About one-third of our trash is made up of organic materials, such as food scraps, food-soiled paper and certified compostable products. Composting these materials is a great way to reduce waste and create compost – a beneficial soil amendment in demand by landscapers and road construction crews. In spring of 2025, New Hope’s curbside recycling program through Hennepin Recycling Group (HRG) expanded to include weekly organics recycling collection materials using a separate cart.
When the HRG program rolled out, garbage haulers discontinued organics recycling collection services and removed related charges from their monthly bills. This change aims to provide consistent service, lower costs and reduce heavy truck traffic from garbage trucks. Organics recycling materials will be collected weekly on the same day as regular trash.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
To participate in curbside organics recycling, residents must register online at hrg-recycling.com/organics. A cart will be delivered approximately two weeks after signing up.
ORGANICS RECYCLING CHARGES REQUIREMENT
Residents will notice a fee of $2.90 per month added to their City utility bill for organics recycling. If enrollment in the program reaches more than 11%, the citywide rate will increase to $3.75 per month. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently clarified Minnesota State Statute 115A.93, which prohibits waste haulers from imposing a greater charge on residents who recycle organic materials than those who do not.
Therefore, waste haulers must charge all residential customers a fee for curbside organics recycling collection regardless of participation status.
Residents may choose not to register for a cart but cannot opt out of the organics recycling charge.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions, please contact HRG at 763.493.8006 or [email protected].
ALTERNATE ORGANICS RECYCLING OPTIONS
Crystal Cove Organics Drop-Off
Drop-off organics recycling is available at the Crystal Cove Aquatics Center, 4848 Douglas Drive in Crystal. The drop-off is located in the northeast corner of the parking lot. There’s a brown organics recycling sign on the gate.
Access to the drop-off is restricted to registered users. Residents may register by visiting the organics recycling page at hrg-recycling.com. Once registered, residents will receive an email containing details on accessing the drop-off location.
Organics must be in BPI-certified compostable bags or paper shopping bags. A list of accepted items is available in the Hennepin Recycling Group (HRG) Organics Recycling Guide or on the HRG website at hrg-recycling.com.
Hennepin County Drop-Off Facility
Hennepin County offers organics recycling drop-off at the Brooklyn Park and Bloomington Hennepin County Drop-Off Facilities. Organics are accepted for free Tuesday through Saturday during regular facility hours. There is a limit of five bags per person per day.
Learn more on Hennepin County’s website.
Backyard Composting
Backyard composting is a great way to recycle organic material and have easy access to nutrient-rich compost.
Backyard Composting Requirements
- Compost sites may not be closer than five feet from any rear or side property line and cannot be located in a front yard or a side yard abutting a public right-of-way, may not be located in any drainage easement and cannot be closer than 25 feet from any residence.
- Compost sides cannot exceed 25 square feet in area or four feet in height.
- Only one compost site per property.
- Compost sites must be totally contained within a structure made of permanent, non-degrading material that allows air circulation and is visually complementary to the lot’s principal structure.
- Compost cannot be treated with any herbicides or pesticides
What can be composted? Food scraps, garden wastes, weeds, lawn cuttings, leaves and prunings.
What cannot be composted? Meat, fats, oils, grease, bones, whole eggs, milk or other dairy products, human or pet waste, pesticides, herbicides, noxious weeds, diseased plant material and any other mixed municipal solid waste.