Organics Recycling

Organics are a resource, not a waste! Here’s how the organics cycle works:

1. You separate your food scraps, coffee grounds, paper towels, tissues, and other organics into any size certified compostable bag.
2. You transport and dispose your organics at a drop-off site most convenient for you.
3. A hauler picks up the organics from the drop-off site and brings it to a commercial composting facility. In just a few months, the materials are recycled into nutrient-rich compost.
4. Compost is used in gardens and at farms to add nutrients to the soil to help plants grow. 

The following materials are accepted for organics recycling at any drop-off site.

• All food: Including fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy products, eggshells, pasta, bread, and nuts.
• Food soiled paper: Pizza boxes from delivery, napkins, paper towels, and paper egg cartons.
• Certified compostable products: Certified compostable paper and cups, plates, bowls, utensils and containers. Look for the term “compostable” or the BPI logo on certified products.
• Other compostable household items: Including coffee grounds and filters, facial tissues, and wooden items such as chopsticks, popsicle sticks, and toothpicks. 

Once signed up, residents can choose between three convenient locations

The City of Shorewood offers organics recycling drop-off sites to residents of Deephaven, Greenwood, Shorewood, and Woodland. The organics drop-offs are free of charge, but residents must register. Once registered, participants receive instructions and the lock combination for the organics recycling cart. 

*Note: These sites are not for yard and garden waste, but for household organic waste.

Drop-offs are located at the following locations:

• Haralson Park, 20260 Minnetonka Blvd, Deephaven 
• Freeman Park (south entrance), 6000 Eureka Rd, Shorewood
• Southshore Community Park, 5335 St. Alban's Bay Rd, Shorewood

Shorewood's islands residents are also able to use the drop-off in City of Mound.

Free drop off for organics is also available to Shorewood residents at county drop off centers:

• Carver County Environment Center
• Hennepin County drop off centers

Why Organics?

Each year, Minnesotans throw out 519,400 tons of food waste. About 31% of the trash that is thrown away statewide could be composted. Here are just a few of the many benefits of participating in organics recycling:

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions – When organic material is kept out of landfills, we prevent methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from being produced. This then helps to prevent climate change.
• Creates value  – When composted, "useless" food waste becomes valuable, nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardening projects.
• Improves soil  – Adding compost to the soil reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
• Protects water  – Adding compost to soil increases its water retention, reduces erosion and prevents polluted storm runoff from contaminating our wetlands, lakes, and streams.

Some organic waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, plant trimmings and leaves can be composted in your backyard. Note that meat, bones, dairy, fats and oils cannot be composted in backyard bins. See the How to Compost in Your Backyard Fact Sheet (PDF) and learn about compost bins sold by Hennepin County.