Organics Recycling

About 30 percent of what we throw away is organic material, food scraps and food-soiled paper products. Through organics recycling programs, waste is recycled into valuable compost at a commercial composting facility to be used in landscaping and road construction projects. Organics recycling includes collecting fruits, vegetables, bones, meat, breads, eggshells, non-recyclable and food-soiled paper and more, for composting.

COMING SOON: Curbside Organics RecyclingA blue Republic organics recycling cart with an orange lid that says Food Waste

Beginning in 2022, all Hopkins residential recycling customers will be eligible to participate in the City’s new curbside organics recycling program.

The program stems from a Hennepin County requirement for all cities to make organics recycling services available to households with curbside recycling by January 1, 2022.

How to Participate

Residents can sign-up for Curbside Organics Recycling at any time. Service will begin in January 2022.

Fee

Starting in January 2022, residents who have recycling provided by Republic via the City contract will see an additional $5.50 on their utility bills, regardless of whether or not they choose to participate in the curbside organics recycling program.

Do's and Don'ts of Organics Recycling Class

Thursday, December 9
4 to 5 p.m.
Hopkins Activity Center

During this training, residents will be able to ask questions, and learn how to  divert organics from the waste stream, creating “black gold." Residents who attend the class and register for the curbside program will receive a two gallon countertop organics container (while supplies last). 

Register for the Do's and Don'ts of Organics Recycling

Organics Recycling Drop-Off

Hopkins residents may bring their household organics to the 24/7 Minnetonka-Hopkins Recycling Center, located at 11522 Minnetonka Boulevard.

Photo of Republic Services Organics Recycling Dumpster

Preparing Organics for Recycling

All material MUST be bagged - no loose material - in either a BPI certified compostable bag or paper bag.  BPI certified compostable bags will have one of these symbols on their packaging.

BPI certified Symbol

Accepted and Unaccepted Organics Items

Learn what items are accepted and what items are not:

Where the Collected Organics Go

Organics collected are taken to either the Specialized Environmental Technologies commercial composting site in Rosemount or the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community commercial composting facility.  

Watch this video to see what happens after you drop your collection off and how it becomes valuable compost.