Collection not affected by Christmas or New Year's holidays

Collection will not be delayed due to the Christmas or New Year's holidays this year. Please have your carts out by 7 a.m. on your regular pickup day.  City offices will be closed on Thursday December 24, Friday December 25 and Friday December 31, 2021.

Holiday tree pickup

Holiday trees will be collected in 2022 during the weeks of January 3 – 7 and 10 – 14.  During tree collection weeks, the cost to collect a tree is $10.93 and the charge will appear on your next utility bill.

To prepare your tree for pickup, remove all decorations, wires and stands. Set out before 7 a.m. on your collection day.  

Holiday disposal guide

Before throwing away something this holiday season, ask yourself: does this item belong in recycling, organics or garbage?  Use this guide to answer all of your holiday waste disposal questions.

Tips for extra recycling

Extra recycling accumulates quickly during the holidays. After you fill your recycling cart with recyclable materials, you can place any leftover recyclable materials next to the cart. Place smaller recyclable items in paper bags before putting next to the recycling cart. Cardboard should be flattened and stacked into a pile no larger than three feet wide and one foot tall. Bundle the stacked cardboard with string or twine and place next to your cart. If you regularly have extra recycling, you can request a second recycling cart for no cost.  For more information, visit blm.mn/recycling.

Sign up for curbside organics

Did you know that curbside organics recycling is coming to Bloomington?  Residents with City garbage and recycling service can recycle organics curbside beginning in March 2022.  About 30 percent of trash is made up of food scraps and other material that could be composted.  Like regular recycling, all households in the City garbage program will see a monthly charge for organics recycling on their utility bill after the program begins in March 2022.  There is no additional cost to receive an organics cart, but sign up is required.  For more information and how to sign-up, visit blm.mn/organics.

Visit the City’s organics outreach table at the Bloomington Indoor Farmers Markets in January or February or the Home Improvement Fair on February 26th and pick up a free organics kitchen collection container and some certified compostable plastic bags while supplies last!

Organics poster contest

Are you or your children looking for an art project over the holidays?  Bloomington is partnering with the Cities of Edina and Richfield for an art contest to celebrate the new organics collection programs in all three cities!  The goal of the project is to engage youth, who will be most affected by our changing climate, in a creative expression of hope for the future.  Submissions will be accepted until February 1, 2022.  First place contest winners will receive a $100 prize.  Funds for organics recycling promotions and the prizes for this contest are provided by Hennepin County. 

For more information and the contest rules, please click here.   #BloomingtonRecycles

Reduce waste during the holidays

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the volume of garbage goes up significantly. The average family throws away 25 percent more trash than they usually do during the holidays according to statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, there are ways to protect the environment and keep the holiday cheer.  Bloomington encourages you to be thoughtful, be practical and be resourceful. You can make holiday gatherings more sustainable by using real dishware and silverware, wrapping gifts with reusable cloth or gift bags, and plan meals to reduce food waste.  For great tips on how to reduce waste during the holidays, check out Hennepin County’s eco-friendly holiday guide.

Contact us

For billing and service related questions, please contact Utility Billing at 952-563-8726 or Public Works Project Coordinator at 952-563-4659.