See below for various resources pertaining to recycling, composting, food waste, drop-off events and more
Want to reduce waste at home? Get started backyard composting!
Get a bin
Learn how to get started with these resources
Know what’s legal – and what isn’t – for backyard composting in the City of St. Paul
Looking to compost more?
Sign up for the Community Council’s Organics Recycling Drop-off Site to start collecting and delivering a wide range of compostable items including freezer boxes, egg cartons, paper towels, napkins, meat and bones, dairy products, compostable tableware, pizza boxes too greasy for recycling pick-up, and much more. Read about our Organics Recycling Drop-off Site to learn more!
City-Wide Drop-Off Events
For over 20 years, the City has partnered with local district councils to organize annual Citywide Recycling Drop-off Events. Residents can properly dispose of large items and recycle materials not collected in the residential collection program. For information, visit stpaul.gov/drop-offs. This year, there will be one event:
- September 16, 2023 – MN State Fairgrounds (northeast corner of grounds)
All events will accept the following for a small fee:
All events will accept the following for free:
- Confidential papers for shredding
- Cardboard (large, flattened)
- Scrap metal
Reminder: As part of the regular Citywide Coordinated Garbage Program (1-4-unit residential properties), residents can dispose of 2-3 bulky items each year. This includes electronics, appliances, mattresses, and many other items. Visit stpaul.gov/bulky for more information.
A postcard with more details about the drop-off events will be mailed to Saint Paul households in August. Additional information can be found at stpaul.gov/drop-offs.
For a list of alternative ways to dispose of items that cannot be put in your recycling, use Ramsey County’s disposal search engine.
Rent ClearStream Containers
Did you know? MGCC has ClearStream Containers to help promote zero waste events! When you plan your next event, call our office to reserve the recycling and/or compost containers. For a $50 refundable deposit, you’ll receive the containers, recyclable or compostable bags, instructions for use, and signage. Call, or fill out the reservation form by clicking the button below!
Thank you for your help in reducing event waste!
Questions? Contact MGCC at 651-695-4000 or firstname.lastname@example.org .
Food Waste Library
When food scraps break down in a landfill, they contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. In fall 2015, 14 Mac-Grove families participated in a 6 week long challenge to reduce the amount of food they waste at home. On average, they reduced their food waste by 16%
See below for resources that will teach you strategies for eliminating food waste, discover recipes for using first what’s in your cupboards, and gather your friends or family to join you in the FOOD: Too Good Too Waste challenge.
Email email@example.com or call 651-695-4000 if you want to check out one of these books from MGCC!
City of St. Paul Food Waste Challenge 2023
The City of St. Paul is hosting a food waste challenge from July 10 – August 27, 2023!
The City is working to reduce food waste by engaging directly with residents in a free seven-week online challenge! Each week, you will learn new ways to save food and track the amount that is wasted at home. The challenge will also include a lesson on backyard composting to divert organic waste from landfills. Check it out!
This is an online food waste prevention challenge for Saint Paul residents. Every week, participants will receive tips, tools, and guidance to help reduce food waste, save time, money, and the environment!
The course is flexible and happens at your own pace, but you can expect activities to take about 1-2 hours per week. To track progress, each household will collect and weigh their food waste each week.
All materials are also available on this website.
Takeaway 1: Smart Shopping Ways to reduce waste before and during shopping
Takeaway 2: Smart Storage How to store fruits and veggies to extend their lifespan and quality
Takeaway 3: Smart Prep Ways to prep vegetables to minimize waste
Takeaway 4: Smart Saving Eat what you buy to save money and resources
Takeaway 5: Smart Disposal Compost food scraps to reduce negative environmental impacts
Food Waste Prevention
Get smart! See how much food and money you are throwing away by using these resources below. You can also take the challenge below in order to prevent food waste:
Taking the challenge? Check out these resources
Weeks 1 & 2: Get Smart! Find out how much food and money you’re throwing away
Week 3: Smart Saving: Eat what you buy
Week 4: Smart Shopping: Buy what you need
Week 5: Smart Prep: Prep now, eat later + Smart Storage: Keep fruits and vegetables fresh
Week 6: Do what works best for you!
Fact: The average American throws away 20 pounds of food each month. MGCC, with support from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and EPA Region 5, is sharing resources designed to help you reduce the amount of food you waste. During the self-guided challenge, you’ll use tools for smart planning and reducing wasted food at home. Why does reducing wasted food matter? Check out this short video.
St. Thomas More Church Market
Fridays, May – October, 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Another satellite market of the St. Paul Farmers Market, this market is held on Friday afternoons at St. Thomas More Church, on the corner of Summit Avenue and Lexington Avenue, St. Paul. The market is in the lot behind the church. There’s plenty of free street parking around the market.
Saturdays and Sundays, April – November | Saturday hours: 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. & Sunday hours: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Saturdays, December 1 – April 20, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM- Downtown in the Lowertown District at the corner of Fifth Street and Wall Street. Live bands play every weekend, children’s crafts, and Master Gardeners in attendance to give out garden advice. Free parking is available in several lots surrounding the market, and meter parking is free on Saturday and Sunday near the market
Celeste’s Dream Community Garden -1884 Randolph Ave, St. Paul
Located in the yard behind the O’Shaughenessy Auditorium
Celeste’s Dream Community Garden is sponsored by Celeste’s Dream: Spirituality for Young Adults Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Enjoy healthy produce, learn organic gardening, give to those in need and dig into the big picture. Volunteers garden one large plot collectively. Neighbors are welcome to join us. Last season we had St. Kate’s students, neighbors, young adult professionals, Sisters of St Joseph and Consociates and families join the garden.
We gather in January and February to plan, design and order seeds. We start all our seedlings and divide them up among participants to care for in homes. In May, we begin gathering regularly on Tuesday nights to prepare the garden and plant. We continue to meet every Tuesday night throughout the summer and until the first frost. We share the work and the harvest with those that come and bring produce to Halley Q. Brown food shelf. See our webpage for more details or call 651-696-2872.
Dunning Community Garden – 1221 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul
At the Intersection of Concordia Blvd & Griggs Blvd (between Hamline & Lexington).
Established in 2006, The Dunning Community Garden, provides a place for residents to grow a diversity of produce in the heart of St. Paul. This garden is possible thanks to the people, organizations and businesses that support it: St. Paul Parks and Rec workers, Ramsey County Sentence to Service, Kor and his immigrant volunteers, students from Skills for Tomorrow School, Farm in the City employees, Gardenworks staff, St. Paul Garden Club, Flannery Construction, and, of course, the gardeners. The garden is run and maintained by the gardeners. Contact for plot availability.E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
Eleanor Graham Community Garden -1335 Ashland Ave
The Eleanor Graham Community Garden, managed by the District Council, features some thirty plots for seasonal rent by our neighbors. It has grown from its ten original plots in 1982 to thirty plots. In 2007, A restoration process was started to care for our two ancient oaks and to groom the common space, making the garden a destination and community gathering place. In addition, the garden was gifted with five fruit trees — plum, cherry and apricot — and also sports a newly planting flower bed around our sign at the entrance to the garden. Plots are in great demand, so call early to check for availability.Phone: (651) 646-5757. E-mail: email@example.com
Fort Road Community Garden -Jefferson and Victoria
Started in 2010, this new community garden hosts a youth part in partnership with the West 7th Community Center, and has a food shelf giving program. Contact for plot availability.Email: firstname.lastname@example.orgPhone: 651-241-1010
Merriam Station Community Garden – North Prior Ave & Gilbert Ave, just north of I-94
Merriam Station Community Garden began its first season in 2012. Gardeners who join us have the opportunity to shape the growth and development of a spacious piece of land that is centrally located among the Union Park, Hamline-Midway, and St Anthony Park neighborhoods in Saint Paul.
MULCH (Macalester Urban Land and Community Health) – 194 Vernon St.
Just west of the Macalester campus between Princeton and St Clair in St. Paul
MULCH (Macalester Urban Land & Community Health) was established in 1995 by the MULCH student organization supporting a student run community garden at Macalester College. MULCH acts as a first introduction to community gardening and offers an education for students on where their food comes from, how it is grown and helps build community among students, faculty, staff and the neighborhood. All are welcome to come see the new community garden space that has a larger presence in the surrounding community, and is incorporating permaculture techniques. We hope to nurture this space for another 10 years like the old site!
Sholom Community Garden – 878 Otto Ave.
This garden is part of the Healthy West 7th Project. Healthy West 7th seeks to improve the health and wellness of Saint Paul’s West End in measureable ways by building relationships throughout our community founded on the unique strengths of our neighborhood. Contact for plot availability.Email: email@example.comPhone: 651-241-1010
Summit Hill Community Garden – 860 St. Clair Ave
The Summit Hill Community Garden is an urban space where community members can come together to learn from each other and the earth. Our goal is to empower people through organic gardening to inspire greater self-sufficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. The Garden is located on the land west of the tennis courts at the Linwood Community Center (860 St. Clair Ave).Contact: Kate Pearce ( firstname.lastname@example.org) or Jeff Roy ( email@example.com)
Located behind Brady Educational Center on the UST south campus near the corner of Woodlawn and Goodrich avenues.
The Stewardship Garden was established in 2010 with the three-fold goal of providing fresh, organic produce to nearby low-income communities, education and research opportunities, and community building. We meet weekly throughout the summer to communally work our plots, as well as host community events focusing on gardening, food and sustainability. A portion of the produce is donated to local food shelves, and the rest is available for the friends, relatives, neighbors, students and professors that are involved. We welcome any and all! Please visit our facebook page or email us at firstname.lastname@example.org.
West 7th Community Center Garden– 265 Oneida St.
Located at the West 7th Community Center.
Contact for plot availability. Email: email@example.comPhone: 651-241-1010
Current Information for Residents
Recycling in Macalester-Groveland is picked up each Monday. Please have your recyclables set out in your wheeled cart by 7am Monday morning. For more information, visit stpaul.gov/recycle . If you have any questions about your recycling schedule or missed pickups, please call 651-266-6199 or email firstname.lastname@example.org . You can also submit a request by clicking here .
Residents can set out extra materials, outside of the cart any time, not just after a missed collection. Limit is 6 paper grocery bags or 3 medium size boxes. Set next to the cart with some space. Eureka will empty the cart, put extras inside the cart and tip it again.
Hard to Recycle Items
Have bulky or hard-to-recycle items? Call the Ramsey County Solid Waste & Recycling Hotline 24/7 at 651-633-EASY (3279), visit r amseyrecycles.com , or call the council office 651-695-4000. Rethink Recycling, your go-to guide for waste & recycling in the Twin Cities, has information on reducing waste and recycling a wide range of items at www.rethinkrecycling.com .
Got free reusable items? Give them away on the Twin Cities Free Market – twincitiesfreemarket.org .
Planning to get rid of electronic items? Tech Dump now has a drop-off location in Saint Paul. Visit http://www.techdump.org/electronics-recycling/ for more information.
Safely dispose of unwanted, expired and unused medicines for free at one of six public drop boxes in Ramsey County .
Come Clean Program
To help address the ongoing problem of trash and litter in our community, the city is encouraging community members to help clean, beautify and improve their neighborhoods. Clean neighborhoods benefit everyone!
The Come Clean! Program offers multiple ways to get involved. You supply the time, energy and enthusiasm and we will supply the trash bags, gloves and many, many thanks. Businesses and individuals who Adopt-a-Block can request a window cling or lawn sign in recognition of their efforts.
Additional City of St. Paul Recycling Resources