Composting

The City of Independence launched our Organics Recycling program in May, 2022! 
Our one drop-off location is located at the City of Independence City Hall and requires gate access.

If you are just beginning to use this service, please stop in to City Hall to register and we will provide you with organics recycling bags to use. The City is making the required organics bags available to our residents, so please return as needed.

To drop off your organics, please call 763-479-0527 to share your name and that you are dropping off your organics.  Then pull up to the gate and we will open it for you.  Your bag of organics must be carefully placed into the green Organics-Only bin so that it doesn't break. 

Please reach out to the City of Independence if you have any questions at 763-479-0527.

Check with your city recycling coordinator to see if there are rules you need to follow for backyard composting.

Buy or make your compost bin. They can be purchased at local garden centers, hardware stores, home improvement stores or your county compost bin sale. Also, the Recycling Association of Minnesota sells compost bins and rain barrels in the spring. For more information, go to www.recycleminneosta.org.  For instructions on how to make your own bin, check our website, www.RethinkRecycling.com, and search “backyard composting.”

A successful compost pile requires three things: air circulation, moisture and the right ingredients. Pointers on selecting your location are offered in the Rethink Recycling Resident Guide. On the same web page, you’ll find a recipe for good, clean dirt.

In general, the right recipe is three parts dry ingredients (leaves or dry grass) to one part wet food waste. Food waste includes vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves and tea bags, egg shells, nut shells, and more.

A few things do not belong in a backyard compost pile: dairy products, meat or bones, gravies or fatty sauces, grease, pet waste, diseased plants, weeds gone to seed, ash from charcoal or coal, branches and wood chucks.

The natural process will break down the materials. The internal temperature of the pile will rise from the microbial activity.

Consider worm composting if you want to create a rich soil additive inside your apartment or home. There are two simple requirements, a bin and worms. Much can be learned about both by checking out the Resident Guide on RethinkRecycling.com.

Worm compost has a higher amount of nitrogen than most compost. Use it sparingly for best results.

Mix your indoor or outdoor compost in with your soil to improve quality. Use it to fill in low spots in your yard. Use it as mulch for landscaping and garden plants. Mix compost in the soil for potted plants. Top dress your lawn to retain moisture.

Does your bin stink? Not sure if it’s working? Attracting critters? The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a fact sheet, “Diagnosing common backyard composting problems.” You can download the fact sheet by searching for “Good Clean Dirt” at Rethink Recycling.

A little work this spring to get your compost bin going will pay off with rich soil and thankful plants.

These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach efforts.