Coon Rapids Urges Residents to Recycle Pumpkins, Not Trash Them, at City Recycling Center

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — As Halloween decorations fade and autumn winds down, the City of Coon Rapids is reminding residents to give their pumpkins a second life — not a landfill fate. Through its organics recycling program, the city encourages residents to bring used pumpkins to the Coon Rapids Recycling Center rather than throwing them in the garbage.

The city issued its annual “Fall Reminder” urging residents: “Don’t throw your pumpkins in the trash — bring them to the Coon Rapids Recycling Center!” The pumpkins can be placed directly into the organics recycling bin, which sits just outside the fenced area of the facility. Because the container is located outside the gate, drop-offs are available anytime — day or night.

The Coon Rapids Recycling Center, located next to the Public Works building at 1827 111th Avenue NW, serves as a community hub for responsible waste management. In addition to organics recycling, the center accepts a wide range of materials including paper, cardboard, metal, and certain plastics.

From October through March, the main recycling facility operates Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and remains closed on Sundays, Mondays, and observed holidays. However, the organics drop site — including the pumpkin disposal bin — remains accessible 24/7 for convenience.

The organics recycling program is open to all Anoka County residents and forms part of Minnesota’s Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) initiative, which supports local recycling and composting efforts statewide. According to city guidance, anything that comes from a plant or animal — such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, or pumpkins — is accepted in the organics bin. Residents are encouraged to use BPI-certified compostable bags or paper bags for drop-offs to help maintain cleanliness and efficiency.

“By composting pumpkins and other organic waste, residents help reduce methane emissions from landfills and return valuable nutrients to the soil,” the city’s Recycling Division notes on its website.

For more information on what can be recycled, current hours, and contact details for the Recycling Division, visit the official City of Coon Rapids website at coonrapidsmn.gov/recycling.

MinneapoliMedia