Search  Index  Print This Page

Organics

Includes: Bones, Cartons, Compostable Foodservice Ware, Compostable Plastic, Compostable Utensils, Cups, Food, Food Scraps, Food Waste, Food-soiled Paper, Freezer Boxes, Fruit, Kitchen Scraps, Meat, Milk Cartons, Non-Recyclable Paper, Nonrecyclable paper, Paper Plates, Pizza Boxes, Vegetables, Wax Paper

Rethink & Reduce Tips

• Plan your meals and make shopping lists to cut down on wasted food.
• Organize your refrigerator so that newer purchases go in the back. Then use up the food you already have by cooking meals and taking leftovers for lunch.
• Purchase items with less packaging and buy in bulk. Remember to bring your own shopping back with you.
   

More Get Rid Of It Tips

• Backyard composting is an easy way to turn much of the waste from your yard and kitchen into a rich organic material that you can use to improve your soil.  Learn more about composting in your backyard.

Additional Resources

• Composting at Home (Hennepin County)
• Hennepin County Organics Recycling Program

Accepted At These Hennepin County Facilities. Proof of residency required (MN drivers license or current utility bill).

• Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility

Item Accepted As: Organics Recycling

No Fee

Item Limit: No more than five bags per person per day.

Organics - including food waste, non-recyclable paper and compostable plastic - are accepted for recycling at the Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility. Organics can be dropped off Tuesday through Friday.

Before dropping off organics, please review the guidelines for organics recycling.

Guidelines for organics recycling at the Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility

• Accepted only from Hennepin County residents and small businesses.
• Must be generated in Hennepin County.
• Must be separated from trash and recyclables.
• No more than five bags per person per day accepted.
  Events using Hennepin County's Portable Recycling Unit Loan Program can arrange to drop off more than five bags per day.
• Must be in closed, BPI-certified compostable plastic bags. Look for the BPI Compostable logo.

Hours for organics drop-off

• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

NO ORGANICS ACCEPTED ON SATURDAY.

The facility is closed Sunday, Monday and holidays.

Organics accepted

All food scraps - including meat & bones

Food-soiled & non-recyclable paper products:

• Paper napkins, towels, tissues
• Paper plates, cups, food containers
• Paper bags & waxed paper (fast food wrappers, parchment paper, etc.)
• Paper milk & juice cartons (remove plastic spouts — NO juice boxes or pouches)
• Pizza boxes and boxes from refrigerated & frozen food & beverages
• Coffee filters (and grounds), tea bags

BPI-certified compostable plastic utensils, cups & containers

Other compostable items

• Paper vacuum bags, dryer lint, human & pet hair
• Wooden toothpicks, ice cream & corn dog sticks, chop sticks
• Cotton balls
• House plants

Items not accepted as organics

Yard waste — leaves, branches, sticks

Non-compostable plastic:

• Baggies, bags, wrapping film*
• Food containers
• Utensils, cups, bottles, plates, bowls
• Styrofoam trays, food containers, cups, bowls, plates
• Condiment packets, chip bags, candy wrappers

Recycle these items*:

• Glass
• Metal
• Recyclable paper - Newsprint, mail, office and school papers, cardboard, boxboard

* Accepted for recycling at Hennepin County drop-off facilities.

Related items

Also see: Compost, Yard Waste.