RIVER FALLS – The City of River Falls provides a compost facility at 901 W. Locust St. that is intended to serve city residents who need to dispose of yard waste and brush de – bris. Funding to maintain this site is derived from a monthly CORE (compost and recycling) fee added to the monthly statement that River Falls Municipal Utility (RFMU) customers receive. The site is not intended for use by residents of other municipalities and/or commercial entities.

For many years, the city has been able to leave the site unattended and unlocked. How – ever, this has resulted in larger amounts of material being dumped at the site than originally anticipated, including hardwoods like trees and branches.

Historically, the amount of material collected has not presented a critical issue, since the city was able to have the hardwoods ground and sent to the St. Paul central heating plant for no cost. However, the city was advised in May that, effective immediately, the St. Paul central heating plant would no longer be taking the city’s material.

Moving forward, the continued collection, grinding, and removal of such a large amount of material would cost the city up -wards of $200,000 annually. In the near term, the city will need to better control what material is being collected.

This will include only accepting yard waste and limited brush from city residents in accordance with the rules posted onsite. The funds collected through the RFMU core fee do cover the cost of grinding this smaller material, which is then made available as mulch and compost.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: The city compost site will primarily be open through November on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Except for specific occasions (e.g. Christmas tree collection), the site will remain closed from December through March. There may be an attendant on duty during the site’s open hours. Only city residents that are RFMU customers will be able to use the site. Those wishing to use the site will need to have a copy of their utility billing statement and a photo ID (with matching address) to drop o materials.

More information about the compost site may be found at: https://www.rfcity.org/364/ Compost. Those with questions should con – tact Assistant City Administrator Jason Stroud at [email protected] or 715-4263416.

Submitted by City of River Falls