Food Scraps

Step one 

Pick up a free starter kit
Free food scraps collection (organics recycling) starter kits and compostable bags are available at any Ramsey County Yard Waste collection site. 

Step two 

Line your kitchen caddy 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 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.

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. 

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.

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

• All food waste, including bones, coffee grounds and filters, dairy, egg shells, fish, fruits and fruit peels,  grains, meats, poultry, vegetables, etc.
• Paper you can’t recycle curbside, including greasy delivery pizza boxes, paper towels, paper cups and plates (unlined/uncoated), tissues, paper egg cartons, dirty paper bags, etc.
• Animal/pet food (no plastic bags).
• Bird feed/seed (no plastic bags).
• Compostable cups, plates, utensils, bags etc. Check that it has the “Compostable” logo from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI).
• Cotton balls, cotton swabs (made of paper material).
• Hair and fur.

Items NOT accepted

• Animal feces.
• Ashes.
• Dead animals.
• Diapers (including biodegradable ones).
• Freezer boxes.
• Glass.
• Kitty litter.
• Lint.
• Liquids.
• Metals.
• Paper cups, and plates - lined/coated.
• Paper yard waste bags (reuse if possible).
• Plastics.
• Pop and beer boxes.
• Refrigerated boxes.
• Rubber.
• Styrofoam.
• Vacuum bags.
• Wood.
• Wrapping paper.

A detailed “yes and no” list has even more examples of what can and can’t go into organics recycling collection.

Home composting is an easy way to turn 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. Visit SaveTheFood.com.

Learn more about food saving tips in 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