Accepted organics

Here's what you can and cannot put in your organics recycling (composting) bins.

Items you can compost

Food scraps

  • Fruits and vegetables 
  • Meat, fish and bones 
  • Dairy products 
  • Eggs and egg shells 
  • Pasta, beans and rice 
  • Bread and cereal 
  • Nuts and shells

Food service items

plain paper plates, paper towel, compostable paper cup, paper bag

 

  • Pizza boxes from delivery
  • Napkins and paper towels 
  • Wooden items (chopsticks, popsicle sticks and toothpicks) 
  • Certified compostable food service items*
    • Plates
    • Cups
    • Bowls
    • Takeout containers
    • Utensils 

*Look for the BPI logo on food service items. Only items with this logo are accepted. The BPI logo means the item was tested and can fully and safely break down without leaving unnatural byproducts.

BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) is a third-party certification company. You can verify that products are certified compostable by visiting BPI World and searching the Certified Compostable Products Catalog.

BPI World

 

Other compostable household items

compotable silverware, coffee grounds and filter, tea bag, and houseplant leaves
  • Coffee grounds and filters 
  • Tea bags (no synthetic tea bags, remove staples)
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Tissues
  • Hair and nail clippings 
  • Cotton balls and swabs with paper stems (no plastic)
  • Houseplant trimmings and flowers

Items you cannot compost

Do not put these items in your organics bins

  • Yard waste 
  • Diapers and sanitary products 
  • Animal and pet waste, litter or bedding 
  • Cleaning or baby wipes 
  • Grease or oil 
  • Plastic foam (commonly called Styrofoam)
  • Dryer lint and dryer sheets 
  • Recyclable items (cartons, glass, metal, paper, plastic) 
  • Frozen food boxes 
  • Microwave popcorn bags 
  • Gum 
  • Fast food wrappers 
  • Products labeled “biodegradable” — this is not the same as compostable
  • Paper with a shiny, smooth coating (unless it's BPI certified)
  • Wax paper or parchment paper (unless it’s BPI certified)

Learn about more items

This detailed “Yes and "No” list includes many more items that can and cannot be collected for organics recycling.
Go to the list

Organics Recycling – My Reason

Hear why other Minneapolis residents compost their organics, then join them in organics recycling.

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

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Phone

612-673-2917

Address

Eastside Maintenance Facility

2635 University Ave NE

Minneapolis, MN 55418

Office hours

8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday – Friday

This building is closed to the public.