Hi Nelly,

I’m reaching out in response to your request/comment to Shannon Conk to place a food scraps drop off site in St. Paul.  Ramsey County Public Health – Environmental Health (PH-EH) is responsible for partnering with municipalities to site and maintain the food scrap drop off sites (there are currently 10, 24/7 sites + 7 sites at county yard waste sites).   PH-EH has made several attempts to site a location in downtown St. Paul, working with City of St. Paul Public Works and city council staff to do so.  However, the downtown area has proven to offer many challenges to developing a drop off site.  There are several criteria needed to install a drop off site including available public land (commercial/private is too risky in the event property changes hands and/or there can be a lack of local ownership), access for individuals to use the site, access to for the hauling trucks to service a site and providing security for site containers to prevent disposal of unacceptable wastes and even the potential for food waste to be removed from the containers.  At least ½ dozen locations have been considered but none have had all of these variables line up to make for a safe and efficient drop off location.  The most recent option looked good until our hauler deemed the location not serviceable because it would require a truck to back out onto a busy connecting street as there was no room for the truck to turn around after emptying the containers.  Also, with the Food Scraps Pickup Program (FSPP) coming we need to consider costs of installing and maintaining another drop off site.  Besides initial costs to install a cement slab and dumpster enclosure, the drop off sites are time-intensive for staff to keep a supply of bags on hand, maintain site surfaces during the winter months, coordinate hauling services, make repairs to the site enclosure, and respond to any complaints, such as overflowing containers or illegally dumped items showing up in the containers. 

Thank you for your enthusiasm in participating in the program!  I wish we could offer an interim method for collecting food waste generated by your complex but at this point it appears that the FSPP may be the best option in the future.

Thanks,

John

John Springman    

(he, him, his)

Environmental Health Supervisor

Public Health   |   Health and Wellness

651-266-1150     

2785 White Bear Avenue North, Suite 350, Maplewood, MN 55109