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Introduction <br />In recent years, organics recycling programs gained popularity among municipalities <br />throughout the United States (U.S. EPA, 2016). Organics recycling provides a way for <br />communities to reduce their waste and carbon footprints by composting a variety of household <br />items that typically get sent to landfills. Following this trend, the City of Roseville is evaluating <br />the feasibility of a curbside organics recycling program to improve their community <br />sustainability. <br />The City of Roseville is a suburb of the Minneapolis -St. Paul metropolitan area, located in <br />Ramsey County (City of Roseville, n.d.). Since its establishment in 1948, Roseville has <br />developed into a vibrant community of 33,660 residents (United States Census Bureau, 2010; <br />City of Roseville, 2009). The City of Roseville values inclusivity, forward thinking, <br />environmental stewardship, and sustainability; all of which make the city a welcoming and <br />desirable place to live, work, and visit (2030 Comprehensive Plan, 2009). <br />Students within the University of Minnesota (UMN) - Environmental Science, Policy and <br />Management (ESPM) program partnered with the City of Roseville to complete a variety of <br />projects to enhance community sustainability and enrichment. Resident interest, city values, <br />and anticipated legislative and regulatory changes have made implementation of an organics <br />recycling program atop priority for the city and afocus area in the UMN-Roseville partnership <br />(Culver, 2017). <br />Currently, curbside pickup of traditional recyclables (e.g. paper, plastic, glass, etc.) is available <br />to all residents through Eureka Recycling. Residents must select and initiate service with one <br />of nine Roseville approved solid waste haulers as no municipally administered solid waste <br />collection exists in the city (City of Roseville, n.d.). Because Roseville is a city within Ramsey <br />County, residents can take advantage of any of the seven organics recycling drop-off sites <br />located throughout the county at no charge. However, it is worth noting that no drop-off site <br />exists within Roseville city boundaries, which makes it difficult for residents to consistently <br />take advantage of this amenity (Culver, 2017). <br />The goal of the City of Roseville and the ESPM student team is to evaluate the feasibility of <br />implementing an organics recycling program in Roseville. Research focused on relevant <br />legislation and regulations was conducted to clarify what is required of an organics recycling <br />program. Interviews and case studies provided an understanding of the challenges and <br />successes among existing organics recycling programs in other municipalities, which could <br />maximize Roseville's program success and prevent potential obstacles. Knowledge regarding <br />the logistical aspects of curbside organics collection, transport, and disposal was also needed <br />to identify future partnerships that enable this program to be carried out. The feasibility analysis <br />found herein can serve as a guide for implementing a successful organics recycling program <br />throughout Roseville that not only meets the needs of its residents, but also promotes the <br />sustainability of the community. <br />The implementation of curbside organics recycling in municipalities, such as Roseville, has <br />huge implications for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Landfills are <br />reaching capacity at alarming rates. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, "In <br />2015, the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area generated 3.365 million tons of municipal solid waste. <br />Metro municipal solid waste generation is projected to grow to 3.98 million tons by 2035," <br />(Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2017). Quickly diminishing landfill space can cause <br />1 <br />