Yard waste and organics recycling

Yard waste and organics recycling is free or low cost to most Northeaster readers in Columbia Heights, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis.

Easily compostable items such as food scraps and food-soiled paper, even pizza delivery boxes and egg cartons, are collected and brought to a facility, along with yard waste, and turned into nutrient-rich compost.

Columbia Heights residents can email publicworks@columbiaheightsmn.gov to request a dual-purpose compost and yard waste cart and receive a free bag of finished compost. A minimal cost of $2.53 per month will be charged on quarterly city utility bills. Apartment buildings and condos can also participate. Building and property managers should contact the city for carts.

Anyone living in Minneapolis with city collection service can sign up for organics collection service, including renters. If your garbage carts are gray and labeled “Property of City of Minneapolis,” you have city service, and can sign up for organics recycling by calling 612-673-2917 or emailing SWRcustomer@minneapolismn.gov.

After signing up, Minneapolis participants will get an organics recycling cart and a welcome kit that includes a starter set of compostable plastic bags, a Home Setup Tips guide and a refrigerator magnet. New renters may request a welcome kit by calling 612-673-2917.

St. Anthony has a food scraps collection site that is open 24/7, located between the St. Anthony Police Department and the tennis courts at 3301 Silver Lake Rd. in St. Anthony. Residents may pick up free compostable bags and a free food scraps collection starter kit at City Hall during business hours. Food scraps may be collected in compostable bags or paper grocery bags, but not regular plastic bags.

Although grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste are organic materials, St. Anthony residents are asked not to bring them to the food scrap site, but instead, take them to one of Ramsey County’s yard waste sites. Call the Recycling & Disposal Hotline at 651-633-3279 for details.

If you’re wondering how food scraps go from yuck to nutrient-rich soil, check out Ramsey County’s YouTube video, “Turning Food Scraps into Compost,” available in English, Spanish, Hmoob, and Soomaali.

Fun fact: In April 2018, the St. Anthony City Council approved a food scraps collection pilot program for all St. Anthony residents, whether residing in Hennepin or Ramsey County. City staff partnered with Ramsey County to implement the food scraps collection drop-off site at no additional cost to the city and the site was constructed and fully operational by the end of 2018. As an original pilot program and early adopter, St. Anthony’s site is helping Ramsey County’s strategies in implementing drop-off sites in other cities.