09/05/2026
Sitting on top of the Dane County landfill, looking over mountains of compressed trash, my biggest surprise wasn’t the smell, it was the incredible behind-the-scenes work that goes into ensuring our community stays clean.
We tend to picture a landfill as a stagnant pile of trash when in reality it is incredibly dynamic and intentional. Old roof shingles from recent storms are being separated and repurposed directly into local asphalt projects. Donated surplus latex paint is applied as an “alternative daily cover” over compacted waste, suppressing odors and pests without wasting virgin materials. And through underground wells, about 50-55% of the methane produced by the landfill is captured and refined into pipeline grade natural gas, making the project completely self-sustaining.
Closed landfill sites aren’t just abandoned; they’re capped, monitored, and reclaimed as public parkland. Mineral Point Park and Quann Park started this way!
Take Action: Get to Know Your Waste Stream!
🌱 Check the Dane County Zero Waste Resource Map for drop-off options for hard-to-recycle items (link in bio)
🌱 Sign up for the Dane Co Landfill tour on September 10th (visit Dane County Waste + Renewables)
🌱 Practice conscious consumerism, small shifts ease the pressure on our local capacit
Link in bio to read the full article.
