Milorganite®: A Century of Greener Lawns and Cleaner Water
First produced in 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Milorganite® fertilizer was created to protect public health, improve water quality, and safeguard the environment. It remains one of the nation’s oldest and most successful recycling programs—only here, the “recycling” is of nutrients instead of paper, glass, or plastic.
The “ingredients” are simple: heat-dried microbes that have consumed the organic nutrients in wastewater. The name Milorganite comes from MILwaukee ORGAnic NITrogen. With 85% organic matter, Milorganite feeds soil microorganisms, enriches the soil, and nourishes your plants naturally.
Nearly 100 years later, Milwaukee’s wastewater treatment facilities still use this large-scale biological process that mimics nature—now powered in part by renewable energy sources like landfill gas and methane from our digesters. These innovations save more than a million dollars in natural gas each year while making production more sustainable.
Milorganite® delivers slow-release nitrogen that feeds plants for 8–10 weeks without burning. Added iron provides a rich, long-lasting green without staining sidewalks or causing excessive growth. It helps conserve water, reduces the need for frequent mowing, and won’t leach into groundwater—making it a trusted, environmentally friendly choice for lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables.
For nearly a century, generations of gardeners have relied on Milorganite® to grow healthy landscapes while protecting the environment.
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