Garbage
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History of Garbage Collection
Garbage collection has a long and rich history in St. Louis Park. Long before garbage was neatly contained in a cart, residents used to dump and burn their garbage in the streets. This continued until an ordinance was passed in 1915 prohibiting the throwing of trash in the streets and alleys. After the ordinance was passed, public dumps were created, followed by the construction of a public incinerator and organized rubbish and garbage collection.
In 1986, the City began to explore a recycling/composting program to divert things from the garbage stream. In 1987, the City established goals for a city sponsored recycling program, setting a citywide recycling goal of 50% participation from all single-family homes, multiple-family dwellings, and businesses by 1990.
In 2003, there were several significant changes to the City’s garbage collection program, including collection costs being charged based on volume of garbage and the use of carts. By moving to volume based charges, residents are fairly charged by the amount of garbage they produce. Waste Management of MN provides curbside garbage collection to all single family and multiple family dwellings up to 4-plexes.
Visit the St. Louis Park Historical Society's website for more information about the history of garbage in the Park.
Visit the St. Louis Park Historical Society's website for more information about the history of garbage in the Park.
Cart Placement and Storage
Please set garbage cart(s) at the curb or alley where collectors can easily get to them including:
- The grassy area of your boulevard between the street and sidewalk
- Your driveway
- On your property next to your garage if you have alley collection
- On your property adjacent to the alley
If it has just snowed and your street hasn’t been plowed yet, place your garbage cart(s) far enough away from the curb so they aren't covered by snow from passing snowplows. If you don’t have space on your driveway to place the cart, you will need to shovel an area clear of snow for your carts in the boulevard area.
As per City Ordinance, carts cannot be placed in the street, alley or sidewalk. They pose a hazard to vehicles and pedestrians as well as hampering snow removal.
Please put carts away promptly once your garbage has collected. If you must store your carts outdoors, please be considerate and store them where they are least visible to your neighbors. The city requires that carts are not stored adjacent to the street, and at least four feet from interior lot lines.
Collection
Garbage is collected from the curb or alley each week between 7a.m. and 6p.m., Monday through Friday, except during holiday weeks. Please have your garbage out by 7a.m. to ensure collection. Garbage is picked up every week on the same day as your yard waste and recycling. To find your collection day, click here. If you believe your garbage collection was missed, please call Waste Management at (763) 783-5423.
After collection, carts must be removed within 24 hours of being placed at the curb or alley and put back into storage areas.
When your collection day falls on a holiday, garbage collection will be one day later than your regularly scheduled day through Saturday (9am through 6pm). Garbage collection will be delayed one day for the following holidays in 2009 Holiday Collection Schedule 
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Memorial Day | May 25 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | September 7 |
| Thanksgiving | November 26 |
| Christmas | December 25 |
Educational Tags
If you put out garbage that cannot be collected, Waste Management will leave an educational tag on the item informing you why they did not collect your garbage.
The fee for garbage walk-up service is $3 per month, plus taxes and fees, and will be billed directly to the customer by Waste Management on an annual basis. See the Recycling section for information on recycling walkup service.
If you put out garbage that cannot be collected, Waste Management will leave an educational tag on the item informing you why they did not collect your garbage.
Walkup Service
Walkup service is where the driver collects your garbage at a location on your property other than at the curb or alley. Residents can sign up for garbage walkup service by calling Waste Management at (763) 783-5423.
Walkup service is where the driver collects your garbage at a location on your property other than at the curb or alley. Residents can sign up for garbage walkup service by calling Waste Management at (763) 783-5423.
The fee for garbage walk-up service is $3 per month, plus taxes and fees, and will be billed directly to the customer by Waste Management on an annual basis. See the Recycling section for information on recycling walkup service.
Collection Day Map Garbage, recycling and yard waste are collected on the same day each week by the city contractors. If you're new to your neighborhood and don't know your collection day
- ask a neighbor or
- call Waste Management at (763) 783-5423
- Garbage Collection Day Map
Have your garbage, recycling and yard waste out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. After collection, containers must be removed within 24 hours of being placed at the curb or alley and put back into storage areas.
Solid Waste City Service for Businesses
Small businesses are invited to participate in the residential solid waste program. Businesses whose waste can be handled with garbage carts and recycling bins, in a weekly collection service, can sign up for city services. You can get as many recycling bins as you need - no extra charge. For more information, click here, or call City Utility Billing at (952) 924-2111.
Extended Absence Credit
You may be eligible for a reduced garbage rate if you are vacating your property for five or more consecutive weeks. (If you're gone for less than five weeks, there is no discount for not setting out garbage.)
To qualify for the lower rate, you must notify the utility billing office at least two weeks before your home becomes vacant. For more information, call (952) 924-2111. Or, print out an Extended Absence Application Form by clicking here. 
Extra Garbage
There may be times when all of your garbage does not fit inside your garbage cart or you have items that are not part of your regular trash collection service. In these instances, you can purchase “extra refuse stickers” or request a special pick-up.
Extra Refuse Stickers
Any bag of household garbage that does not fit entirely inside your garbage cart will not be collected unless you place an “extra refuse sticker” on the bag.
Extra refuse stickers are ONLY for bags of regular household garbage. They may not be used for boxes, bulk items (carpeting, furniture, etc.), appliances, or yard waste.
Extra Refuse stickers can be purchased by visiting City Hall (third floor utility counter) or mailing a check to Utility Billing, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416. You can also buy Extra Refuse stickers by calling the credit card line at (952) 924-2509. Each sticker costs $2. (If you need to purchase more than two “extra refuse stickers” each month, you could save money by increasing your service level rather than continuing to buy stickers.)
Special Pick-Ups
Collection of appliances, electronics, and bulk items (furniture, construction debris or large loads) is not part of your regular trash collection service. These items require arranging for a special pick-up and payment of an additional fee. To arrange for a special pick-up, call Waste Management at (763) 783-5423. They will give you preparation instructions and let you know the cost of collection. Prices vary depending on the item or size of the load. Do NOT set out special pick-up items or large loads until you have arranged for special collection.
Examples of special Pick-up items are:
- Carpet
- Mattresses / Box Springs
- Unusable Furniture
- General Junk
- Construction / Remodeling Materials
- Appliances including air conditioners, washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, water heaters, stoves, furnaces, microwaves, trash compactors, and pool heaters.
- Electronics
Special pick up items must be placed at the curb or alley: they will not be collected from your home, garage or other locations in your yard.
Illegal Dumping
It is illegal to dump any kind of trash in public open areas, parks or private lots. If you are a Hennepin County Resident, click on the Hennepin County A to Z Guide for proper disposal.
Garbage related links
Waste Management
Mixed Municipal Solid Waste Deposit Disclosure
Minnesota regulations require that we provide you with the following statement verbatim:
You may be responsible for any liability that results from contamination at a facility where your waste has been deposited. The State of Minnesota believes that its waste management system provides substantially more financial and environmental protection than depositing waste in landfills in other states. Managing your waste in Minnesota may minimize your potential liability.
St. Louis Park's garbage hauler, Waste Management of MN, only disposes of waste at facilities that are fully permitted and licensed. These facilities are fully compliant with all Local, State, and Federal regulations governing financial and environmental protection. Waste Management of Minnesota complies with specific disposal requirements found in their Service Agreements and County Waste Delivery Agreements. All of St. Louis Park's mixed municipal solid waste collected by Waste Management of MN is disposed of at the following facility:
Hennepin Energy Resource Company (HERC)
505 6th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Type of Facility: Mass Burn Waste-to-Energy
MPCA Permit Number: SW-396
505 6th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Type of Facility: Mass Burn Waste-to-Energy
MPCA Permit Number: SW-396
Rates and Billing
Your quarterly utility bill from the City of St. Louis Park includes charges for garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection as well as water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage. Tax is applied to the portion of your trash that goes to the incinerator or landfill. The non-taxed portion of your garbage service is for yard waste and recyclables which are not landfilled or incinerated.
Your quarterly utility bill from the City of St. Louis Park includes charges for garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection as well as water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage. Tax is applied to the portion of your trash that goes to the incinerator or landfill. The non-taxed portion of your garbage service is for yard waste and recyclables which are not landfilled or incinerated.
Payment Options
Instead of mailing your utility payment, you can have your payment automatically deducted from your checking or savings account. Customers who sign up for this option still receive a quarterly statement so they can keep track of their utility bill and withdrawal dates. If you'd like to sign up for the Automatic Payment Plan, fill out the form on this web site and mail it to City Hall or come to City Hall. Click here for the form. City Hall is located at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.
You may also pay by credit card by calling the secured credit card phone line. (See your bill for details.)
Instead of mailing your utility payment, you can have your payment automatically deducted from your checking or savings account. Customers who sign up for this option still receive a quarterly statement so they can keep track of their utility bill and withdrawal dates. If you'd like to sign up for the Automatic Payment Plan, fill out the form on this web site and mail it to City Hall or come to City Hall. Click here for the form. City Hall is located at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.
You may also pay by credit card by calling the secured credit card phone line. (See your bill for details.)
If you don't want to mail in your utility payment, you can put it in the City Hall drop box at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.
Payments deposited in the drop box are credited on the next business day.
Payments deposited in the drop box are credited on the next business day.
Service Levels
Choosing your Garbage Service Level
Residents can choose their level of garbage service based on the anticipated volume generated on a weekly basis. To sign up for or change your garbage collection service, residents can call City Utility Billing at (952) 924-2111 or visit City Hall.
Service Levels
Waste Management provides 3 cart sizes (30-, 60-, and 90-gallons). You can choose your cart size and service level based on how much garbage you anticipate generating on a weekly basis. The eight different service levels are based on what fits completely within the cart(s) with the lid closed. Residents can call City Utility Billing at (952) 924-2111 for more information on service levels and cart combinations.
Waste Management provides 3 cart sizes (30-, 60-, and 90-gallons). You can choose your cart size and service level based on how much garbage you anticipate generating on a weekly basis. The eight different service levels are based on what fits completely within the cart(s) with the lid closed. Residents can call City Utility Billing at (952) 924-2111 for more information on service levels and cart combinations.
When you move, please leave the cart for the new occupants. Garbage carts are the property of the City of St. Louis Park - not the individual resident. There are eight service level options:
Changing Your Service Level
If you find that the service level you selected is not working out or your situation changes (new baby arrives, family member moves away, etc.), complete the form on this web site and mail it or fax it to City Hall. Click here for the form.
You may also come to City Hall to change your service. City Hall is located at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. (three blocks east of Highway 100 on Minnetonka Boulevard).
If you find that the service level you selected is not working out or your situation changes (new baby arrives, family member moves away, etc.), complete the form on this web site and mail it or fax it to City Hall. Click here for the form.
You may also come to City Hall to change your service. City Hall is located at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. (three blocks east of Highway 100 on Minnetonka Boulevard).