If you can come to Watertown it is free for the hauling 24x7 and we have mountains of it. A word of warning though. It is made from residential refuse meaning tree/yard trimmings and therefore it also contains a small amount of wood branches and 'garbage' like plastic bags that didn't decompose.

I have used it and found that other than needing to pick the small amount of 'crap' out of it it is very good, but low in nitrogen. If you want to use it on a lawn area you will still need to add a source of nitrogen like soybean meal or what have you.

1338 Boomer Street, Watertown, Wisconsin is where it is at. There you can also find free for the hauling wood chips and large wood pieces. If you have a dog bring them with as this area is adjacent to an unfenced, but large dog area.

Thanks Justaguy. Unfortunately, by the time I paid for gas to drive there and back a few times, it'd be cheaper to have the Bruce Company deliver. That's awesome that they do that though. I wish more local towns did that sort of thing. I know our village collects it, but uses it for themselves.

You can get free compost at the Adams County landfill, as much as you can haul. However, I am sure that is too far for you to drive with gas prices.

Thanks Margo,

I have relatives who could make do with that, but for me, it's too far. But thanks for the idea. Northwest Dane County is more the area I'm trying to hit on if anyone else has any ideas.

You could try making your own compost. Many gardeners do.
Cazillions of ideas on these forums to help you along.

Buy a criss cross shredder for your papers. Then store all the dry stuff until you get grass clips and leaves to start cooking. Easy as pie. No long trips, no expensive gas. Many people shred leaves with their lawn mower and their bagger. Compost on the spot via 'Lasagna composting', or buy or build bins to store compost til next year.
All available on this web site.

Pondy

Try Googling 'Dane county municipal compost sites' - those who don't compost themselves have to have some method of getting rid of leaves and yard debris since landfills no longer accept it.