PUBLIC Speaker & Discussion Series
Interested in discussing local issues? Learning more city government actions? Join us for our community speaker series now via Zoom. A discussion with LWVMpls means all voices are heard. Our goal: everyone leaves the discussion with a broader understanding of the issues.
March 2025 Civic Buzz: Organics Recycling
March 2025 Civic Buzz: Organics Recycling
Featuring Kellie Kish, City of Minneapolis Recycling Coordinator
Wasted food is the most prevalent type of waste in Minneapolis trash bins, and food waste is the largest source of methane gas emissions from U.S. landfills. Minneapolis offers Organics Recycling to residents for no extra cost, but residents must sign up for a cart. Currently, 52.15% of customers are signed up for the program with an average contamination rate of less than 1%!
Additionally, there are 20 drop-off sites offered around the City of Minneapolis and while there is no cost to participate, sign up is required. Those carts are locked in the summer months to prevent contamination. City of Minneapolis Organics are composted in a commercial facility in Rosemount that uses aerated static piles.
The City of Minneapolis was awarded US Composting Council’s Organics Diversion Program of the Year in January 2019
Our speaker, Kellie Kish, has worked for the City of Minneapolis as its Recycling Coordinator for almost 12 years. At the City, her work includes outreach & education and program development for the City’s waste diversion and residential collection programs, policies, and ordinances. Kellie is also a founder and board member of the Minnesota Composting Council. The Minnesota Composting Council was awarded a $935,000 Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) grant from the USEPA in 2024, to develop and use a customizable toolkit (including best management practices) to promote organics recycling programs throughout Minnesota.