Citywide Organics Drop Off Container
Effective May 1, the City established a citywide organics container located at the northwest end of the City Hall parking lot. Residents will be able to drop off their organics recycling materials effective Monday, May 6, and can drop off organics recycling any day of the week. Instructions on protocols and procedures for drop-off will be emailed to residents after enrollment is processed. Residents may sign up for the organics recycling program by visiting the link below and filling out the enrollment form or by contacting City Hall staff using the contact information on the right-hand side of this page.
Sign Up for City of Corcoran Organics Recycling
At the April 11, 2024, Council meeting, a public hearing was held regarding organics recycling. Council reviewed the three options available and directed staff to amend Chapter 117 of City Code, and to establish a citywide organics recycling collection site in order to remain in compliance with the recent state and county requirements. With the amended Chapter 117 of City Code in place, all residents now have an option to recycle their organics at the citywide organics collection site at the north-end of the City Hall parking lot.
The amended City Code Chapter 117 offers a temporary exclusion from the citywide curbside organics requirement by providing a citywide organics recycling container, and removes the requirement for solid waste haulers to offer organics recycling.
Once Corcoran reaches a specific population threshold (currently 10,000), solid waste haulers must charge all customers (to comply with Minnesota State Statute § 115A.93 subd. 3(c) which states, “A licensing authority shall prohibit mixed municipal solid waste collectors from imposing a greater charge on residents who recycle than on residents who do not recycle”).
Additional Resources
About one-third of our trash is organic materials, including food, food-soiled paper, and certified compostable products, that could be composted. Organics recycling is the best opportunity to reduce our trash and put it to better use.
For a better understanding of how organics recycling works and to learn more about what items are accepted and not accepted, please click on the organics recycling guides below:
Hennepin County Organics Recycling Guide
Hennepin County Organics Recycling Basics
Hennepin County Detailed Organics Recycling List
Food
A note about food: If you’re unsure where to start with organics recycling, focus on collecting food. Spoiled food and food scraps are the most common material in the trash and the most nutrient-rich material in the composting process, making them the most important material to collect for organics recycling.
Accepted:
All food, including:
- Bread and cereal
- Cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products and non-dairy alternatives
- Dough, pastries, and pies
- Eggs and eggshells
- Fruits and vegetables including peels, pits, shells, and rinds (remove produce stickers)
- Leftovers
- Meat, fish, bones, and shellfish, including scales and shells
- Nuts and shells
- Pasta, grains, beans, and rice
- Pet food
Not accepted:
- Black Walnut shells (these shells contain a toxin called juglone that is deadly to many plants)
- Chewing gum
- Grease, oil, or other liquids (small amounts are okay)
Paper products and packaging
Accepted:
- BPI certified compostable products including cups, plates, bowls, containers, parchment, and wax paper (must have the BPI logo or say BPI certified on the product or its container)
- Food-soiled pizza boxes from delivery (clean, empty, and grease-free pizza boxes may be accepted for recycling by your program)
- Napkins and food-soiled paper towels
- Paper bags soiled with food or grease (if they are not soiled, put them in the recycling)
- Paper egg cartons (remove sticker labels)
- Paper towel and toilet paper rolls (while these are accepted for organics recycling, putting them in the recycling is preferred)
Not accepted:
- Asian takeout food pails (unless BPI certified)
- Butcher paper, parchment paper, wax paper, and muffin cups (unless BPI certified)
- Cartons, including milk cartons, juice boxes, and soup, broth, and wine cartons (these are accepted for recycling)
- Coated paper, such as the backing for stickers and labels and pull tabs from restaurants and bars
- Fast food wrappers, such as fry bags and burger or sandwich wrappers (unless BPI certified)
- Ice cream containers
- Microwave popcorn bags
- Paper printed with foil or other metallic elements, like glitter
- Paper products, including to-go coffee and drink cups, boats, bowls, and plates, without BPI certification
- Paper products, like paper towels and napkins, used with chemical-based cleaners
- Products labeled “biodegradable” or PLA (polylactic acid) that are not BPI certified
- Refrigerated and frozen food boxes
- Receipts
- Shredded paper
- Waxed cardboard produce boxes
- Wrapping paper, gift wrap, packing paper, and tissue paper
Other household items
Accepted:
- BPI certified compostable products including cups, plates, bowls, containers, utensils, straws, bags, bamboo products, bagasse products, and single-use coffee pods (must have the BPI logo or say BPI certified on the product or its container)
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Cotton swabs with paper stems
- Houseplants and flowers
- Paper tea bags (remove staples)
- Tea leaves
- Wooden items such as wood chopsticks, popsicle sticks, and toothpicks
Not accepted:
- Animal waste or litter
- Ash from fireplaces, barbecues, or fire pits
- Charcoal
- Cigarettes
- Cleaning and personal care wipes
- Cotton balls and swabs used with products like acetone, make-up, and paint
- Dental floss
- Diapers
- Dryer lint and dryer sheets
- Floor sweepings
- Incontinence products
- Latex products, including gloves and balloons
- Lumber and sawdust
- Medicines
- Menstrual products
- Plastic bags or containers that are not BPI certified
- Plastic, metal mesh, and synthetic tea bags
- Recyclable materials (glass bottles and jars; paper and cardboard; plastic bottles, jugs, cups, and containers; cartons; metal cans)
- Rocks, soil, and dirt
- Rubber and rubber bands
- Tape of any kind
- Vacuum cleaner bags and contents
- Wax and waxed products including wax paper (unless BPI certified), candle wax, car wax, and waxed bones
- Yard waste