Council delays decision on closing Roseville Leaf Recycling Center, keeps site open one more year

The Roseville City Council on Oct. 13 voted 4–1 to postpone a final decision on whether to close the Roseville Leaf Recycling Center and directed staff to keep the site open through the 2025 season and gather more data for reconsideration in 2026.

Public Works Director Jesse Fryhammer presented staff analysis recommending closure to save budgeted capital and operating costs, citing duplicative service with Ramsey County, constrained site capacity, equipment nearing the end of life, and site issues including illegal dumping, contractor and nonresident use, odor and noise complaints and limited queuing. Fryhammer said the city collects about 30,000–35,000 cubic yards of leaves annually, turns compost into roughly 4,000–5,000 cubic yards of usable compost and typically retains about 1,000 cubic yards at year-end. He described replacement equipment options ranging from a pull-behind unit (approx. $85,000 plus a tractor upgrade) up to a cab-over turner costing about $800,000; he said the current turner dates to 1997 with replacement dollars in the CIP but that equipment of the same style is no longer manufactured.

The Public Works, Environment and Transportation Commission had recommended keeping the site open for one more year to collect data and explore options. Dozens of residents and local users addressed the council during the public comment period, including frequent site users and small haulers who described relying on Roseville’s site and said the staff analysis undercounted travel and user impacts. Commenters also urged the council to explore refurbishing existing equipment, volunteer gate monitoring and alternative fee structures. Staff told the council the site’s average resident distance to a leaf drop center would increase from about 1.33 miles to 2.8 miles if Roseville’s site closed.

Council members who supported postponement said the extra year would allow more public outreach, further discussion with Ramsey County and additional research into used equipment or refurbishing. Council member Strachan voted no. The motion to follow the commission’s recommendation — keeping the site open for one more year and gathering more information — passed 4–1.

Council directed staff to continue operations under current hours for the 2025 season, to collect data and to return with more detailed analysis and cost options (including used equipment and potential staffing/security models) in 2026. Staff noted that closing the site would allow the city to repurpose the location for wood-debris management, emergency staging or temporary contractor storage, and that Ramsey County’s year-round sites provide many of the same services (except Roseville’s for-fee compost delivery).