Anoka County Organics Drop-off Program

Recycle food scraps, paper products, coffee grounds and more at Anoka County yard waste sites for FREE. When you participate in the organics recycling program, your food scraps and non-recyclable paper products will be recycled into compost at a commercial compost facility. Compost is a valuable resource that improves soil, reduces erosion and decreases the need for fertilizers. Available to Anoka County residents only.

Moving food scraps from cutting board to container

How do I sign up?

In Anoka County there are several options, the Anoka County Organics Recycling Program or City and Township Organics Recycling Programs.

To get started with the County Drop-off Program...

  • Please sign up using our online form. (Contact information is gathered so that we can notify you of updates or changes to the organics drop-off program.)
  • Pick up a free starter kit at the compost sites during hours of operation.
  • Collect organic waste in a compostable bag and tie off the bag.
  • Come to the compost site and place organics in the container designated for organics recycling.
  • Grab more BPI certified bags from the dispensers on your way out.
  1. Not Accepted
  2. Accepted
  • Plastic or plastic lined paper products – Styrofoam™, plastic bags, cartons, straws, butter packaging, hot and cold to-go cups, condiment packets, refrigerator or freezer boxes and k-cups
  • Non certified compostable products – products labeled biodegradable, wax paper and parchment paper (some paper may look like only paper, but they can often be coated with plastic film)
  • General recyclables – clean, uncoated paper; plastic, glass and metal food and beverage containers and cartons
  • Foil lined products – chip bags, juice boxes and candy wrappers
  • Products containing chemicals or synthetic fibers – dryer sheets, dryer lint, cleaning wipes and rags or cotton balls soaked in hazardous, corrosive or poisonous chemicals such as nail polish remover
  • Pet or human waste products – pet waste, animal bedding, diapers, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products
Organics image for web

FAQs

How is this program different?

This program is separate from the regular yard waste program for leaves, grass clippings and brush. Please do not mix yard waste with your food waste. This program accepts more items than could be composted in a backyard compost bin, such as citrus, meat, dairy and bones. Commercial or industrial composting facilities reach high temperatures to break down these materials and kill pathogens.

What are organics?

Organics are the portion of trash can be composted. This includes:

  • all food scraps such as leftovers, peelings and spoiled food
  • dirty non-recyclable papers such as pizza boxes, paper towels, napkins, and egg cartons
  • certified compostable products such as compostable food ware and bags labeled with a Cedar Grove Composting of a Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) logo

Why compost organics?

Organics make up 25% - 35% of what we throw away. Those materials can be separated from your garbage and regular recycling to be made into compost instead of being thrown away. Compost is a soil amendment that benefits all soil types and greatly improves moisture retention, soil structure and binds nutrients in the root zone for healthier plants.

It is used in landscaping and road construction projects for soil remediation, erosion control and seeding.