Created by the Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables in collaboration with Madison Children’s Museum, the Trash Lab is a mobile exhibit designed to educate and motivate us to create less trash and rethink our relationship with waste.
Housed in a fully accessible, 27-foot-long repurposed cargo trailer, Trash Lab features more than 10 playful interactive stations, engaging stories, and a wealth of data, along with compelling photography and video footage. The exhibit’s whimsical exterior and immersive interior environment will capture visitors’ imaginations as it travels throughout Southern Wisconsin. The exhibit explores the social justice, economic, and environmental effects of waste, connecting our local experiences to both local and global outcomes. Trash Lab will help community members of all ages better understand the implications of the waste they produce, how landfills work, and new opportunities for more sustainable solutions.
The Trash Lab has also been designed to advance equity and inclusion of solid waste and recycling education. The Trash Lab can be hauled to events and taken to schools that may not otherwise have the means to travel to the DCDWR’s site to learn about solid waste & recycling. The Trash Lab is wheelchair accessible and there are also booklets available for visitors who wish for a Spanish translation of the exhibit materials.
When not traveling, Trash Lab will be permanently housed at the Dane County landfill, where it is expected to welcome hundreds of visitors annually as part of Dane County’s public tours of the landfill and on-site renewable energy plant. Trash Lab fans can follow the Trash Lab’s journey and tag their experiences exploring the vehicle at the Dane County Trash Lab Instagram page @renewaste. Fans can also continue the learning online by reading through our Trash Lab booklet, available both in English and Spanish. This booklet contains information from the exhibits inside the Trash Lab.
Interested in hosting the Trash Lab in your community or event? Contact waste.renewables@countyofdane.com for more information.
Join us in helping educate the community on where the waste you create goes and how to move towards a sustainable future by being a Trash Lab Expert! Anyone who is enthusiastic about recycling or zero-waste and aged 15+ are welcome to sign up by emailing waste.renewables@countyofdane.com for more details.
What does it mean to be a Trash Lab Expert?
A Trash Lab Expert helps share the story behind the Trash Lab and knows how to use the Trash Lab as a tool to educate the community on what happens with their trash and why it is important to manage it in the way we do. You will also demonstrate the different interactive activities within the lab. We hope you can share your enthusiasm for the environment by protecting it and building sustainable habits with others. Community members should leave understanding their impact on the environment and what they can do about it.
What are the Trash Lab Expert Perks?
Waste & Renewables will reach out to Trash Lab Experts via email as opportunities to staff the Trash Lab at various community events arise. As volunteers, Trash Lab Experts get free admission into the events the Trash Lab participates in, such as the Dane County Fair and Kids Building Wisconsin Festival. We also offer periodic gratitude gifts to the Trash Lab Experts that volunteer the most hours with us, as we appreciate immensely your time to help us share the story of our community's waste.
Visit the Trash Lab at a community event near you!
11.2.2023. Mount Horeb Public Library, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Location: 105 Perimeter Rd, Mt Horeb, WI 53572
11.20.2023. Youth Climate Change Gathering- Wisconsin Energy Institute, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Location: 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI 53726
06.30.2022: ‘It Takes A Village’ events provide neighborhood resources, interactive sustainability lessons
04.07.2022: "We Want Trash Lab to Transform People's Relationship with Waste"
12.20.2021: Seven Sustainable Exhibits to See in 2022
11.03.2021: Bringing Dane County's Trash Lab to Life
03.21.2021: Traveling exhibits explain what happens to our trash
3.17.2021: Launch of Trash Lab Mobile Exhibit
10.9.2023 to 10.13.2023. REACH Makerspace. Location: Henderson Elementry
09.10.2023. Good Neighbor Gathering, 12:00 am - 5:00 pm. Location: Brittingham Park, Madison
09.12.2023. DeForest PD Family Fun Night, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Location: DeForest Fireman's Park, DeForest WI 53532
08.01.2023. Dane County Sheriff's Office National Night Out, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Location: 204 Division Street, Brooklyn, WI 53521
08.07.2023. Heartland Farm Sanctuary, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Location: 424 US-51, Stoughton, WI 53589
08.17.2023. Waunakee Library, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Location: 201 N Madison Street, Waunakee, WI 53597
08.19.2023. Elvehjem Neighborhood, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Location: 4713 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, WI 53716
07.05.2023. Parks Alive, Hammersley Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 6114 Hammersley Road, Madison WI- EVENT CANCELLED
07.06.2023. Parks Alive, Owl Creek Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 23 Horned Owl Court, Madison WI
07.09.2023. Environmental Fun Fair, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Location: 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison WI
07.10.2023. Parks Alive, Allied Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 2730 Revival Road, Madison WI
07.12.2023. Parks Alive, Brentwood/Warner Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 1606 Trailsway, Madison WI- EVENT CANCELLED
07.18.2023. Parks Alive, Aldo Leopold Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 2906 Traceway Drive, Madison WI
07.25.2023. Parks Alive, Worthington Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 3102 Worthington Avenue, Madison WI
07.26.2023. Parks Alive, Meadowood Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 5810 Thrush Lane, Madison WI
07.27.2023. Parks Alive, Penn Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 2101 Fisher Street, Madison WI
07.31.2023. Parks Alive, Elver Park, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: 1250 McKenna Boulevard, Madison WI
06.03.2023. Grow Monroe, 12 pm- 2 pm. Location: Monroe Street, Madison WI
06.05.2023. Oakwood Village Retirment Community, 3:00 pm- 5:00 pm. Location: 6205 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI 53705
06.13.2023. Trash Lab @ Mobile Madison Celebration, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Location: Brittingham Park, Madison WI
05.13.2023. Village of Shorewood Hill's Green Market , 9:00 am -12:00 pm. Location: Village of Shorewood Hills
05.20.2023. Kids Building Wisconsin, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm. Location: McKee Farms Park, 2930 Chapel Valley Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53711
05.26.2023. Brat Fest, 4:00 pm-8:00 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
05.27.2023. Brat Fest, 10:00 pm-2:00 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
05.28.2023. Brat Fest, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
05.30.2023. Southside Farmers Market- Madison, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm. Location: 1602 S. Park Street
05.31.2023. Yahara River Learning Center, 8:30 am- 11:30 am. Location: 4165 Timothy Ct, DeForest, WI 53532
04.15.2023. UW-Madison Science Expeditions, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm. Location: UW Campus Genetics-Biotechnology Center Building 425 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706
04.22.2023. Cottage Grove- Earth Day with Your Friends, 10:00 am-1:00pm. Location: Cottage Grove Elementary School, 470 N Main St, Cottage Grove, WI 53527
04.22.2023. WI Ecolatinos Earth Day Clean Up, 2:00 pm -4:00 pm. Location: Warner Park, 2930 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI 53704
04.28.2023. Arbor Day at Leopold Elementary School , 8:30 am -11:00 am. Location: 2602 Post Rd Madison, WI 53713
03.17.2023 - 03.20.2023. Trash Lab @ Henry Vilas Zoo. Location: 702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715
03.24.2023. Dane County Landfill Tour, 9:00 am- 10:30 am. Location: 7102 US Hwy 12 Madison, WI 53718
03.27.2023. Trash Lab @ Pyle Center, 12:00 pm- 2:00 pm. Location: 702 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706
03.29.2023. Black Earth Children's Musuem, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm. Location: 1131 Mills St, Black Earth, WI 53515
11.12.2022. Dane County High School Climate Action Conference, 8:30 am- 4:30 pm. Location: Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
11.21.2022. Trash Lab at Madison Country Day School, 9:00 am- 9:00 pm. Location: 5606 River Rd, Waunakee, WI 53597
08.09.2022. Trash Lab at Parks Alive! Darbo-Worthington Park, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Location: Worthington Park, 3102, 3102 Worthington Ave, Madison, WI 53714
08.20.2022. Waste & Renewables Open House: A Community Celebration Towards Waste As A Resource, 11:30 pm- 3:30 pm. Location: 3663 County Hwy AB McFarland, WI 53558
July. 1.2022. Trash Lab at MSCR Fascination Station Summer Camp, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm. Location: John Muir Elementary School, 6602 Inner Dr, Madison, WI 53705
July. 5.2022. Trash Lab at Parks Alive: Aldo Leopold Park, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Location: 2906 Traceway Dr, Madison, WI 53713
July. 7.2022. Trash Lab at Parks Alive: Owl Creek Park, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Location: 23 Horned Owl Dr, Madison, WI 53718
July.10.2022. Environmental Fun Fair, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm. Location: Lussier Family Heritage Center and Grounds, 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison WI 53711
July.12.2022 Fitchburg Public Library, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. Location: 5530 Lacy Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53711
July.21.2022. Dane County Fair, 12 pm-5 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
July.22.2022 Dane County Fair, 12 pm-5 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
06.16.2022. Trash Lab at Elver Park Mobile Madison Event, 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm. Location: 1250 McKenna Blvd, Madison, WI 53719
06.22.2022. Trash Lab at Parks Alive: Meadowood Park, 4:30 pm- 7:30 pm. Location: 5810 Thrush Ln, Madison, WI 53711
06.27.2022. Trash Lab at Parks Alive: Allied Park, 4:30 pm- 7:30 pm. Location: 2370 Revival Ridge, Madison, WI 53711
06.28.2022. Trash Lab at Jefferson Library, 3:00 pm- 5:30 pm. Location: 5810 Thrush Ln, Madison, WI 53711
06.30.2022. Trash Lab at Penn Park, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Location: 2101 Fisher St, Madison, WI 53713
05.29.2022. Brat Fest, 10:00 pm-2:00 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
05.28.2022. Brat Fest, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
05.27.2022. Brat Fest, 4:00 pm-8:00 pm. Location: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
05.21.2022. Village of McFarland Annual Public Works Open House, 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Location: McFarland Municipal Center
05.20.2022. Trash Lab at Conrad Elvehjem Primary School, 10:30 am-2:30 pm. Location: 6009 Johnson St, McFarland, WI 53558
05.18.2022.Trash Lab at Conrad Elvehjem Primary School, 10:30 am-2:30 pm. Location: 6009 Johnson St, McFarland, WI 53558
05.17.2022. Trash Lab at Conrad Elvehjem Primary School, 10:30 am-1:30 pm. Location: 6009 Johnson St, McFarland, WI 53558
05.16.2022. Trash Lab at Conrad Elvehjem Primary School, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm. Location: 6009 Johnson St, McFarland, WI 53558
05.14.2022. Kids Building Wisconsin, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm. Location: McKee Farms Park, 2930 Chapel Valley Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53711
05.08.2022. Trash Lab at Hilldale Shopping Center, 12:00 pm- 3:00 pm. Location: 726 N. Midvale Blvd Madison, WI 53705
05.07.2022. Trash Lab at Hilldale Shopping Center, 12:00 pm- 3:00 pm. Location: 726 N. Midvale Blvd Madison, WI 53705
05.06.2022. Trash Lab at Hilldale Shopping Center, 12:00 pm- 3:00 pm. Location: 726 N. Midvale Blvd Madison, WI 53705
04.27.2022. Rosemary Garfoot Public Library, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Location: 2107 Julius St. Cross Plains, WI 53528
04.23.2022. Earth Day With The Friends Of Cottage Grove Library, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm. Location: 470 North Main Street Cottage Grove WI 53527
04.22.2022. City of Madison Parks: Learn to Rethink Trash, 5:30 pm- 7:00 pm. Location: Demetral Park, 601 N 6th St, Madison, WI 53704. Registration.
September 2022: Communications Award:1st Place from the International Solid Waste Association
March 2021: Outstanding Achievement in Education from the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin
May 2021: Sustainability Excellence in Exhibits Award from the American Alliance of Museuems
1. Does the Trash Lab travel to offsite locations?
Yes, please see our Trash Lab Community Request form if interested in requesting the Trash Lab. Completed forms should be emailed to waste.renewables@countyofdane.com.
2. Is there a fee for it to travel?
There is no fee to host the Trash Lab; donations are welcome but never expected.
3. How does it work for an event?
Dane County staff will drop off Trash Lab before event. In terms of space, Trash Lab is approximately 27’ long and 8’ wide. During event, Dane County staff will open and staff Trash Lab (along with any Trash Lab Expert volunteers!), answering questions about what happens to our trash here in Dane County.
4. If you are travelling, how far out are you booking visits?
We typically stay within Dane County in terms of travel, as it is our staff that needs to drive it and drop it off to various events, and longer drive times are not always feasible. In terms of scheduling a Trash Lab visit, we have been scheduling about 2 months out but could explore scheduling for events further out.
Email waste.renewables@countyofdane.com to learn more.
