Bins located near NYM Food Shelf

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As of Friday, March 27, New York Mills is now one of five locations throughout Otter Tail County which offers an organic recycling location for the public’s use.

Organics recycling collects food waste in compostable bags, which is then picked up by a hauler. The organic waste is eventually dropped off at the Glacial Ridge Compost Facility near Hoffman, Minn. to be processed into usable compost.

This opportunity, made possible by the Otter Tail County Solid Waste Department through their organics recycling program, is available to county residents at any of the five locations including New York Mills, Perham, Parkers Prairie, Battle Lake and Fergus Falls. Utilizing organics recycling cuts down on household garbage and uses food scraps more consciously for renewal.

Otter Tail County, hoping that New York Mills would be willing to host a site, reached out and the city agreed to host a location, which is situated on the food shelf property on South Walker Avenue.

Organics accepted include food scraps, tea leaves and coffee grounds, paper towels, paper egg cartons, hair and fur, popsicle sticks, houseplant trimmings, cut flowers, as well as BPI certified compostable bags and products among others. More information about what is accepted and not accepted waste can be found at the recycling site.

“It is something that our community has asked for in the past,” said Julie Roberts, NY Mills City Clerk. “Now that Otter Tail County has started it up and it’s led by them. I think it will be beneficial to those residents who are very earth-conscious.”

The kiosk is home to three bins and an explanation of both the program and what is accepted organics waste. A warning emphasizing the importance of not using plastic bags is also seen as plastic is non-compostable and non-organic, so it would contaminate the organic compostables. Special compostable bags and brown paper grocery bags are acceptable to use for organics recycling.

Those interested in signing up with the county are able to visit www.ottertailcounty.gov/odo/ to be provided with a composting pail and a roll of compostable bags. They are also invited to utilize their own pails and compostable bags such as brown paper bags if they would like to use their own supplies.

“They should sign up because the county is wanting to keep track of the interest level and how many people are doing it,” said Roberts. “Then you are directed to pick up a pail and compostable bags here at the city office. They provide these and their first roll of bags.”

Roberts said that the city office has pails and compostable bags for those who sign up with the county as well as informational packets about the program available to those who are interested in learning more.