Update on the status of a future Organics program in Hopkins; Hove\Work Session Memo 08.08.17
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Pam Hove, Solid Waste Coordinator
Cc: Mike Mornson, City Manager
Date: August 8, 2017
Subject: Update on the status of a future Organics program in Hopkins
Staff would like to update the Mayor and Council on the status of a future Organics program in
Hopkins.
Of the 13 communities in Hennepin County who have a residential curbside Organics program, 10
are using the product “Blue Bags”. Staff continues to feel this is also the best method for a
residential curbside Organics program in Hopkins. The critical factor for Hopkins in implementing
this has been having a locally feasible, financially viable transfer station to deliver co-mingled Blue
Bag and mixed solid waste (MSW) loads to.
Since our last update to you in March, Waste Management has begun accepting co-mingled loads
of Blue Bags and MSW at their Maple Grove transfer station. In July, Staff had the opportunity to
tour the facility and speak with the Senior District Manager there.
While the Waste Management Maple Grove transfer station is geographically feasible; the tipping
fee is not. Waste Management charges approximately $75 per ton for co-mingled loads. Hopkins
currently pays $55 per ton at Brooklyn Park. A $20 per ton increase would result in an
approximate increase of $41,645.80 in annual tipping fees.
Considering the participation goal for the first year is 5%, or approximately 18 households per
load, Staff feel it is cost prohibitive to implement a residential curbside Organics program at this
time. When there would be so few Blue Bags in each load, it would be premature to enter into a
contract at a 36.5% rate increase.
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Another development since our last update has been that Hennepin County has decided to make
some monies available to cities in 2018 for Organics drop-off programs. Previously, funds were
only available for residential curbside Organics programs.
Staff recommends that Hopkins introduce a residential Organics drop off program beginning in
April 2018 via carts set inside the Brush & Yard Waste site at 3100 Hopkins Crossroad. Organics
drop off days and hours would be the same as brush and yard waste, so as to be monitored.
Public Works Department
\Work Session Memo 08.08.17
Residents would be responsible for bagging all waste in compostable bags; no loose Organics
should be placed in carts. Prior to November 2018 when the brush & yard waste drop off site
closes, staff will evaluate how the program has gone and whether the carts can remain at the drop
off site unmonitored or whether they need to be brought to another location.
Once a week, we will haul the collection of Organics to the Hennepin County transfer station in
Brooklyn Park. They charge $25 per ton for pure Organic loads. We may see a slight decrease in
MSW tonnage, which may help to offset the extra trip to the transfer station. Along with funding
made available by Hennepin County, this is a very low cost, simple program to implement and
begin the education process here in Hopkins. Therefore, with Council’s approval, staff would like
to begin an Organics drop off program in April 2018.