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Organics Recycling
Nearly a third of our waste consists of organic materials, such as food scraps and food-soiled paper. Through organics recycling programs, this waste is diverted from landfills and transformed into nutrient-rich compost at specialized facilities. The resulting compost is then used in landscaping, road construction, and other projects.
Curbside Organics Recycling
Hennepin County ordinance 13 requires cities to provide the opportunity for single-family to fourplex residential households to participate in curbside collection of organic material. View the Frequently Asked Questions PDF about Golden Valley's organics recycling program.
Organics recycling is available to all Golden Valley residents in single-family through fourplex households, with pickups every Friday through a contract with Republic Services.
Set out your carts before 6:30 am on collection day, and make sure there is at least 3 feet of space between the cart and the nearest obstacle or other carts. To report a missed pick-up, call Republic Services (763-972-3335).
Residents are charged on their quarterly utility bill for organics recycling and for traditional recycling services. The traditional curbside recycling fees include annual waste and recycling programs such as Mighty Tidy Day, Spring Brush Pick-Up, and Fall Leaf Drop-Off. Residents are not able to opt-out of quarterly recycling fees. See Utility Billing for more information.
- Request an organics recycling cart from Republic Services if you do not already have one (call 763-972-3335 or email gvorganics@republicservices.com).
- Use a small container to collect food scraps in your kitchen and BPI-certified compostable bags if you prefer to line your container). Focus on collecting food scraps since they are the most common material.
- Learn about proper waste sorting to prevent contamination, and educate your friends, family, and housemates.
- Find information on Golden Valley's organics recycling website and sign up for email updates.
You do not need to place organic material in a bag before putting it in the organics cart. However, if you choose to use bags, make sure they have the certified BPI compostable logo (see image for example). These bags can be found at most grocery and convenience stores. Plastic bags should never be used for organics recycling since they do not break down.
Where Collected Organics Goes
Organics collected by Republic Services are taken to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) commercial composting facility, where they are processed into usable compost, a valuable soil amendment material.
Free compost is available to Golden Valley residents for pickup in the spring. Subscribe to the recycling email updates to be notified when compost becomes available.
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, fish, and bones
Dairy products
Eggs and eggshells,
Pasta, beans, and rice
Bread and cereal
Nuts and shells
Coffee grounds and filters
BPI-certified compostable cups, plates, bowls, utensils, and containers (look for logo shown above)
Cardboard pizza boxes from delivery
Napkins and paper towels
Paper egg cartons
Hair and nail clippings
Cotton balls
Houseplants and flowers
Wooden items such as chopsticks, popsicle sticks and toothpicks
Paper bags
Glass
Plastic bags
Metal
Pet waste
Yard waste
Aluminum foil
“Biodegradable” labeled items
Candles
Cigarettes and cigars
Charcoal
Cleaning products and items soaked with chemicals
Dead animals
Dental floss
Dirt or soil
Dryer lint
Gum
Hygiene products
Packing peanuts
Q-tips or cotton swabs with plastic stems
Wax (candles, paper, etc)
Drop-Off Locations
Organics are accepted for free Tuesday through Saturday at Hennepin County drop-off facilities during normal facility hours (limit of five bags per person per day). Organics must be brought in BPI-certified compostable plastic bags.
Backyard Composting
Composting converts organic matter, such as food waste, leaves, and grass clippings, to more usable soil or mulch. Compost is nutrient-rich, helps hold moisture in light, sandy soil, and improves drainage in heavy soil. Learn more about Golden Valley's yard composting requirements.
If your multifamily building does not have an organics recycling program, the City has a new organics recycling drop-off site available at:
- Fire Station #2 (400 Turners Crossroad S)
The organics bin is located on the northeast side of the Fire Station. Please park in the parking lot on the west side of the site. Do not block the garage doors.
Residents in apartments, condos, or other multi-unit buildings without existing organics recycling service are encouraged to utilize Golden Valley's organics recycling drop-off site at Fire Station #2. If you are interested, sign up using this form to receive more information.
Free materials are available to pick up at the Community Development Department of City Hall (7800 Golden Valley Rd) to help you start collecting organics recycling. The City has 2-gallon buckets for collecting food scraps, BPI-certified compostable bags, and organics recycling guides, magnets, and labels available for residents.
Organics are accepted for free Tuesday through Saturday at Hennepin County drop-off facilities during normal facility hours (limit of five bags per person per day). Organics must be brought in BPI-certified compostable plastic bags.