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1. How do I collect food scraps?

How do I collect my food scraps: Find a container to collect food scraps. Line it with a brown paper bag or a City-provided special compostable bag. If interested in receiving these bags, please email compost@ci.red-wing.mn.us.

2. Where is the drop-off site?

The Red Wing Solid Waste Campus is located at 1873 Bench Street, Red Wing, MN 55066. Hours of operation: Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.–1 p.m.

3. What can I put in my food scraps bags?

All food items are accepted.

• Coffee grounds and filters. No coffee pods.
• Fruits and vegetables (including peels, pits, and rinds). Remove stickers.
• Dairy products (including cheese and yogurt)
• Nuts and nut shells (except black walnut shells)
• Bread, tortillas, pasta, rice and cereals
• Eggs and eggshells
• Moldy or rotten food
• Meat and seafood (including bones, scales and shells)
• Beans and lentils
• Tea leaves (no tea bags)
• Corn cobs, corn husks and popcorn kernels
• Pastries, pies, dough and candy
• Herbs and spices
• Seeds (including bird seeds)
• Pet food

4. What can’t I put in my food scraps bags?

• Ashes
• Batteries or electronic waste
• Butcher paper, wax paper, parchment paper or muffin cups.
• Cartons (including milk, wine, broth, and ice cream cartoons)
• Charcoal
• Chewing gum
• Cigarettes
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Dead animals
• Dental floss
• Diapers.
• Drier lint or dryer sheets
• Food packaging
• Frozen food boxes
• Gloves, balloons or similar products
• Grease or oil
• Hair and nail clippings
• Hazardous waste, including paint, cleaners, and automotive fluids
• Medications and vitamins
• Microwave popcorn bags
• Pizza boxes
• Paper or plastic products like plates, bowls, cups and to go containers
• Pet waste (including dog waste, kitty litter, cage bedding)
• Personal hygiene products
• Plastic bags
• Polystyrene / Styrofoam TM
• Recyclable items (boxes, cartoons, glass, metal, paper, and plastic)
• Rocks, soil or dirt.
• Rubber or rubber bands
• Sharps
• Shredded paper
• Stickers on produce
• Trash
• Vacuum cleaner bags and contents or floor sweepings
• Wax
• Wipes (all kinds)
• Wood or sawdust
• Wrappers or containers (including takeout food containers)
• Wrapping paper, tissue paper, packing paper, tape or receipts
• Yard and garden waste (including grass, leaves and branches)

5. What if I’m not sure if something is acceptable?

When in doubt, throw it out. Above all else, it is our top priority to keep our food scraps collection free of items that do not belong.