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Yard Waste

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Burning Leaves or Trash
Open burning of trash or leaves is prohibited in St. Louis Park.

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Compostable yard waste bags required Jan. 1

Beginning January 1, 2010, a state law requires residents of Anoka, Carver, Hennepin (including City of St. Louis Park residents), Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties who bag their yard waste or other compostable waste to put their waste out for pick up in compostable bags – either paper bags or compostable plastic bags. Residents of Dakota County are already required to use compostable bags for yard waste.

This rule will not impact your service if you put your yard waste in a container, or you take your yard waste to a collection facility and remove waste from the bags yourself.

What is a compostable bag?

Compostable bags include paper Kraft bags (large brown paper bags) or compostable plastic bags. Compostable plastic bags are usually clear or tinted an opaque shade of green, white, or pink; however the color is not the sure way of determining the compostibility of a plastic bag. Compostable plastic bags should clearly state that they meet ASTM D6400 standards for composting and that they are “compostable”. Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the state law.

The shelf life of compostable bags is approximately 1- 3 years. Review the product’s specific shelf life and purchase accordingly.

How can I tell the difference between types of plastic bags?

Look for the word “compostable” on the box. The words “lawn and leaf” or “yard waste” do not guarantee that the bag is compostable and acceptable to use under the new rule. Visually compostable plastic bags are usually clear or tinted an opaque shade of green, white, or pink, compared to traditional black plastic bags.

Why is using compostable bags important?

Once your yard waste is picked up, it is delivered to a compost facility. Plastic bags must be debagged, which increases costs and the chance that plastic bags will be blowing around on site. Some compost sites shred the bag and its contents and attempt to screen the torn pieces of plastics later. Not all plastic shreds can be screened out, which reduces the quality of the finished compost.

Where can I buy compostable bags?

Most home improvement, grocery and hardware stores now carry bags. If you don’t see them at your local store, ask an employee. Many stores are just learning of this requirement and may appreciate the request.

Compostable bags tend to cost slightly more than the traditional black plastic bags; however, given the new demand, prices may be lowered.

When do I have to use compostable bags?

Compostable bags are required for use with yard waste and compost collection. So any yard waste, food waste, organics, or other compostable material must be placed in a compostable bag when collected at the curb.

What if I do not use a compostable bag?

If you do not use a non-compostable bag for yard waste, Waste Management cannot collect your waste. Compost drop-off sites will also require the material to be removed from non-compostable bags and you will be required to take the bag with you.

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Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Compliance
As you may have heard the emerald ash borer has officially arrived in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has placed a quarantine on disposal of ash tree debris outside of Hennepin or Ramsey County. Waste Management and the City have worked out a temporary solution allowing for the collection of ash tree debris that is in compliance with the quarantine. Your yard waste, excluding ash tree debris, will continue to be collected on your scheduled collection day.

Tree debris thought to be Ash (Fraxinus spp.) will be tagged and collected by Waste Management in a separate truck on the next day, with the exception of Friday stops. Friday stops will be collected on Monday. To learn more about the emerald ash borer and the quarantine contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at (651) 201-6684 or www.mda.state.mn.us.

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Collection
Yard waste is collected on your regular collection day during the growing season. In 2009, yard waste collection begins Monday, April 13 and ends on Saturday, November 28. If it snows, please make sure your yard waste bags are not covered by snow or they will not be visible to the driver. Yard waste is also collected with holiday trees during the first two full weeks in January.

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Yard Waste Collection Service
St. Louis Park offers two service level options for yard waste collection -

No Grass Clippings option
For not setting out grass clippings, participants receive a $3 credit against each quarterly garbage bill. Participants may set out leaves, twigs and weeds

Full Service option
No additional charge to the rates listed above. In addition to leaves, twigs and weeds, participants may set out grass clippings.

When you need to dispose of yard waste -

Set out bags on the same day that you set out your garbage and recyclables.
Set yard waste bags at least 5 feet away from your garbage cans.

Yard waste may be placed in any type of bag designed for yard waste: but both biodegradable and non-biodegradable bags are acceptable. Do not place an "Extra Refuse" sticker on bags of yard waste. Yard waste collection is part of your regular collection service.

As an alternative to yard waste bags, you may also set yard waste in a garbage container with a Yard Waste Only sticker on the container. Free stickers may be obtained by calling Waste Management at (763) 783-5423 or the City of St. Louis Park at (952) 924-2555.

Because yard waste is hauled to a compost site, include only yard waste in the bag or container. Do not include flower pots or any household garbage in the same bag with yard waste or it will not be collected.

Fill bags with only as much yard waste as can easily be lifted by one person. If you put yard waste in a garbage can, make sure the container and its contents do not weigh more than 50 pounds. If it's too heavy to be lifted by one person, it won't be emptied by Waste Management.

Please be kind to the environment and reduce the amount of yard waste you set out. You can do this by mowing often enough to leave grass clippings on your lawn. (Grass clippings act as a fertilizer for your lawn.) Grass clippings and mowed leaves can also be used as a mulch around shrubs and flowers.

You can also compost your yard waste. For details on composting, call Hennepin County Environmental Services at (612) 348-3777 or click here. For more information from St. Louis Park about composting, click here.

Leaves -
All households can set out leaves, twigs, weeds and pine cones.

Grass clippings -
If you signed up for the No Grass Clippings discount, you may not set out grass clippings. If you signed up for the Grass Clippings option, you may set out grass clippings along with your other yard waste.

Twigs and small branches -
These will be collected at no extra charge as long as the branches are less than four inches in diameter and less than four feet long. Branches and twigs must be placed in a paper grocery bag or tied into bundles; if they are piled loosely on the ground, they will not be collected.

Sod and dirt -
These are not collected by Waste Management. For a list of places that accept sod, dirt and other yard waste, click here.

Large shrubs and tree debris -
These are not collected by Waste Management: call a tree removal company to collect large branches, logs, whole trees or shrub debris. A list of companies licensed to work in St. Louis Park is available by calling the city forester at (952) 924-2565 or e-mailing pworks@stlouispark.org .

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Yard waste links