Laserfiche WebLink
Executive Summary <br />The City of Roseville, Minnesota, identified the need to incorporate organics recycling into <br />their waste management regime. Options for organics recycling designed to serve municipal <br />residents is important, because they provide a way for communities to reduce their carbon and <br />waste footprints. Not only are there state and county pressures for Roseville to provide organics <br />recycling options, but residents have also expressed interest and a desire to have an organics <br />recycling program in the city. <br />University of Minnesota students from the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management <br />major taking the Problem Solving for Environmental Change (ESPM 4041W) class partnered <br />with the City of Roseville to complete nine environmental projects. The City of Roseville <br />tasked the report authors with evaluating the feasibility of different organics recycling <br />programs: a source separated curbside cart program, a commingled Blue Bags program, and a <br />drop-off program. Potential organics recycling drop-off locations within the city were also <br />evaluated to identify a suitable site for establishment of a drop-off site within Roseville. <br />Methods for evaluating organics recycling programs and drop-off locations consisted of <br />informational interviews with county, municipality, and hauler staff experts. Data was also <br />gathered from government reports created by the state, counties, and municipalities. Case <br />studies for five different municipalities from the Twin Cities metropolitan area were conducted <br />to examine different organics recycling programs. Finally, drop -offsite locations were assessed <br />by completing in-person location evaluations. Important characteristics for site feasibility <br />included the ability to be easily accessible, well -lit, a feeling of safety & security, and ample <br />space for residents using the space for additional intended uses (e.g. recreational activities, <br />etc.). Two of the three sites were located at community recreational parks, and the third was <br />located at the city's yard waste compost drop-off site. <br />While all three programs are relatively affordable to residents, it is recommended that the City <br />of Roseville establish a co-sponsored drop off site with Ramsey County at the Victoria <br />Ballfields as an incremental step towards implementation of a more robust citywide source <br />separated organics recycling curbside program. Source separated curbside collection programs <br />are highly convenient, easy to use, and affordable to residents; all of which increase resident <br />participation rates over drop off -locations. Interviews and case studies suggest that a transition <br />to organized hauling paired with effective education, outreach, and incentives will ease <br />organics recycling implementation and enhance the overall success of the City of Roseville's <br />organics recycling program. <br />iv <br />