County Ordinance 110 Solid Waste Management includes recycling and waste management requirements. The requirements are designed to reduce waste going to landfills, improve the quality of materials recycled, and make progress toward the state's goal to recycle 75 percent of waste by 2030.
Requirements include the adoption of a standardized,
Designated List of Recyclables that everyone must recycle — residents, businesses, schools and government. In addition, certain schools that generate organics (food scraps) must collect a
Designated List of Organics for proper management (e.g., commercial composting). Standardizing the basic items that we recycle and collect for organics — no matter where you live in Dakota County or the hauler you have — benefits everyone.
Who is responsible?
All public and non-public schools are responsible for complying with the following requirements.
Recycling requirements
School Compliance Brochure
Have recycling service
Contract with a trash hauler for recycling collection services, or self-haul recyclables to a recycling facility. Work with your hauler to increase service levels if hauler-provided carts or dumpsters are overflowing.
Recycle designated materials
Provide recycling containers in buildings and on grounds to collect the county's
Designated List of Recyclables from employees, students and visitors. Keep items on the
Designated List of Contaminants out of the recycling containers.
Pair recycling with trash containers
Wherever there is a trash container, there must be a recycling container within 10 feet. Recycling containers in buildings and on grounds must be large enough to collect all recyclables so they do not overflow or result in recyclables being placed on the ground or in the trash.
Label containers
Label each indoor and outdoor recycling and trash container with standardized labels according to County Labeling Requirements. Replace labels if they are damaged, unreadable, or if text or images conflict with county label requirements.
Waste haulers are responsible for labeling all carts and dumpsters they provide.
Provide recycling education
Provide standardized recycling education at least once per year to each student, employee, food service staff, housekeeping and custodial staff and any other contractors or volunteer that is responsible for sorting, collecting or managing recycling. Education must also occur within 30 days of a new hire or new student, and within 30 days of a major change to the recycling or waste program.
Standardized education must follow
County Education Requirements and be in print or electronic format. Schools must document and keep records of education activities.
Submit annual report
Report recycling program effectiveness, including education activities, to Dakota County each year.
The county will notify schools when the reporting requirement goes into effect and provide a report form.
Requirements for most schools to collect organics (food scraps)
Most schools are required to collect organics from back-of-house areas. Back-of-house collection includes food scraps from kitchen prep areas, dishwashing and storage areas, but not food that has been served to students or the public.
This requirement applies to schools that:
- Have on-site dining services, and
- Contract to collect at least eight cubic yards (one ton) of trash per week, and
- Generate food scraps in back-of-house operations (e.g., food waste from kitchen prep area, dishwashing and storage areas but not food that has been served to the public).
Organics collection requirements
Have food scraps collection service
Contract with a waste hauler or permitted livestock animal feeder or manufacturer for organics collection services. Work with your service provider to increase service levels if organics carts or dumpster are overflowing.
Collect food scraps from back-of-house, nonpublic areas
Provide organics containers in back-of-house areas that are large enough to collect all food scraps without overflowing or resulting in food scraps being placed in recycling or trash containers. Only incidental amounts of food scraps may be disposed of in a garbage disposal.
Keep items on the
Designated List of Contaminants out of organics containers.
Label containers
Label organics containers with standardized labels according to County Labeling Requirements. Replace labels if they are damaged, unreadable or if text or images conflict with county label requirements.
Organics service providers are responsible for labeling all carts and dumpsters they provide.
Provide organics education
Provide standardized education at least once a year to each employee, student, food service staff, custodial and housekeeping staff, and any other contractor or volunteer that is responsible for sorting, collecting or managing organics. Education must also occur within 30 days of a new hire or new student, and within 30 days of a substantial change to the organics collection program.
Standardized education must follow County Education Requirements and be in print or electronic format. Schools must document and keep records of education activities.
Submit annual report
Report organics program effectiveness, including education activities, to Dakota County each year. The county will notify schools when the reporting requirement goes into effect and provide a report form.
Resources
Go to the Funding & Assistance page for support.