Dakota County Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2025 - Turn your food scraps into something useful

Bring collected items to county drop-off sites

The No. 1 item in our trash is food. Instead of throwing food scraps away, you can convert them into valuable compost. This increases nutrients in soil, reduces erosion and decreases the need for chemical fertilizers.

Formerly known as the organics drop-off program, Dakota County’s food scraps drop-off program works just like it did before — it simply has a new name. By participating, your food scraps are turned into compost. Composting benefits you, your community and the environment.

Sign up to participate

Food scraps drop-off sites are free and easy to use. Dakota County residents can sign up 1 of 3 ways to get started:

• Online at www.dakotacounty.us, search food scraps

• Email foodscraps@co.dakota.mn.us

• Call 952-891-7557

After you sign up, you will receive more information and free BPIcertified compostable bags in the mail. More bags are available for free at all drop-off locations. Then, gather your food scraps and drop off the bags as often as needed at 11 locations in Dakota County.

Accepted items include:

• Bakery and dry goods

• Coffee grounds

• Dairy products

• Eggs and eggshells

• Meat, fish and bones

• Produce, fruits and vegetables

Food scraps drop-off vs. backyard composting

Food scraps like fruits and veggies can go into your backyard compost. Avoid adding meat, bones, fish and dairy as they can attract rodents and spread bacteria and plant diseases.

Instead, use the food scrap dropoff sites for these items. They are accepted because they are taken to a commercial compost facility that maintains higher temperatures to kill bacteria and break down materials faster than a backyard compost pile.

A full list of items accepted and not accepted at food scraps drop-off sites is at Organics & Food Waste at Home | Dakota County