Accepted organics

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

Learn more about organics recycling

Learn more about organics recycling at an upcoming educational session. Sessions are open to anyone who wants to learn about organics recycling.

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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-soiled paper

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

 

  • Pizza boxes from delivery
  • Napkins and paper towels 
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Certified compostable products*
    • Plates
    • Cups
    • Bowls
    • Takeout containers
    • Utensils 

*Look for the BPI logo on certified products. Only items with this logo are accepted. The BPI logo means the item was tested and will fully and safely break down without leaving unnatural byproducts like microplastics.

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

BPI Product Catalog

 

Other compostable household items

compotable silverware, coffee grounds and filter, tea bag, and houseplant leaves
  • Coffee grounds and filters 
  • Hair and nail clippings
  • Tissues
  • Cotton balls and swabs with paper stems
  • Houseplant trimmings and flowers
  • Wooden items such as chopsticks, popsicle sticks and toothpicks

Items you cannot compost

Do not put these items in your organics cart

  • Yard waste 
  • Bandages
  • Diapers and sanitary products 
  • Animal and pet waste, litter or bedding 
  • Cleaning or baby wipes 
  • Grease or oil 
  • StyrofoamTM 
  • Dryer lint and dryer sheets 
  • Recyclable items (cartons, glass, metal, paper, plastic) 
  • Shredded paper
  • Frozen food boxes 
  • Microwave popcorn bags 
  • Gum 
  • Fast food wrappers 
  • Products labeled “biodegradable” 
  • Wax paper or parchment paper (unless it’s BPI certified)

Learn about more items

Print a copy of the Organics Recycling guide to look at when you have questions on what can go in your green organics recycling cart.

Organics Recycling – My Reason

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

Watch video in more languages:

More information

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

Public Works

Facebook

Phone

612-673-2917

Address

Eastside Maintenance Facility

2635 University Ave NE

Minneapolis, MN 55418

Office hours

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday

This building is closed to the public.

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