The Food Scraps Pickup Program is rolling out to residents of Ramsey and Washington counties over multiple years and will eventually be available to all residents of the two counties. See if you are currently eligible to participate.

The timeline of the program rollout is being determined by working closely with our facilities and partners to plan for the continued expansion of the program. Learn more about the program rollout.

Program participation is FREE to residents of Ramsey and Washington counties. All participants will be provided with an annual free supply of food scrap bags after creating an account and placing a bag order.

You can order them on the program website or call 651-661-9393 (multi-lingual options available) to get started. Food scrap bags are shipped directly to your household.

You can order a free supply of food scrap bags on an annual basis. The supply of 60 bags is intended to last about a year as it is recommended to change your food scrap bag about once a week. After a year, you will receive an email reminder to order your next supply of food scrap bags.

If you need additional food scrap bags within a year of ordering your annual supply, log into your account or call customer service at 651-661-9393 to place another free bag order. You will be prompted to complete a survey that will help the Food Scraps Pickup Program learn more about bag use. Once you complete the survey you will be able to place a second bag order.

*Residents who have placed more than 2 bag orders within a year will be contacted by staff before receiving additional orders.

Food scrap bags come in two sizes:

• 6-gallon (about the size of a bathroom trash can)
• 13-gallon (about the size of a kitchen trash can)

In program testing, the smaller bag size (6-gallon) was the preferred size for most households. Consider the following factors in deciding which bag size will work best for you:

• Storage: What size container do you plan to use with the bags? The 6-gallon bags work better with smaller containers. See ideas for home set up.
• Home/kitchen size: The 6-gallon bags may work better for smaller spaces.
• Household size: Larger families may prefer the 13-gallon bags.
• Cooking frequency: If you cook a lot, you might have more food scraps and may prefer the 13-gallon bags.

No, the Food Scraps Pickup Program does not provide collection containers.

No. All residents of Ramsey and Washington counties can participate regardless of the hauler. This program works within the current waste system, meaning there are no changes to how haulers operate or pick up trash.

There is not one correct set-up to participate in the Food Scraps Pickup Program! There are many different kinds and sizes of containers that can be used for food scrap collection. We recommend finding a container and place to keep it that works best for you. View possible storage and set up options.

Using food scrap bags is just a different way of collecting the same material that's currently going in your trash. Like your trash, if you take your food scrap bags out to your garbage cart or dumpster regularly, odors should not be an issue.

Just like when food scraps are in your regular trash bin, over time they can begin to smell or attract pests— this is a very normal experience! Finding solutions to address these issues can require some creative problem-solving. Here are some ideas for where to start:

• Consider storing your food scraps somewhere new, like in the fridge or freezer, in your garage or under your sink!
• Consider finding a storage container with a lid to help prevent smells or pests from going to or coming from your food scraps.
• Try taking your food scrap bags out more frequently. We recommend taking your food scrap bags out once a week. You don’t always need to wait until the bag is full!

Compost derived from the material collected by the Food Scraps Pickup Program will not be provided to participants.

Yes. If you are a Safe at Home participant, please contact customer service at 651-661-9393 and ask to leave a message for program staff to assist you. You will be contacted by a staff member who will help you create an account and order bags. To participate, you must live in one of eligible communities.