Food Scraps

Step one 

Find a container to collect food scraps. Free compostable bags are available at any Ramsey County Yard Waste collection site, or any 24/7 food scraps drop-off site.

Step two 

Line a container that won't leak with a compostable bag and fill with food scraps and other accepted items.

Ramsey County offers free compostable bags at all collection sites.

If using a compostable bag not provided by the county, check that it has the “compostable” logo from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) on the bag or the box. Compostable bags can be found at local retailers or online. Do not use regular plastic bags. They will not compost.

Step three

Bring your bagged food scraps (organics recycling) to one of the collection sites listed above.

Once the compostable bag(s) is full of food scraps (organics recycling), place it in the organics recycling dumpster at one of the Ramsey County collection sites. 

Social distancing is recommended.

Step Four

Pick up a new compostable bag and continue collecting food scraps. Minimize odor and pests by dropping off your food scraps at a collection site at least once per week. You can also keep your compostable bag with food scraps in the freezer until you are ready to drop it off.

See what happens to your food scraps

Watch this video to learn what happens to your food scraps after they're collected.

• Watch the video with described audio.
• Watch the video with subtitles in Spanish.
• Watch this video with subtitles in Hmong.
• Watch this video  with subtitles in Somali.
• Watch this video with subtitles in Karen. 

This program is open to Ramsey and Washington County households only. No businesses or institutions.

Collect all wasted food, including:

• Bones.
• Candy.
• Coffee grounds and paper filters.
• Corn cobs.
• Dairy products.
• Egg shells.
• Fish and shellfish.
• Fruits and fruit peels.
• Grains.
• Grease.
• Herbs and spices.
• Hot and cold cereals.
• Meat and seafood.
• Moldy or expired food.
• Nut shells.
• Pastries and pies.
• Popcorn kernels.
• Soup.
• Sauces.
• Vegetables.

Collect certified compostable items:

• Certified compostable cups, plates, utensils, bags, etc.
• Check that it has the “Compostable” logo from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI).

Collect non-recyclable paper:

• Paper towels, tissues, pizza boxes, napkins, food-stained paper bags and paper egg cartons (remove any sticker labels).

Please only place items from this accepted items list into your food scraps collection. This will produce a high-quality compost and help keep our food scraps collection programs running. For questions, contact [email protected]

Items NOT accepted

• Diapers and personal hygiene products.
• Dog, cat or animal waste of any kind.
• Grass, leaves or yard waste of any kind.
• Glass.
• Metal.
• Non-compostable items.
• Paper products (like paper plates, bowls, cups, and to-go containers) without the BPI logo.
• Plastic and other synthetic materials (like latex, rubber, polyester and nylon).
• Plastic bags.
• ​Shredded paper.
• Trash.
• Wood.

Home composting is an easy way to turn food scraps and other organic waste into rich soil. 

Learn more about backyard composting.

Forty percent of all food in America is wasted. Get tips on how to buy the right amount of food and make it last longer. And check out the fact sheets below. 

• Food saving tips - English (PDF)
• Food saving tips - Spanish (PDF)
• Food saving tips - Somali (PDF)

Finished compost made from food scraps is available for purchase at SET and SMSC commercial compost sites. It can be used in home gardening and landscaping projects.

• Benefits of compost
• How to use compost

Have a question you don't see here? Email [email protected].

Who can use this program?

• Ramsey County residents. No businesses, nonprofits or institutions.
• Washington County residents can use all 24/7 drop-off sites and the following yard waste sites: Arden Hills, Battle Creek, Frank & Sims and White Bear Township.

What can I put in food scraps?

All wasted food, including:

• Breads, pasta and other grains.
• Coffee grounds and filters.
• Dairy products.
• Eggs and eggshells.
• Fruit and vegetable scraps.
• Meat, seafood and bones.

Certified compostable items:

• Must be labeled with a “Compostable” logo from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or Compost Manufacturing Alliance.
• Examples include certified compostable cups, plates, utensils, bags, etc.

Non-recyclable paper, including:

• Paper towels, tissues, pizza boxes, napkins, food-stained paper bags and paper egg cartons (remove any sticker labels).

Can I mix yard waste and food scraps?

No, yard waste and food scraps are managed separately. Bring yard waste to a Ramsey County yard waste site for free.

What if I’m not sure if something is accepted in food scraps?

• Email [email protected] or call 651-633-EASY (3279), answered 24/7.
• When in doubt, throw it out. It’s better to avoid contaminating the food scraps.

How can I minimize odors?

Keep in mind this is the same material that used to be in your trash. A good general rule is to minimize odors from food scraps in the same way you minimize odors from trash.

• Keep a lid on your food scraps container when not in use.
• Change the bag frequently.
• Rinse out your food scraps container periodically. Use a mild soap and scrub brush if needed.
• Drop off full bags once a week (especially during the warmer months).
• Freeze full bags if you’re not dropping them off any time soon.

Dos and Don’ts

• Do collect food scraps in certified compostable bags (provided at drop-off sites for free). Close the bags when full.
• Do keep your food scraps container handy. Store it on the counter, under the sink or elsewhere and take it out when cooking.
• Do encourage others to collect food scraps. Let’s make this a normal part of managing waste in our homes.
• Don’t put loose food scraps in the dumpsters. They stick to the walls of the dumpsters.
• Don’t make a special trip just to drop off food scraps. Add it to other errands when you’re already out and about.
• Don’t be too hard on yourself. Start slowly and build over time.

What are some pro tips for success?

• Paper towels, tissues and napkins are accepted in food scraps AND they absorb potential liquid from other food scraps.
• Grease is accepted in food scraps. Pour it into a container (aluminum cans work well), refrigerate to solidify, then scoop out with a spoon into your food scraps container.
• You may notice your volume of trash decreases when collecting food scraps. Consider contacting your trash hauler for a smaller garbage cart at a lower cost.

What happens to food scraps?

Food scraps are taken to an industrial compost facility in Minnesota where they break down into finished compost. Finished compost is used in gardens, landscaping and construction projects.

Does this really make a difference?

YES. Twenty percent of our trash is wasted food. This “waste” has value, and when recycled into compost, it creates a beneficial soil amendment for agriculture and gardening. It helps soil hold more water and nutrients, supports more living organisms, helps control erosion and stormwater runoff, and much more.