Brookings to pilot yearlong food‑waste composting program with four drop‑off sites

Brookings will run a yearlong pilot food‑waste composting program in 2025–26 after the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources selected the city as a test site.

The city’s landfill director, identified in the meeting as Charlie, said the pilot is a feasibility study that will evaluate local infrastructure and public interest and help the state consider future permitting and funding approaches. “They are doing it as a feasibility study,” Charlie said.

Under the pilot, residents will collect food scraps at home and bring them to one of four drop‑off sites: the street department, the east fire station, the south fire station and the landfill. The city will supply gray 95‑gallon containers at the sites and will provide free two‑and‑a‑half‑gallon compostable bags and promotional…