Drop off organics at multiple locations as a free and easy way to reduce your trash.
Locations
Locations are open daily from 5 a.m.-10 p.m., unless noted below.
- Burnsville – Civic Center Park, 300 Civic Center Parkway
- Eagan – Holland Lake Trailhead, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 1100 Cliff Road
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Hastings Transportation Shop, 900 County Road 47
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Lakeville Water Treatment Facility, 18400 Ipava Ave.
- Mendota Heights – Mendakota Park, 2171 Dodd Road
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Rosemount – The Mulch Store, 16454 Blaine Ave. E (Empire Township), Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Saturday hours vary seasonally. Check The Mulch Store website or call 651-423-4401.
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West St. Paul – Dakota Lodge, Thompson County Park, 1200 Stassen Road
- Opening Sept. 10: Farmington Central Maintenance Facility, 19650 Municipal Drive
Sign up
Sign up online, call 952-891-7557 or email
organics@co.dakota.mn.us.
You’ll receive a welcome kit with a free container label, compostable bags and details on how to drop-off your organics. You’ll also receive the access code to enter the locked drop-off locations at Holland Lake Trailhead and the Hastings Transportation Shop.
Sign up online
Learn more
Watch the short overview of the program and get answers to common questions.
Start collecting
You can use any container to collect organics in your house.
- Reuse a container like an ice cream bucket, coffee container or yogurt tub
- Purchase a kitchen compost bucket at local stores or online
Line your container with a paper bag or certified compostable bag, just make sure it has the
BPI logo — they’re available for free at the drop sites.
Take your bagged organics to a drop-off site. Use your access code to enter the enclosure and place your bag in the dumpster. Take a free BPI-certified compostable bag and start collecting again.
Accepted
Food scraps
- Bakery and dry goods
- Coffee grounds
- Dairy products
- Eggs and eggshells
- Meat, fish and bones
- Fruits and vegetables
Indoor plant trimmings
Non-recyclable paper
- Paper towels and napkins
- Toilet paper and paper towel rolls
- Paper egg cartons (no need to bag)
- Tissues
- Dirty paper bags
Not accepted
- Yard waste
- Plastic bags
- Shredded paper
- Recyclable glass, plastic, metal and clean paper
- Milk and juice cartons
- Diapers and sanitary products
- Pet waste, litter and bedding
- Dryer sheets and lint
- Fast food wrappers
- Cleaning and baby wipes
- Frozen or refrigerated food boxes
- Cigarettes
- Microwave popcorn bags
- Stickers on produce
- Grease and oil
- Styrofoam
- Non-certified compostable bags
- Utensils, plates, bowls, cups bags not BPI certified compostable
- Items labeled biodegradable
- K-cups not certified compostable
A local compost facility turns the collected organics into compost, a nutrient-rich soil additive. Because it is delivered to a commercial facility, meat, dairy and plant seeds are accepted.
Buying compostable products
Disposable foodservice ware is often used at parties and celebrations. Opt for BPI-certified compostable bowls, cups, utensils and plates and drop them off with your food scraps.
Always look for the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) logo on each product or on the box they came in. These are the only products that have been tested to break down at a commercial compost site. Don’t be fooled by products marketed as “degradable”, “biodegradable,” or “made from plants."