Household Organics Recycling FAQs

Organic materials includes food scraps and compostable paper products, which can make up about 25 percent of our trash by weight! Participating in an organics recycling program keeps food scraps and other compostable materials out of the trash. Instead of going to the landfill or incinerator, this organic material can be used to replenish soil, reduce erosion, and prevent polluted storm water runoff from contaminating wetlands, lakes and streams. It can also help prevent climate change by capturing carbon dioxide and preventing greenhouse gas from being produced when food waste is landfilled.

Jordan residents may drop off their organic waste for free, after signing up to use the drop-off site at the Jordan Police Department (705 Syndicate Street). A dumpster labeled “Organics” is located onsite.  Please place organic waste in the dumpster in compostable bags or remove items from non-compostable container.

Line your kitchen collection container or small bucket (ice cream bucket) with a paper bag or compostable bag (no plastic bags). This will help keep your container clean. Collect food scraps and other compostable materials listed here. At any time, drop off your organic waste at the drop off site at the Jordan Police Department (705 Syndicate Street).

Per State law, residents in the Twin Cities area who bag their organic waste are required to put their waste in compostable bags–either paper bags or certified compostable bags. Plastic bags can be used when delivering organic waste to the drop-off site, however, material must be de-bagged into the dumpster. Plastic bags should be reused or disposed of through residential garbage service. Utilize paper grocery bags or bags labeled “BPI Certified Compostable”.

BPI certified compostable bags are available at many retailers. The Shakopee Target and Walmart carry compostable bags in stock. They are also available online at Ace Hardware or Amazon.

Organics won’t smell any more than your garbage smells. Remember that with organics recycling, you’re simply moving the organics materials from your garbage cart into your organics container.

Composting your organic material is nature’s way of recycling. Composting takes a perceived waste and turns it into something of value. Instead of going to the landfill or incinerator, organic material can be treated as a resource that replenishes soils, reduces erosion, prevents polluted storm water runoff from contaminating wetlands, lakes and streams and prevents climate change by capturing carbon dioxide and preventing methane (greenhouse gas) generated when food waste is landfilled.

What if I already utilize a backyard compost bin?
You can compost more materials with organics recycling than in your backyard compost bin because large-scale commercial composting facilities maintain higher temperatures than backyard compost bins. These temperatures are needed to kill bacteria and break down items that cannot be composted in a backyard compost bin. These items include meat, bones, dairy products, and compostable plastics.

Backyard composting is still a good option for recycling fruit and vegetable scraps and yard waste into a soil amendment that you can use at home.

Putting organic waste down the garbage disposal places extra processing burdens on wastewater treatment facilities. It takes energy and resources to process out solids, including food waste, at wastewater treatment plants. Organics recycling is a better option as finished compost puts valuable nutrients back into out soil.

It is composted at a commercial composting facility. Food scraps and other organic material are carefully managed so the compost piles get very hot. This means that compost can be made using items that can’t be easily composted in a back yard, such as bones, fish skins and dairy products. Organics become compost in just 180 days after they are sent to the facility.

Please note – don’t forget to continue to recycle as much paper, metal, plastic and glass as you can!