Stearns County, MN Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Stearns County Ordinance No. 193, Section 6.1
- Who decides service model
- County Board, by district, after public hearing
- Service is
- Mandatory for every non-exempt property
- Unpaid fee remedy
- Special assessment on property taxes
- Billing office
- Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer
Summary
Stearns County does not fix weekly pickup days in its ordinance; instead Ordinance No. 193 requires every property in a solid waste district to receive and pay for collection service, with the county choosing direct, municipal-contract, or hauler-based service district by district.
6.1 Service to All Properties. Unless exempted under Section 5 or Section 3.7 of this Ordinance, every property shall receive, and the owner or occupant thereof shall pay a user fee for collection and disposal of covered solid waste and recyclables. The amount of that fee will be determined by the County Board, by resolution. The mechanism for determining fees will be set by the Solid Waste Collection Ordinance.
Full Breakdown
Section 6 of Ordinance No. 193 sets up the framework: the county establishes one or more Solid Waste Collection Districts, and the method of collection in each is fixed by County Board resolution after a public hearing and the Director's recommendation. 7 (self-hauler exception), every property must receive service and its owner or occupant must pay a user fee for collection and disposal of both solid waste and recyclables, with the fee amount and mechanism set by County Board resolution and the companion Solid Waste Collection Ordinance No. 194. 4). Ordinance No. 2 routes billing through the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer.
Violations & Fines
A property owner or occupant who fails to pay the mandatory service fee under Section 6.1 faces certification of the unpaid fee to the County Auditor-Treasurer as a special assessment against the property, collected with interest through the property tax roll (Ordinance No. 194, Section 10.1), plus recovery in a civil action and recovery of the county's costs and attorney fees under Sections 10.2 and 10.3. General violations of the ordinance are misdemeanors under Section 8.1 of Ordinance No. 193, carrying up to a $700 fine or 90 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stearns County set a specific trash pickup day?
Can I opt out of county trash service?
What happens if I don't pay my Stearns County trash bill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.