Sewers
Storm Sewer Information
The city has a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to detect and prevent illicit discharges (oil, paint, fertilizer, pet waste, grass clippings, etc.) from entering the city’s storm sewer system, ditches, ponds, or Lake Minnetonka. View the SWPPP. If you observe an illicit discharge, call 911. If you have any comments regarding the city's SWPPP, please send to administrator@greenwoodmn.com.
Sanitary Sewer Information
Sanitary Sewer Information
The city sewers are designed to dispose of TWO, and ONLY two very specific things: human waste and toilet paper. When sewer pumps clog, the cost the city taxpayers is $2500+ to rebuild. When clean water is dumped in to the sanitary sewer system, the city is fined by the Met Council for cleaning water that is already clean.
Discharges from sump pumps and foundation drains into the sanitary sewer are prohibited. If you observe an illicit sanitary sewer discharge, call the city at 952.474.6633.
Just because the packaging on a product says it is “disposable” or “flushable” does not mean it should be flushed down a toilet. Face cleansing cloths, baby wipes, toilet cleaning pads, and cleaning cloths like Swiffers should NEVER be flushed down a toilet. Click on this link for a Guide to What You CAN and CANNOT Put Down the Drain.
NEVER FLUSH
• Plastic of any kind
• Clothing
• Wash cloths, towels, rags
• Vitamins, medicines or other drugs
• Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
• Hair
• Food items containing seeds and peelings
• Fats, oils, and grease
• Egg shells, nutshells, and coffee grounds
• Dental floss
• Napkins (paper or cloth) and paper towels
• Swiffers
• Toilet bowl scrub pads
• Baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, and moist wipes
• Facial tissues
• Diapers (cloth, disposable, or flushable)
Keep your sewer system healthy!
Discharges from sump pumps and foundation drains into the sanitary sewer are prohibited. If you observe an illicit sanitary sewer discharge, call the city at 952.474.6633.
Just because the packaging on a product says it is “disposable” or “flushable” does not mean it should be flushed down a toilet. Face cleansing cloths, baby wipes, toilet cleaning pads, and cleaning cloths like Swiffers should NEVER be flushed down a toilet. Click on this link for a Guide to What You CAN and CANNOT Put Down the Drain.
NEVER FLUSH
• Plastic of any kind
• Clothing
• Wash cloths, towels, rags
• Vitamins, medicines or other drugs
• Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
• Hair
• Food items containing seeds and peelings
• Fats, oils, and grease
• Egg shells, nutshells, and coffee grounds
• Dental floss
• Napkins (paper or cloth) and paper towels
• Swiffers
• Toilet bowl scrub pads
• Baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, and moist wipes
• Facial tissues
• Diapers (cloth, disposable, or flushable)
Keep your sewer system healthy!
Trees
TREES AND POWER LINES
The city does not deal with trees that are touching power lines. If you observe a tree touching a power line, call Xcel at 800.895.1999.
TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE
The city does not deal with trees that are touching power lines. If you observe a tree touching a power line, call Xcel at 800.895.1999.
TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE
The city has a Tree Preservation ordinance that limits the number of trees that may be removed. Please contact the city at administrator@greenwoodmn.com before you remove any trees.
EMERALD ASH BORER
In March 2021, the city forester confirmed that EAB is now in Greenwood. EAB is a destructive pest that attacks all species of ash trees. Since ash trees have NO natural defense to EAB, trees will die in 1-4 years once infested. Eventually all ash trees will die unless successfully treated. Treatment costs approximately $100 for a 20" diameter tree and must be done 1-3 years in perpetuity.
How to identify EAB: EAB larva creates S-shaped galleries under the bark. An adult EAB is a slender elongated insect 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, iridescent-green to copper-green in color, and leaves a D-shaped exit hole in the bark.
What the city is doing on public property: In the coming months, the city forester will identify significant ash trees located on city property that would be worth treating. The city forester also will mark ash trees for removal if they are weak specimens that are a hazard. Otherwise, ash trees on public property will become habitat for wildlife. Below is a PDF of the Ash Tree Inventory prepared by the city forester.
What you need to do: In Greenwood, ash trees may be removed without limitation. However, please do NOT remove ash trees May-Sep to reduce the spread of EAB. Consult with a certified arborist to determine treatment options for privately-owned ash trees.
More information: mda.state.mn.us (keyword: ash borer).
EMERALD ASH BORER
In March 2021, the city forester confirmed that EAB is now in Greenwood. EAB is a destructive pest that attacks all species of ash trees. Since ash trees have NO natural defense to EAB, trees will die in 1-4 years once infested. Eventually all ash trees will die unless successfully treated. Treatment costs approximately $100 for a 20" diameter tree and must be done 1-3 years in perpetuity.
How to identify EAB: EAB larva creates S-shaped galleries under the bark. An adult EAB is a slender elongated insect 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, iridescent-green to copper-green in color, and leaves a D-shaped exit hole in the bark.
What the city is doing on public property: In the coming months, the city forester will identify significant ash trees located on city property that would be worth treating. The city forester also will mark ash trees for removal if they are weak specimens that are a hazard. Otherwise, ash trees on public property will become habitat for wildlife. Below is a PDF of the Ash Tree Inventory prepared by the city forester.
What you need to do: In Greenwood, ash trees may be removed without limitation. However, please do NOT remove ash trees May-Sep to reduce the spread of EAB. Consult with a certified arborist to determine treatment options for privately-owned ash trees.
More information: mda.state.mn.us (keyword: ash borer).
Well Water
Most Greenwood property owners rely on private wells for their water resource. Private wells in Greenwood have been found to arsenic levels that exceed the “safe” level for arsenic. So it is important for private well owners to test on a regular basis. Well owners are responsible for the cost of testing and remedying any problems found with private wells. The below PDF provides more information regarding well-testing recommendations, arsenic, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Garbage
Property owners are responsible for contracting with the garbage provider of their choice as long as collection is done on Thursday and the provider uses lightweight trucks.
Recycling
Recycling service is provided by Republic services via a contract with the city. The fee is paid with your annual utility bill from the city. There is no need to sign up for the program. Simply place your recycling cart curbside by 7am on Thursday mornings. If you do not have a cart or need a different size, please send a request to administrator@greenwoodmn.com.
MISSED RECYCLING PICKUP
MISSED RECYCLING PICKUP
In recent months, the city has received several calls / emails regarding “missed” pickups of recycling containers that ultimately were picked up later in the day than usual. The “usual” pickup time for Greenwood has shifted to be about 2 hours later than in the past, and it is important to note that collection time can be anywhere between 7am and 6pm on Thursdays. Please wait until after 6pm to report missed pickups. If your recycling is not picked up by 6pm, please send an email to administrator@greenwoodmn.com with your name, address, and phone number.
Organics & Backyard Composting
Greenwood has a partnership with Deephaven to enable residents to recycle organics via an organics drop-off container located at 20260 Minnetonka Blvd (Haralson Park - where the platform courts are located). The container will be available 24 hours a day and is equipped with a combination padlock to prevent illegal dumping. Send an email to administrator@greenwoodmn.com to receive the padlock code. As part of this community-wide effort, additional drop-off containers will be located in Shorewood at 6000 Eureka Road (Freeman Park) and 5355 St. Alban’s Bay Road (South Shore Community Park) for you to use as well. Please use compostable bags to control odor and keep the site clean. All compostable bags must be labeled with the BPI Certification logo. These bags are available at most local retail outlets, grocery stores, hardware stores, etc. Paper grocery bags may also be used.
What material is acceptable in the Organics drop-off program?
What material is acceptable in the Organics drop-off program?
- Foods scraps
- Food soiled paper
- Certified compostable products
Additional information can be found at https://www.hennepin.us/organics.
Backyard Composting
Information on backyard can be found at Hennepin County Backyard Composting.
Spring Clean-up Day
Greenwood Spring Clean-Up Day typically is the 3rd Saturday in May. This FREE curbside service provides pick-up for many items not usually taken by garbage haulers. Only one trip will be made through the city, so be sure your items are curbside by 7am.
ACCEPTED ITEMS:
- Sofas, chairs, cabinets, tables, desks, etc.
- Carpet (must be tied in rolls no longer than 5 feet)
- Small construction debris piles, nails removed, sheetrock boxed or bagged (50 pound maximum per bag), plywood and paneling must be cut into sections, windows accepted if the frame is good. Wood must be no longer than 5 feet.
- Metal items, bicycles, grills, swing sets (must be disassembled and no concrete), lawn mowers, snowblowers, weed whips, etc. (oil / gas must be drained)
- General household junk, blinds, housewares, etc.
- Yard waste in compostable or paper bags.
- Brush must be bundled with twine and no longer than 5 feet and 3 inches in diameter.
NOT ACCEPTED: Broken glass, wood with nails, railroad ties, green treated wood, large windows and sliding glass doors, carpet with nail strips, fluorescent ballast and bulbs, TVs, computers or printers, microwaves, LP tanks, air conditioners, furnaces, appliances, firewood, stumps, bushes with root systems, water heaters, paint, oil, gas, hazardous waste, items over 100 pounds, car tires, batteries, car parts, yard waste in plastic bags, non-bundled brush, household food, garbage, or recycling.