MINNEAPOLIS — Organics recycling — or composting — isn't the norm just yet in Hennepin County, but environmental officials are hoping to change that by rolling out more organic waste recycling programs.
Here's a look at cities that had over 10% participation in 2023, with Minneapolis coming in the highest at 54%.
Cities in Hennepin County with more than 10,000 residents now offer their residents this program. The thought is, if you're paying for it, you may as well use it... but not everyone is on board.
"When we look at what's in the trash, whether it's residential or commercial, it's always about a third is food waste and compostable products, so it is really important for us as a county to reach our state goals and our zero waste goals," said Carolyn Collopy, an Environmentalist with the Waste Reduction Recycling Unit in Hennepin County.
"We have a state mandated goal by 2030 to hit a 75% recycling rate," Collopy said. "Last year, we hit a 43% rate so if we want to get to 75%, our biggest opportunity is that food waste and compostable material is a third of what's in the trash."
As the saying goes, "One person's trash is another person's treasure." In the case of organic recycling, it couldn't be more true.
"We take organic waste from surrounding areas so that would be food waste or food scraps, yard waste and wood waste and turn it into a quality compost product," said Dustin Montey, the director at SMSC Organics Recycling Facility and Dakota Prairie Composting where they process 70,000 tons of organic waste annually.
"It's not just throwing a banana peel away," Montey said. "We are restoring depleted dirt and turning it back into soils — full circle approach."
Despite the positive eco-friendly impacts, not all Hennepin County residents are on board with an added "organics fee" tacked on their bills.
"You don't realize how many people do it in their backyards," said Minnetonka Resident Michael Briles.
Briles has been composting in his own backyard for a year now and doesn't want to be charged for something he doesn't use.
"The way the law reads is that anyone that recycles should not be charged more to recycle than a person who doesn't I guess the way I understand it, but if I'm doing it in my backyard I shouldn't be penalized to do it as well," Briles said.
Collopy said that residents are paying anywhere between $3.50 all the way up to $10 a month but the program price varies from city to city.
"In Hennepin County in our cities of 10,000 or more, everyone regardless of whether they participate or not has to pay for the program," Collopy said.
She added for those, like Briles, who feel their organics fee is too high, they can call other garbage haulers who may offer a cheaper rate.
"It's a state statute," Collopy said. "It's not the counties that are requiring everyone to pay we are requiring that our cities offer the service but it's a state statute so that would require a change at the state level."
Briles has a Change.org petition with more than 1,100 signatures in hopes to get the law changed or drop the fee for those who recycle in their own backyard.
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