Waste and sustainability resources

It's up to you!

And it’s easier than you think. Disposing of your waste correctly makes a huge difference, and we’re here to help you learn how. But reducing the amount you waste makes an even bigger impact. You’ve heard “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” before, and it’s in that order for a reason.

Take a moment to think about your waste output. How much of it is food? How many paper towels do you go through a week? What’s filling your trash and recycling?

Everything we waste, and everything we consume, is a choice. Small adjustments, like getting a reusable water bottle, or turning down plastic cutlery with takeout, add up.

To a healthier Olmsted County, and a healthier Minnesota. Explore our resources below to learn more about transforming your waste output and building easy, sustainable habits.

Reduce and reuse

The more you reduce and reuse, the less you waste. This means smaller landfills and cleaner communities. Investing in durable, washable, reusable products instead of buying single-use items like paper towels, plastic bags, or plastic cutlery doesn’t just help save the environment; it helps save you money in the long run. The more you pay attention to your waste, the easier it becomes to build habits that feel easy and impactful. Read more about ways to reduce waste with our resources below.

Diagram of actions you can take to reduce waste: cloth napkins instead of paper, reusable tote bags instead of plastic, metal utensils rather than plastic, refillable water bottle, reusable food containers, bars of soap rather than plastic containers, using electric yard tools instead of gas, thrift shopping, turn old cloths into rags, metal straws, shop local, use digital receipts rather than printouts, uses powdered detergent and dryer balls

What can I recycle?

After reducing and reusing, it’s important to know what to do with what’s left. Not knowing what materials go where can be confusing, but at Olmsted County, we’re here to help. Use our Curbside Recycling Cart Guide to determine what you can and can’t recycle with us.

This is a visual representation of acceptable and unacceptable items in a curbside recycling cart. The text on the page below lists the same acceptable and unacceptable items.

Got junk (appliances, old furniture, electronics) to get rid of?

Check out the Waste Wizard! Simply type the name of an item and the Waste Wizard will tell you how to recycle or dispose of it.

Food Scrap Composting

Food waste doesn’t just mean food goes uneaten; it also means wasted transportation costs and wasted water from food production. The good news is that will be adding food scrap drop-off sites in 2026. 

In the meantime:
Our existing drop-off bin at the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility will continue to accept food scraps from registered participants. Those in need of additional BPI certified compostable bags should email reducewaste@olmstedcounty.gov. Compostable bags can also be picked up in-person at the Olmsted County Environmental Resources Department office (2122 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200 Rochester, MN 55904). 

The Hazardous Waste Facility is located at 305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906 and is open Tuesday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except for holiday closings).  

Food Scraps in BPI certified Bags

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Olmsted County’s Integrated Solid Waste Management System and greenhouse gas impact

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the process through which heat is trapped near Earth's surface by substances known as "greenhouse gases." Imagine these gases as a cozy blanket enveloping our planet, helping to maintain a warmer temperature than it would have otherwise. Greenhouse gases consist of carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor. Water vapor, which reacts to temperature changes, is referred to as a "feedback," because it amplifies the effect of forces that initially caused the warming.

Sources of greenhouse gases in Minnesota 

Pie chart of Minnesota's greenhouse gas emissions across economic sectors

Waste-to-energy vs. landfilling

The Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF) generates significantly less GHG than a traditional landfill by taking a more sustainable approach to managing waste. This is achieved in three key ways:

1. Burning garbage prevents the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas typically released by waste decomposing anaerobically in landfills.

2. Each year, Olmsted County recovers and recycles more than 2,300 tons of iron from OWEF ash. 

3. By using garbage as biomass fuel, the OWEF produces enough energy to power more than 7,700 homes annually. 

Comparison of traditional landfilling vs the Olmsted-Waste-to-Energy Facility

Individual Waste and GHG Emissions Calculator 

Speaker request form

If you would like a representative from the Environmental Resources Department to speak at an event regarding garbage and recycling, please complete the request form below.