Organics Recycling

This organics recycling ordinance should not be a mandated fee structure and composting should be an option for residents which is better for the environment and free of charge.

I already pay an Organic Waste Processing Fee of $7.50/month. I compost in my own backyard, yet I am require to pay this fee.
Paying an additional fee for a service I do not use is inappropriate and unjust.
The city acknowledges that there is an excess number of vehicles collecting waste, recycling and organic in our neighborhoods. The wear and tear, and the ridiculous amount of Big truck traffic on our streets is incomprehensible. Our neighborhood streets are truly unsafe in the dark mornings with students walking to their school or bus stop, parents and students waiting in cars for the school buses, and the garbage, recycling, and compost carriers dominating the residential streets.
The city needs to put on its Grown up pants and be responsible for all compost, recycling AND garbage collection to truly impact our community. A contract by the city can reduce costs for all residents.
The city of Minnetonka needs to recognize the negative impacts of multiple carriers providing duplicate services throughout the city.
Consolidation will really have positive impacts on reducing residents costs and environmental impacts.
Individuals choosing their own personal collection services is inefficient and costly. Let the city be responsible and get the collections done right. The city can then also take all complaints as well as compliments.

We currently do the organics recycling thru Suburban Waste Services. I am okay switching the organics to Republic but I still want to keep SWS for my garbage. I do not want to use Republic for my garbage. When they purchased Randy's their rates went through the roof. I have never heard anything good about republics customer service.

Let's start with a fact that eludes the author of this article. This is NOT a Hennepin County ordinance. It is a State ordinance. Lest you doubt, a link to the order is below.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/115A.93#stat.115A.93.3

Earlier this year, I learned about this State ordinance and requested a bin to take advantage of the program after I had been charged two billing cycles with Republic. They said I would wait 90 days for a bin to become available. They should NOT be paid OR UNDER CONTRACT if they can't supply bins. Sorry, Minnetonka. You are not on the ball with this. I raised enough of a stink to receive a bin in two weeks.

Now, let's move on to my experience with Republic servicing my organic recycling. I'm often home on garbage/recycling days and watch them collect my organics. On multiple occasions (more than five), I have watched my organic recycling go into the back of a garbage truck. My observation has been that they must do that when they are short-handed with staff because the organics truck does not visit my house on days the garbage truck collects my organics. Phrased differently, I paid for a service that I did not receive. Instead, it's often the opposite.

Next, the gentleman who drives the organic recycling truck is a smoker. I know because he has a heater hanging off his lower lip weekly. Seven times I have picked up his cigarette butts from my driveway. That's a nice perk, now isn't it?

I would welcome a response from Republic Services or the City of Minnetonka, especially if the latter comes from a City Council member.

Personally I am opposed to the fact the Hennepin county is forcing Minnetonka residents to pay a fee on a service many do not need or want. While it may seem like it will save money now, I don't foresee the city managing this to be a longterm solution. For residents that don't currently have garbage service they will now be forced to pay a fee and it will cost them more. I think the city pushing back on Hennepin county in removing this mandated fee would be a much better use of time, money and resources. If residents want to pay for organics there is a way to do that currently, but forcing residents that do not need or want this service to pay for it is wrong and should be the real focus of this topic.

Our family switched to SWS years ago because of Randy's being purchased by Republic and the customer service issues Republic had and continues to have that I've heard about. We love SWS, they are extremely reliable, less expensive, and a local company. We are a family that uses the compost pick-up, and need it weekly. I do see that the cost will go down with switching, but I don't want to do that if service will be less reliable, they might increase the charge over time (as they have done to residential customers in the last few years), and if this means giving $$ to a non-local company. Thank you for accepting feedback on this issue.

Could you please clarify whether the quarterly Hennepin County fee will be removed from my hauler's invoice if this ordinance passes? If it won't, why bother with Republic? I now have a separate organics bin from my hauler, SWS, and they pick up weekly. I switched from Republic to SWS a couple years ago because Republic suddenly more than doubled their prices. I'm not a fan and have heard nothing but bad news about their garbage service and pricing. Maybe they will be better with organics, but I'd just as soon the City contract with SWS for this. I will feel bad for SWS, which will be left with a ton of returned organics bins (assuming Republic supplies their own bins). SWS has been great to work with--they even answer their phones, which is more than I can say for Republic.

The only thing I would say is that this not not really user friendly unless you want another bin. I have one for trash, one for recycle and one for leaves. I have no other place for another bin. I know some other parts of the country allow you to put it in a special bag and at it to the top of the garbage bin. I will hold off until things change.

What does it mean, regarding the wording, "Based on current participation, the rate would be $3.10 each month"? Frankly, I don't trust Republic when it comes to manipulating fees. What happens if more or less households participate?
As others have written, I am all in favor of a plan that encourages more households to participate. The monthly fee proposed is less than half of what Republic was charging me ($7.50 vs $3.10 per month). I switched to a local company (SWS) due to overall rates and customer service and a preference for a local business. However, the way this new proposal is significantly cheaper and is billed through the city utility bill may make composting more palatable for many. A weekly pick-up is a must, in the summer especially. My two member household fills half the bin at least. We store bags in the freezer and would struggle to store 2 weeks of bags.

I am in favor of anything that encourages residents to recycle compostables. I have a bin and a receptacle which I got from the city and have e-mailed all 7 households on my cul-de-sac about attempting to be more ecological. I am trying to spread the word but it's a bit of an uphill battle.

With any changes, please be sure to maintain the drop off option at the Public Works / Recycling facility. We use that option and prefer it over a separate hauler bin.

Regardless of the cost savings, I prefer that local, family-owned businesses, be given preferential consideration when City contracts are awarded.

As long as this is in lieu of, and not in addition to the fee that I am currently paying to my trash hauler for organics pick up, I support this change. I currently participate in the organics recycling program thru my trash hauler and think that is a necessary program to reduce trash volume. Consolidating this to Republic would save me money and reduce the number of trucks doing the pick ups.

First issue, many homes in Minnetonka have shared private drives for multiple households and do not have space at the end of driveways for multiple bins. There's no room for an organics bin, with recycling and waste for each household. Second issue, Hennepin County ordinance requires all licensed garbage haulers to charge their Hennepin County customers for curbside organics collection. If that ordinance isn't changed, changing the Minnetonka ordinance will only increase our costs.

Why can't homeowners recycle their organics in their own compost pile? Hennepin County assesses some of the highest property taxes in the country yet they decided to slip in another unnecessary tax (a.k.a. fee) for organics recycling which I assume has dismal participation. Our proposed property taxes are going up 9.25% in 2025 which is inflationary as well. When will all these programs, fees and increased taxes end?

How will this affect HOA that currently has contracted with Republic?
We have been charged, monthly, a fee for all owners and only two are participating. I like the new amendment, but how will city know which address to bill that is participating in program?

I am in favor of it IF the garbage haulers will will be required to remove the monthly charge they are authorized to bill us for organics. I don’t see that addressed in the information nor in the Proposal.

I very much support the proposed ordinance. My only concern is the Hennepin County ordinance requiring all licensed garbage haulers to charge their Hennepin County customers for curbside organics collection. If that ordinance isn't changed, changing the Minnetonka ordinance will only increase our costs. I assume this has been discussed, but I raise the issue in the off-chance that it hasn't. Thanks for asking for residents' feedback.

I have not used the organics program and did not appreciate the "pay anyway philosophy!" Thank you for proposing a better solution.

I am in support of consolidating organics recycling through Minnetonka to help residents get better pricing and service. I currently pay about $19/mo for organics, which is more than my trash pick-up cost. I have lived in communities where organics and recycling were coordinated by the city and it saw higher participation and better pricing. Separating organics is impactful on trash volume, which is another reason I support action that gets higher participation. I believe it will be easier to educate residents when the process and guidelines are the same for everyone. Thank you for taking on this issue.