by Dennis Dalman
Although a warm spring has been slow in coming, it will soon be time to clean up yards and get ready for summer.
The St. Joseph Compost Site will open Monday, May 2, but those who want to bring debris to it must first obtain a permit.
The compost site will accept debris from residents of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Township, St. Wendel Township and also residents of St. Cloud, as long as the residents from those cities and rural areas first obtain their permits.
Permits can be purchased in person at the St. Joseph Government Center, by mail, via drop box or online. The following information is required to purchase a compost-site permit: name, address, make and model of vehicle, license-plate number.
The government center is located at 75 Callaway St. E. in the city. That is where people can purchase the permits in person or the necessary information along with a check can be placed in an envelope with a return address and dropped off in the drop box located on the west side of the government center.
To obtain a permit via mail, send the information (name, address, make and model of vehicle and license-plate number) with a check to: St. Joseph Government Center, Compost Site Permit, 75 Callaway St. E., St. Joseph, MN 56374.
To obtain a permit online, visit the city website at cityofstjoseph.com/formcenter/payment-forms-4/compost-site-permit-application-34.
The permit costs for 2022 are as follows:
St. Joseph city residents: $45.
St. Joseph Township and St. Wendel Township residents: $70.
City of St. Cloud residents: $60.
Once those applicants obtain their permits in person or via mail from the city, they should be affixed to the vehicle’s inside window on the driver’s side. Workers at the site can then match up the permit with the vehicle’s license number.
Additional and/or replacement permits can be purchased for $5.
Free composted material is available for use by any compost-site visitors who have valid permits. When driving into the site, stop and check with an attendant. All debris containers must be taken home after drop-offs.
Debris accepted at the compost site are leaves, twigs, branches and garden waste. Any tree limbs over three inches in diameter must have all leaves and supporting branches removed before bringing them to the site.
Construction debris will not be accepted.
The compost site is located at 7613 Ridgewood Road, St. Joseph. It will be open from May 2 to Oct. 31.
Its hours of operation are from 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
It will be closed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
If there are any questions, call the St. Joseph Government Center at 320-363-7201.
