New Compostable Bags Requirements

Posted November 4th, 2009 by Rethink Recycling

It's time to prepare for another Minnesota winter. Now is the time to start moving or covering plants, to mow the lawn that last time, and prepare for cold temperatures and snow cover.

If your end-of-fall routine has you buying more traditional black plastic bags for your yard waste-take note! Beginning January 1, 2010, residents in the Twin Cities area who bag their yard and organic waste will be required to put their waste out for pickup in compostable bags - either paper bags or compostable plastic bags. This will affect residents in the following counties: Anoka, Carver, Hennepin (excluding the City of Minneapolis), Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Yard waste carts and paper bags have been around for years, and the technology of compostable plastic bags isn't new -- just this rule is (except for Dakota County, which has been requiring compostable bags for years). Using paper and compostable plastic bags rather than traditional black plastic bags will greatly reduce the amount of plastic being sent to local composting facilities. Because local composters will have less plastic to screen out of their finished compost, processing costs will be reduced and the quality of the finished compost will be enhanced.

Compostable plastic bags are distinct from regular plastic bags because they are usually clear or a green-tinted translucent color. Most home improvement, grocery, and hardware stores now carry them. If you don't see them at your local store, ask an employee; many store owners are just learning of this requirement also and may appreciate the customer request.

So, if you need new bags for your yard work this fall, why not get a head start and buy the compostable ones. Once January 1, 2010 passes your yard waste pick-up service will no longer take the non-compostable plastic bags that you worked so hard to fill - and it's illegal to place yard waste in the trash.

For more information on the new compostable plastic bag requirements and how they will affect you read our Compostable Bags FAQ.

Paper trash sacks

Posted on November 10, 2009 - 3:50pm by Anonymous

We got a head start on the trash sack requirement. Bought sacks at Menards 5 for $1.98. The first ones came in a paper wrapper and the last ones had a plastic tie on them. They even held up in the rain we had , had for a few days straight. If you mulch the leaves and grass it makes for not as much waste. We also have a compost bin and we put the matter on the flowers and bushes not next to our house as the mice like the warmth it also creates. B. Deming

Composting in General

Posted on November 11, 2009 - 3:39pm by Anonymous

We have always "reused". Glass pickle jars, Ect. for food storage and not Tupperware. If we get a take out in a "plastic" container we keep it to use many more times. My parents and grand parents went through the Great Depression. So, any way could save you did. Including the tin can(metal) pickers. Funny how, what goes around comes around! Rich

how can I compost in the Winter?

Posted on December 16, 2009 - 12:05am by Anonymous

I have a composter but it freezes in the Winter and animals try to get into it. What can I do?

Winter Composting

Posted on January 3, 2010 - 7:44pm by Rethink Recycling

You can leave your compost bin throughout the winter; it will freeze and then will start up again once it thaws in the spring. You can continue to add to the center of the pile during the winter, but the organisms working in there won't keep working on frozen materials.

Animals shouldn't be attracted to your compost bin if you're including the right materials. In the winter, it's recommended that you cover your bin. During the rest of the year, if you don't want a cover, you should review the materials you should and shouldn't include. Visit our yard waste page, and reduce.org for more information.

Reusable Leaf Bags Even Better!

Posted on January 20, 2010 - 9:10pm by Anonymous

This law is a great step forward, but anyone who wants to go a step further should really consider reusable bags for yard waste. We picked up a few collapsible canvas trash bins from Fleet Farm for about $7 a piece that have been serving us well for years. They have a coiled wire frame, so they are really easy to load up -- they hold themselves open. They also have zippered tops and are waterproof, so you can put them in your car and not worry too much about mess. We take them to the county composting sites whenever we happen to be passing by, then refill them and store them in our garage until the next time we're out running errands. This way, dealing with nature's byproducts doesn't have to cost the environment anything.

Composting worms work all winter long

Posted on January 27, 2010 - 7:05am by Anonymous

I'm surprised Rethink did not mention worms in its reply. I have my bins in the basement and feed them nearly all my waste such as peels, fruits and vegetable that are going bad, coffee grounds (no meat products). There is not smell. Other people keep bins in the kitchen. Come spring you have great compost and no care pets.

plastic bags are banned

Posted on February 9, 2010 - 3:18pm by Anonymous

We received our info yesterday and want to know why the new State Law EXCLUDES the CITY of MINNEAPOLIS from the ban? Why are they exempt? Why does Minneapolis not need to use the compostable bags? It seems that this is an issue of fairness and and in order to have a community that is "green", every one needs to be included.....by the way, they have yards and trees like the rest of us. Please respond to this question.....Christine

Minneapolis Exemption

Posted on February 9, 2010 - 5:30pm by Rethink Recycling

Good question, Christine. Minneapolis asked for and received a 3-year exemption to the State law requiring the use of compostable bags for curbside collection of yard waste in the metro area. The new law will apply to Minneapolis beginning January 1, 2013. The reason the City asked for this exemption is based on their plan of supplying Minneapolis homeowners with yard waste carts for collection of yard waste vs the current system of collecting it in bags. The City could not afford the expense of purchasing enough yard waste carts for all their residents by January 1, 2010 and consequently asked for a 3-year extension over which they could spread out the cost of purchasing yard waste carts.