What’s happening now?
The Macalester-Groveland Community Council recently formed an Organics Task Force to review potential options for organics/ composting collection programs in the neighborhood.  For a brief description of the Task Force’s initial findings, check out the document attached below.  

The Task Force is in the midst of creating a plan for a neighborhood organics drop-off site for Macalester-Groveland residents to drop off food waste (including meats and dairy!), non-recyclable papers (including egg cartons and freezer boxes!), and BPI-certified compostable products for composting at a commercial facility.   

How you can get involved:

• Attend an Environment Committee meeting for the most up-to-date information on neighborhood organics collection.  The Environment Committee meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm at the Edgcumbe Recreation Center (320 South Griggs Street).  
• Join the Community Council’s biweekly electronic newsletter list by emailing mgcc@macgrove.org – you’ll receive the most up-to-date information about neighborhood happenings including any new Macalester-Groveland composting programs!  
  

Want to reduce waste at home?  Get started backyard composting!
Get a bin:

• Call Eureka Recycling at (651) 222-7678 to purchase the Earth Machine backyard composting bin at a discount.
• Build your own!  Visit www.reduce.org or www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/3296-02.html#02
• Find one used – www.twincitiesfreemarket.org or minneapolis.craigslist.org are good places to look.
  

Learn how to get going with these resources:

• www.reduce.org – find everything from instructions on how to build a bin to great, illustrated backyard composting instructions and tips.
• www.makedirtnotwaste.org – how-to fact sheets, information on where to buy a bin
• www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/3296-01.html – lots of detailed, scientific information on a wide range of backyard composting topics.

Know what’s legal – and what isn’t – for backyard composting in the City of St. Paul:

• Check out the City’s ordinances on residential composting at www.makedirt.org/pdf/saintpaulcompostingordinance.pdf

Looking to compost more?  
Commercial composting facilities allow you to safely compost more materials than in a backyard bin, including meat, bones, dairy products, and compostable tableware.  Don’t forget to only buy products with the “BPI certified” seal on your plates, bowls, cups, and silverware to ensure they’re actually compostable.  

In the Twin Cities, we have one commercial composting facility that allows residents to bring bags of compostable materials for a low fee:

For accepted items and pricing, visit www.mulchstoremn.com/disposal.html

Additional resources:

• For more information on the pilot collection project that took place from June 2010 through January 2011, click here. 
• Contact the Community Council office at 651-695-4000 or email lauren@macgrove.org.