Recycling Organics

Since I became more diligent about my household recycling habits, the items that were still being tossed in the trash seemed extra important. Particularly when it came to food scraps. I'd long thought about starting a compost pile or a vermiculture. I couldn't get past my girly squeamishness to keep a box of worms and because I live in a townhome where the lawn service takes all my important "greens" and "browns" away from me, I didn't think I'd be able to make good compost.

That's why I'm so excited to see that Hennepin County is going to expand their Organic Recycling program to include parts of Minneapolis.

Residential organic recycling info

Organics Composting for Businesses in Hennepin County

Recycling Plastic

Most curbside recycling programs in the metro will only take plastic bottles marked with resin code 1 or 2 and "have a neck." I've found this to be a relatively small amount of my recycling. For better or for worse, I go through a lot more sour cream than I do bottled water.

Here are some resources for recycling other types of plastic not usually picked up by curbside recycling:

Plastic Nursery Pots can be dropped off at these local garden centers between April 15th & November 1st.

Plastic Bag collections at local grocery stores sponsored by Minnesota Waste Wise.

Plastics #1 - #6 at the Coon Rapids Recycling Center. You have to sort them yourself, but it's most likely the only place in town to recycle all those plastics not picked up curbside.

NEW: Eastside Co-op is now a pilot program for a city of Minneapolis expanded plastic recycling.