Top Composting & Food Waste in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Brooklyn Park, managing organic waste is not just an environmental consideration-it's a legal requirement. Under Hennepin County's Organics Recycling Ordinance, all businesses generating food waste are mandated to separate it for recycling, alongside their standard trash and recycling streams. This program is designed to divert organic material from landfills, where it creates harmful greenhouse gases, and instead turn it into valuable compost. Successfully navigating this ordinance involves understanding the rules, setting up the right back-of-house systems, and partnering with a licensed hauler for collection.

Implementing a compliant organics recycling program can streamline your waste management, potentially reduce overall disposal costs, and demonstrate your establishment's commitment to sustainability. The process centers on separating food scraps, food-soiled paper, and certified compostable products at the source.

Dakota Prairie Composting

12386 Chestnut Blvd, Shakopee, MN 55379

Dakota Prairie Composting is the largest organics recycling facility in the Midwest, located in Shakopee, MN. The company specializes in food waste and composting services for restaurants and other sources of organic materials. They transform food, yard, and wood waste into high-quality soil amendments that support soil health and sustainable landscapes. Dakota Prairie Composting follows innovative and environmentally responsible practices inspired by Dakota traditions to protect the environment for future generations.

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Understanding the Mandatory Ordinance

The core requirement for Brooklyn Park businesses is clear: if you generate food waste, you must have a dedicated food waste collection service. This is not a voluntary or opt-in program; it is a county-wide mandate that applies to restaurants, cafeterias, grocery stores, and other food-handling establishments ¹. The ordinance requires separation to happen in the back-of-house areas, with organics collection bins placed conveniently next to trash and recycling containers to encourage proper sorting by staff ².

A critical rule to note is the prohibition on using garbage disposals (food grinders) to dispose of significant quantities of food waste into the sewer system ¹. This practice is not considered compliant with the recycling ordinance. While front-of-house separation for customers is encouraged, the primary legal focus is on capturing waste from kitchen prep, cooking, and plate scraping operations.

What Materials Can Be Composted?

Knowing exactly what goes into the organics bin is essential for preventing contamination, which can disrupt the composting process. The list of accepted materials is broad, making it easier for kitchens to capture the majority of their waste stream.

• All Food Scraps: This includes fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, fish, dairy products, eggs, bread, pasta, and coffee grounds with filters. Essentially, any food item that is being discarded is acceptable ^{1 2 3}.
• Food-Soiled Paper: Paper products that have come into contact with food can be composted. This includes items like used paper napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, pizza boxes (even greasy ones), and paper food packaging ^{4 5}.
• BPI-Certified Compostable Products: Look for the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certification logo. Certified compostable cups, plates, cutlery, and bags are accepted in the organics stream ^{1 6}. It is crucial that these items are certified, as not all "biodegradable" or "plant-based" plastics will break down correctly in a commercial composting facility.

Preventing Contamination: What to Keep Out

Contamination occurs when non-compostable materials are placed in the organics bin. Even small amounts of plastic or glass can compromise a large batch of compost. Strictly avoid placing these items in your food waste bins:

• Plastic Bags (unless BPI-certified): Standard plastic bags are a major contaminant. Food waste should be collected in BPI-certified compostable bags before being placed in the larger collection bin ^{1 7}.
• Traditional Plastics and Styrofoam: Packaging, wrappers, utensils, and foam containers that are not specifically BPI-certified must go in the trash or recycling, as appropriate.
• Liquids, Oils, and Grease: While small amounts of cooking oil on food scraps are okay, large volumes of liquid fats, oils, and grease (FOG) should not be poured into organics bins. These require separate handling, often through a grease trap service and used cooking oil collection ⁸.
• Glass, Metal, and Rubber: These inorganic materials belong in recycling or trash.

Setting Up Your Collection Service

Since the City of Brooklyn Park does not provide direct municipal collection for commercial organics, businesses must contract with a private, licensed waste hauler. This is a key step in achieving compliance.

Choosing a Hauler: Several major national and local providers offer commercial organics collection in the Brooklyn Park area. Common options include Waste Management, Republic Services, and Wollan Waste, among others ^{7 9}. You will need to contact these providers directly to discuss service options, request a quote, and set up an account.

Container and Schedule: Your hauler will work with you to determine the appropriate container size (e.g., 64-gallon cart, 96-gallon cart, or a larger dumpster like a 2- or 4-yard bin) and pickup frequency (e.g., weekly, twice-weekly, or daily) based on your establishment's volume of food waste ⁷. The organics container will be serviced on your designated pickup day.

Costs and Logistics for Restaurants

The cost for organics recycling service is an additional line item on your waste management bill. Haulers are required to offer the service, and pricing is typically bundled with your existing trash and recycling collection. Costs are not fixed and depend entirely on your specific needs:

• Factors Influencing Price: The primary variables are the size of the container you require and how often it needs to be emptied. A small café with a 96-gallon cart collected weekly will pay less than a large restaurant with a 300-gallon dumpster requiring multiple pickups per week ⁹.
• Potential for Savings: It's important to view your waste streams holistically. By diverting heavy, wet food waste into the organics stream, you may reduce the volume and frequency of your trash service. When requesting quotes from haulers, ask them to provide a combined price for trash, recycling, and organics to see the total impact on your monthly expenses. General estimates for organics service can range from approximately $100 to over $300 per month, but only a direct quote from a provider will give you an accurate figure for your business ⁹.

A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide

1. Contact Licensed Haulers: Reach out to at least two or three providers (e.g., Waste Management, Republic Services) to request quotes for commercial organics collection. Compare service options and pricing ^{7 9}.
2. Procure Certified Supplies: Purchase a supply of BPI-certified compostable bags for lining your small kitchen collection pails. These are available through restaurant supply companies, some haulers, and online retailers ¹.
3. Set Up Interior Collection Stations: Place small, clearly labeled bins with compostable bag liners in all key food prep and dishwashing areas. Crucially, position your main outdoor organics collection container immediately next to your trash and recycling dumpsters to make it just as easy for staff to use correctly ².
4. Train Your Team Thoroughly: Conduct training sessions for all kitchen and service staff. Use clear signage with pictures above bins showing what is and is not allowed. Consistent training is the most effective way to minimize contamination and ensure program success ⁶.
5. Monitor and Adjust: Check your organics bins periodically for contamination. Provide feedback to your team and adjust bin placements or training as needed. A well-run program becomes a seamless part of your daily operations.

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