Bemidji offers discounted compost bins, rain barrels; pickup April 21

The City of Bemidji is partnering with the Recycling Association of Minnesota to sell discounted compost bins and rain barrels to residents, and city materials state pick up is set for April 21 at the Bemidji Public Works Facility, 1351 5th Street NW. “To promote environmental stewardship, the City of Bemidji has partnered with the Recycling Association of Minnesota to sell low-cost compost bins & rain barrels,” the city newsletter says, and it directs residents to order through the city website by clicking the “Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Event” link on the home page.

City published pricing lists Bemidji-specific discount code ‘56601’ for deeply reduced rates: “Bemidji residents should use the discount code ‘56601’ to receive the special price of $30!” for rain barrels and “Bemidji residents should use the discount code ‘56601’ to receive the special price of $24” for compost bins. Local coverage in the Bemidji Pioneer and syndicated notices repeated those figures and added a household cap in their release: “The cost is $24 per compost bin and $30 per rain barrel using the discount code '56601,' with a limit of two per household. A select number of compost bins and rain barrels are available and ordering will close when supplies run out, the release said.”

Orders must be picked up in person at the Public Works facility on the city date and time window. Yahoo and the Bemidji Pioneer quoted the pickup requirement exactly: “Orders must be picked up between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, at the Bemidji Public Works Facility, 1351 Fifth Street NW. Orders must be picked up in person and order confirmation email must be presented.”

Bemidji’s notice sits alongside a related Resource Renew/ WLSSD program that uses the Recycling Association of Minnesota store and a different promo code, and that program lists different prices and pickup logistics. WLSSD’s materials state: “When the store goes live on Saturday, March 1st (12:01 am!), it can be accessed from the Recycling Association of Minnesota website (link above). When you find the Resource Renew store, be sure to enter in the promo code for the District discount (ResourceRenew20). The $20 discount can be applied to the purchase of 1 rain barrel and/or 1 compost bin per transaction.” WLSSD further lists an alternate pickup for Resource Renew purchasers: “Residents will then be able to pick up their purchased items at the Yard Waste Compost Site on Saturday, April 25th from 1-4:30 p.m. PLEASE ADD THIS DATE TO YOUR CALENDAR. We don’t have an easy way to contact everyone who orders with a reminder. Arrangements can also be made to pick up at a later date.”

The city release also lists product benefits for anyone deciding between the offers. The City of Bemidji release says rain barrels will “Collect and direct rain water away from the foundation of your house,” “Reduce household watering needs by saving rain for irrigation use; up to 40 percent of summer water is used for irrigation,” and “Recycling rain water reduces your personal energy consumption by using less treated water.” On composting, the city release states: “Composting is a resourceful way to recycle foods scraps and yard trimmings (grass clippings, leaves, etc.),” “Save money on fertilizers and pesticides by using compost,” and “Helps reduce greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere.”

Because the Recycling Association of Minnesota platform and WLSSD list different discount codes, prices, and an April 25 pickup for Resource Renew customers, the city newsletter is the authoritative notice for Bemidji’s April 21 pickup. The city newsletter reiterates logistics: “Orders must be picked up between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on April 21st, 2026 at the Bemidji Public Works Facility, 1351 5th Street NW, Bemidji, MN 56601.” Officials and residents seeking clarification on household limits, tax on discounted prices, or unit availability are advised to use the city’s online event link or the Recycling Association of Minnesota product pages at the time of ordering to confirm which promo code and pickup apply to their address.