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Food Scraps Drop-Off Instructions

Collecting Scraps for Drop-off

Keep a container lined with a compostable bag near the kitchen sink for plate scrapings and prep scraps. Smelly foods, like fish, can be placed in the freezer until drop-off. Place food scraps in securely tied BPI-certified compostable bags. Never use plastic shopping bags.

Compostable Bags & Other Products

Only use compostable bags with the Biodegradable Products Institute logo. Two sizes of free replacement bags are available at Resource Renew-staffed drop sites.  Bag dispensers are now available at most sites. If there isn’t a bag dispenser, bags can be accessed from the front desk of the host site. Bags can also be purchased at Duluth area businesses including Marshall Hardware, Ace Hardware, Whole Foods Co-op, Walgreens, and Twin Ports Paper & Supply.

Resource Renew accepts only Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified compostable products. When choosing compostable cups, plates, cutlery, and other tableware or packaging, look for the BPI logo. Brands that carry certified product lines include ECO, Fabri-Kal and many more, though not ALL product lines are certified. For more information on why we accept BPI-certified compostable products, please visit our webpage for residents.

YES: Do Drop off

Anything that is or was edible: raw and cooked food, meat, fish, small bones, spoiled/moldy food, fruits, vegetables, peels & pits, cheese, breads, dough, pasta, rice, old pet food, tea bags, coffee grounds & filter. BPI-certified compostable products are also accepted.

NO: Don’t Drop Off

Pet waste, kitty litter, diapers, liquids, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, regular plastic bags and containers, dirt, rocks, pizza boxes, paper plates, napkins, paper towels and other food contact materials, like fast food wrappers. We’ve been getting quite a few questions about why we can’t accept paper products. For more information, please visit our webpage for residents.

Drop Site Locations

Whole Foods Co-op, Denfeld

4426 Grand Avenue, Duluth

The food scraps dumpster is in the parking lot nearest the Taco Bell. Look for the food scraps drop site signage. Compostable food scraps bags are available inside the store.

Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps, Morgan Park

1205 93rd Avenue W, Duluth

The food scraps dumpster is next to the white storage container in the parking lot. Look for the food scraps drop site signage. Compostable food scraps bags are available onsite from a bag dispenser.

Resource Renew Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility

27th Avenue W & Courtland Street, Duluth

The food scrap dumpster is on your right side as you enter the parking lot for HHW. Free compostable bags are available from staff.

Resource Renew Materials Recovery Center

4587 Ridgeview Road, Duluth

The food scrap dumpster is inside the fence near the exit gate.  Please drive up to the gatehouse and let the staff know you are there to drop off food waste.  Free compostable bags are also available from staff at the gatehouse.

Chester Creek Café (parking lot)

1902 E 8th Street, Duluth

The food scrap dumpster is behind a wood fence with a Resource Renew sign on it.  Free compostable bags are available from a dispenser attached to the fence.

Concordia Lutheran Church (north parking lot)

2501 Woodland Avenue, Duluth

The food scrap dumpster is located in the back of the church parking lot along the woods. Free compostable bags are available from the self-serve dispenser near the dumpster.

Lake Superior College (T-building, near loading dock)

2101 Trinity Road, Duluth

The food scrap dumpster is near the loading dock behind the T-Building. Bags and instructions are inside the public door nearest the loading dock.

Lake Superior Brewing (west side of parking lot)

5324 E Superior Street, Duluth

Lake Superior Brewing (LSB) hosts a food scrap dumpster at the far west end of their parking lot near their storage building. Use the self-serve bag dispenser onsite or visit a Resource Renew facility for free compostable bags.

Peace United Church of Christ (lower parking lot)

1111 N 11th Avenue E, Duluth

The food scraps dumpster is located in the lower parking lot next to the garbage dumpster. Compostable bags are available from a bag dispenser nearby. Girl Scout Troop 4041 helped with the launch of this drop site in 2024 while pursuing the Silver Award, one of the highest awards in scouting. The project involves 50 hours of community service toward an effort that will impact the community for years to come. Thank you, Girl Scouts!

Replay Workshop (near alley and 4th street)

408 3rd Avenue, Proctor

The 96-gallon cart for food scraps is placed near the alley at the corner of 4th Street.  A dispenser for compostable bags is also onsite.

Willard Munger Inn (back parking lot – 2 carts)

7408 Grand Avenue, Duluth | This site is available for use between the hours of 8am – 10pm.

Drive into the gravel circular lot and look for the two carts (not a dumpster). Use the self-serve bag dispenser onsite or visit a Resource Renew facility for free compostable bags. This site is available for use between the hours of 8am – 10pm.

YMCA at Essentia Wellness Center (SW corner of parking lot)

4289 Ugstad Road, Hermantown

The food scrap dumpster is in the parking lot adjacent to the woods/wetlands. Free compostable bags are available at the front desk inside the YMCA.

Residents of Carlton County: Carlton County Transfer Station

1950 Highway 210 Carlton, MN 55718

The food scrap dumpster is located near the Household Hazardous Waste Facility and the Recycling Center at the Carlton County Transfer Station.  Free compostable bags are available from the onsite attendant.

Three new sites available in Carlton County!  There is a food scraps drop site at the Carlton County Courthouse, Community Services Building (east parking lot) in Cloquet, and at the Thomson Township Recycling Center.

Residents of Superior, Wisconsin: Drop sites now available for food scraps provided by the City of Superior! Composting | Superior, WI – Official Website (superiorwi.gov)