitigation.

Thus far, our “Bucket Brigade” includes 199 buckets that have made their way to friends and neighbors and businesses in our growing network.

Buckets are a $25 donation and available for sale at Healthy Way Market, Greens N Grains, Waseda Farms, and at our booth weekly at the Jacksonport Farmers Market on Tuesdays and every other week at the Baileys Harbor Market on Sundays. See our event calendar for dates!

How can We get Started at our business?

Great news! We are so excited you are wanting to compost. Any business can purchase food scrap buckets to drop at one of our sites. Depending on your area, we may be able to connect you with a pick up person! For example, thanks to a USDA grant, the Village of Egg Harbor offers a free restaurant food scrap pick up for businesses. Contact us if you are interested and we can connect you! Email jess@lnrp.org.

HOW CAN WE Compost at our Event?

Everyone loves parties, right? But did you know that events are a large contributor to food waste going in the landfill? We get it, it’s hectic and sometimes the garbage is the last thing you want to think about. Well, we can help! For a modest donation, we can set up a food scrap station, and can even help you source compostable serviceware! Contact us if you are interested! Email jess@lnrp.org.

How can I volunteer with Door COmmunity Compost?

Our volunteers are the driving force behind DCCI. We have a wonderful team of folks that staff Farmers Market Booths and Community Events. In addition to events, we have compost pick up ride-along shifts and bin building opportunities! Contact Dave LaLuzerne at DoorCommunityCompost@gmail.com or 608-512-9633

What We compost & HOW we do it

There are a number of resources out there on composting and the regulations may differ from program to program. With the DCCI compost site participants, we have what are referred to as “Static Piles.” Most of our sites are limited to mainly fruit and veggie scraps.

Community Compost Drop Site Map

Interested in becoming a drop site? More information is available here. Please review and Contact Dave LaLuzerne at DoorCommunityCompost@gmail.com or 608-512-9633

What is DCCI & And How did it get started?

The Door Community Compost Initiative is a project of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County working to further composting in the County. In early 2020, the Village of Egg Harbor expanded its yard waste compost program to include food scraps with the help of the DNR and the Compost University trained Public Works team. The final product, fertile soil, has been incorporated into the Village of Egg Harbor’s landscaping and is available to village residents and businesses.

November 2020, the Climate Change Coalition (CCC) included a Compost Initiative in its 2021 Work Plan.

January 2021, the Door Community Compost Initiative’s official Steering Committee was created.

May 2021, volunteers picked up the first buckets of food scraps from Egg Harbor restaurants.

July 2021, DCCI officially became a partner of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership under CCC’s wing.

August 2021, DCCI partnered with Mighty Wind Farms to support their composting efforts. Mighty Wind Farms collects food scraps from all neighbors and restaurants.

October 2022, Modeled after compost leader Mighty Wind, DCCI launches our grass-roots, community-based community compost network with our first 7 compost sites open to the public, spanning southern to northern Door, including small farms, private properties, and non-profits, all allowing neighbors and friends to deposit food scraps on their land.

May 2023, Village of Egg Harbor is awarded a compost and food waste reduction grant by the USDA with DCCI as the partner. This allows the program to pilot two years of pick up by Going Garbage from Gibraltar School and the Jacksonport Farmers Market. This also supports CCC with funds to assist in the management of community composting efforts.

June 2023, DCCI adds its 12th partnering community compost site. With 199 buckets distributed, 199 individuals are now collecting their home food scraps, diverting their food waste from the landfill, and returning that organic material back to compost piles in their yards and at community compost sites.

September 2024, Going Garbage begins food scrap pick up at Gibraltar School with program support by DCCI.

May 2024, DCCI adds a community compost site in Downtown Baileys Harbor and starts food scrap drop off at Jacksonport Farmers Market.

July 2024, Door County Triathlon allows event composting with DCCI volunteers. With a diversion of over 700 lbs, this is the largest amount of food scraps collected at an event!