Organics Recycling

About 30 percent of what we throw away is organic material, food scraps and food-soiled paper products. Through organics recycling programs, waste is recycled into valuable compost at a commercial composting facility to be used in landscaping and road construction projects. Organics recycling includes collecting fruits, vegetables, bones, meat, breads, eggshells, non-recyclable and food-soiled paper and more, for composting.

Curbside Organics RecyclingA blue Republic organics recycling cart with an orange lid that says Food Waste

All Hopkins residential recycling customers are eligible to participate in the City’s new curbside organics recycling program.

The program stems from a 2022 Hennepin County requirement for all cities to make organics recycling services available to households with curbside recycling.

How to Participate

Residents can sign-up for Curbside Organics Recycling at any time. 

Collection is weekly on the same day as garbage day. 

Fee

Residents who have recycling provided by Republic via the City contract will see an additional $6.10 on their utility bills, regardless of whether or not they choose to participate in the curbside organics recycling program.

Drop-Off Organics Recycling

Starting in Spring 2026, residents in multifamily buildings can collect organics at home and bring their organics to an organics drop-off site in Downtown Park. 

This program is funded by a Hennepin County grant. 

How to Participate

Residents can sign-up for Organics Drop-Off at any time. Participants will receive a free organics starter kit with a countertop collection pail, starter supply of collection bags and information.

Drop-Off Locations

  •  Downtown Park, 40 9th Avenue S
    • Open dawn to dusk
    • Access code required (code provided after program sign-up)
  • Minnetonka-Hopkins Recycling Center, 11522 Minnetonka Boulevard
    • Open 24/7
    • No code required

Preparing Organics for RecyclingBPI certified Symbol

All material MUST be bagged - no loose material - in either a BPI certified compostable bag or paper bag.  BPI certified compostable bags will have one of these symbols on their packaging.

Managing Your Organics webinar

Learn the do's and don'ts of organics recycling in Hopkins by watching a recording of the Managing Your Organics webinar. 

Where the Collected Organics Go

Organics collected are taken to the Dakota Prairie Composting commercial composting facility.  

Watch this video to see what happens after you drop your collection off and how it becomes valuable compost.