Food, food-soiled paper and certified compostable products comprise a significant amount of household trash. Organics recycling provides an opportunity to reduce waste by composting these items.
As of January 1, 2022, all Hennepin County cities made organics recycling services available to all households. This requirement was part of revisions to the county’s recycling ordinance made in 2018.
Refuse haulers must charge residential customers for organics recycling service. That’s because Minnesota state law says haulers can’t charge residents who participate in recycling more than residents who do not.
If you have questions about your refuse hauler’s organics recycling services or fees, contact the hauler directly.
Alternate Organics Recycling Options
Crystal Cove Organics Drop-Off
Drop-off organics recycling is available at the Crystal Cove Aquatics Center, 4848 Douglas Drive in Crystal. The drop-off is located in the northeast corner of the parking lot. There’s a brown organics recycling sign on the gate.
Access to the drop-off is restricted to registered users. Residents may register by visiting the organics recycling page at hrg-recycling.com. Once registered, residents will receive an email containing details on accessing the drop-off location.
Organics must be in BPI-certified compostable bags or paper shopping bags. A list of accepted items is available in the Hennepin Recycling Group (HRG) Organics Recycling Guide or on the HRG website at hrg-recycling.com.
Hennepin County Drop-Off Facility
Hennepin County offers organics recycling drop-off at the Brooklyn Park and Bloomington Hennepin County Drop-Off Facilities. Organics are accepted for free Tuesday through Saturday during regular facility hours. There is a limit of five bags per person per day.
Learn more on Hennepin County’s website.
Backyard Composting
Backyard composting is a great way to recycle organic material and have easy access to nutrient-rich compost.
Backyard Composting Requirements
- Compost sites may not be closer than five feet from any rear or side property line and cannot be located in a front yard or a side yard abutting a public right-of-way, may not be located in any drainage easement and cannot be closer than 25 feet from any residence.
- Compost sides cannot exceed 25 square feet in area or four feet in height.
- Only one compost site per property.
- Compost sites must be totally contained within a structure made of permanent, non-degrading material that allows air circulation and is visually complementary to the lot’s principal structure.
- Compost cannot be treated with any herbicides or pesticides
What can be composted? Food scraps, garden wastes, weeds, lawn cuttings, leaves and prunings.
What cannot be composted? Meat, fats, oils, grease, bones, whole eggs, milk or other dairy products, human or pet waste, pesticides, herbicides, noxious weeds, diseased plant material and any other mixed municipal solid waste.