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Yard Waste
Yard waste - such as leaves, branches, grass clippings, and other organic material from lawns, gardens, and landscaping - is a valuable resource that can add nutrients back into your yard or be recycled into compost. It is illegal to put yard waste in your household garbage. Yard waste is NOT accepted at Shorewood Organics Recycling Drop-off sites.
Options for managing yard waste are listed below.
Contact your garbage hauler for information on options and material preparations.
Bag yard waste for pickup in compostable bags, which include paper bags or certified-compostable plastic bags (identified with the BPI compostable logo).
Call before visiting these businesses for hours, materials they accept, requirements and fees.
The Mulch Store
- Minnetrista: 4275 Creek View Circle, Minnetrista, MN 55364
- Open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 952-446-1056
- Learn more at mulchstoremn.com
SMSC Organics Recycling Facility
- Shakopee: 1905 Mystic Lake Drive South, Shakopee, MN 55379
- Open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 952-233-9191
- Learn more at smscorf.com
Note: Hennepin County does NOT operate a yard waste drop-off site, but their website includes additional yard waste drop-off sites.
Backyard composting is an easy way to turn much of the waste from your yard and kitchen into a rich organic material that you can use to improve your soil.
Leave grass clippings on your lawn. This practice will add valuable nutrients and can reduce the need for fertilizer.
Learn more about backyard composting at hennepin.us
All ash trees in Hennepin County are threatened by the emerald ash borer, a destructive tree pest that attacks and kills ash trees. To prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, a quarantine is in place for Hennepin County and surrounding counties that prohibits hauling ash tree waste out of the quarantine area.
Disposing of ash tree waste
Ash tree waste should be taken to the closest disposal site to minimize the spread of the emerald ash borer. Some yard waste haulers and sites cannot accept ash tree waste. See the list of ash tree waste disposal sites.
Preventing the spread of the emerald ash borer
Take these steps to help prevent emerald ash borer from spreading:
- Don't transport firewood. Buy firewood locally from an approved vendor, and don't bring any extra wood home with you.
- Watch for signs of infestation in your ash trees. The earlier that emerald ash borer is found, the sooner it can be addressed. Learn more about the signs if emerald ash borer infestation and management options for ash trees in the county's emerald ash borer brochure (PDF).
- Only prune ash trees during the season when emerald ash borer is not active, which is from October 1 to April 30. Remember to dispose of any ash tree waste at the closest disposal site.
More information
Buckthorn is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as a Restricted Noxious Weed. Please review the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Guide to Removal and Disposal of Noxious Weeds in Minnesota for thorough guidance on disposal.
With all invasive plants, it is preferred to keep the plant material on site when possible to reduce the chance of spreading seeds to new areas.
Contact your local County Agricultural Inspector for additional disposal suggestions.