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1. How will Household Organics Collection work?

Households will be invited to collect their organics in a bin of their choice at home and then bring to a community drop site for pick-up. 

How to get started:

1. Place a container of your choice in a convenient place for collecting organics recyclables. Line your container with a paper bag or a BPI certified compostable bag.
2. Collect organics recyclables. (What is Organics Recyclable?)
3. Tie the bag shut and bring it to a Stevens County Organics Drop Site.
4. Tell your neighbors!

The Stevens County Organics Recycling Program invites you to pick up a free Organics Recycling Starter Kit from the Stevens County Courthouse and learn how you can recycle organics at home! Starter kits include a 3-gallon bucket, compostable bags, information on what is organics recyclable, and stickers to label your household waste bins! Starter kits are available in English and Spanish.

To learn more about the Household Organics program, visit: www.co.stevens.mn.us/1143/Household-Users

2. What is organics recyclable?

Any/all food scraps, paper towels, BPI certified plastics, non-recyclable soiled paper, etc. 

For information on what is/isn’t organics recyclable visit: "What is Organics Recyclable" on the Stevens County Organics site or the Waste Warrior Guide on the bottom of the PDSWM homepage. 

If you have a specific question on what is/isn’t organics recyclable, email Sydney and she can find the answer and put your item up on the county website!

3. Will aged compost be available for local gardeners?

Yes! 

After the material has completely composted and matured it will be available for local use. Community groups will be able to host Plate To Garden (MN Composting Council) events with the compost as fundraisers. 

Other information regarding the use of finished compost will be available once the Glacial Ridge Compost Facility is up and running.

4. Will pests be a problem at community drop sites?

No. 

As we have seen at the drop sites in Pope & Douglas counties, pests are not a problem. These drop sites are kept clean by their host sites and organics are collected on a weekly basis to ensure this does not become an issue. As with most garbage, flies may show up, but not in ways that render the drop-site unusable or unsightly.

5. What other communities are already doing organics recycling?

Many communities across MN have established organics programs and compost facilities. 

You can visit the MPCA Compost Facility Site Locator map: www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/compost-facility-site-locator, to view where in MN there are compost facilities. This map does not showcase the programs coordinated and run in these areas but gives a general idea of where organics recycling might be available, and who to contact to find out more.

6. How much will this program cost me?

Right now, nothing! 

The goal of the MPCA grant is to reduce the start up cost for households, businesses, and institutions as low as possible to allow us to set up an efficient, accessible program. As this is a community wide research project and we are learning as we go, it has not yet been determined what the cost might be for Organics when the grant funding is complete. In general, the Organics program is not going to drastically lower costs for garbage across Stevens County, but participating in the program allows the county to have control and choice in waste management. This is vitally important as we head into the future, as it is unlikely that garbage costs will be going down anytime soon. 

Overall: participating in the Organics program diversifies Stevens County’s waste management capacities, allowing us to be more resilient to increasing waste management issues and costs in the future. 

With more questions or ideas on Organics program costs, contact Sydney (sydneybauer@co.stevens.mn.us).