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Hennepin County > Recycling and hazardous waste > Residential recycling

Residential recycling

Recycling is an easy and convenient way to reduce your trash and protect the environment. Cities and property managers are required to offer residents the opportunity to recycle.

What you can recycle

See the recycling guide (PDF) for what you can and cannot recycle in Hennepin County.

For the most accurate information about pick-up days and accepted materials in your community, start by contacting your city recycling coordinator or waste hauler. 

Order residential recycling labels and guides

Free resources, including container labels and recycling guides, are available to Hennepin County residents to improve recycling in your home and to distribute to friends and neighbors. 

See what's available and order free resources.

Helpful resources

  • Green Disposal Guide
    Find options for materials you can't recycle at home
  • Organics recycling
    Learn how to collect food waste and other materials for composting

Environment and Energy

environment@hennepin.us

Phone: 612-348-3777

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What you can recycle - detailed yes and no list

Basic recycling list

Brush up on the basics to make sure you're recycling the right stuff. See our recycling guide (PDF) for the list of what's accepted. These items can be sorted properly at recycling facilities and made into new products. The guide also includes the most important items to leave out because they cause problems in the recycling process.

Find a detailed list of accepted and not accepted items below.

  • Plastic
  • Paper
  • Glass
  • Cartons
  • Metal

Detailed recycling guidelines

Material type: Plastic

Preparation tips: Empty, rinse, and replace cap. Do not crush.

A note on plastic types: Did you know there are seven types of plastics? This is what the number 1 - 7 printed on a plastic item tells you. Although the triangle looks like a recycling symbol, it only tells you what type of plastic an item is, not if or how you can recycle it. Plastic bottles, jugs, and containers with a number 1, 2, and 5 are generally accepted in your recycling at home because there are good markets for recycling these items.

Accepted

#1, 2, and 5 containers, bottles, and jugs such as:

  • Clear berry and produce containers
  • Clear plastic egg cartons
  • Dishwashing and laundry detergent bottles and jugs
  • Ketchup and salad dressing bottles
  • Margarine, cottage cheese, cream cheese and other tubs and lids
  • Milk and juice jugs
  • Soda, juice, and water bottles
  • Yogurt, pudding, and fruit cups

Not accepted

  • #3, #4, #6, #7 plastic
  • Black containers and bottles
  • Bulky rigid plastics (such as kiddie pools, laundry baskets, and window blinds)
  • Chip bags, granola bar and candy wrappers
  • Clear, rigid packaging from toys, electronics, and other products
  • Foam blocks
  • Foam egg cartons
  • Garden hoses
  • Keurig or Nestle cups
  • Loose plastic bottle caps
  • Meal prep packaging
  • Mesh plastic bags
  • Microwaveable food trays
  • Motor oil bottles and other containers that held hazardous products
  • Plastic bags, film, and wrap
  • Plastic gloves
  • Plastic straws
  • Pouches (like for snack foods, purees, or granola)
  • Pumps and sprayer tops from bottles
  • Random small plastic items such as contact lens cases and floss containers
  • Sauce or condiment cups
  • Small prescription pill bottles
  • Styrofoam™ and foam cartons
  • Toys
  • Tyvek envelopes
  • Utensils (forks, knives, spoons)

Material type: Paper

Preparation tips: Empty and flatten boxes. Must be dry.

Accepted 

  • Cardboard
  • Cardboard cans (such as oatmeal containers)
  • Cardboard tubes from toilet paper, tissue, and paper towels (only the inner cardboard tube is recyclable, not the paper on the roll)
  • Cereal and cracker boxes
  • Clean pizza delivery boxes (check with your city or hauler for specific rules)
  • Freezer boxes (most boxes today are pure boxboard without a plastic lining or plastic fibers, making them recyclable - check with your city or hauler for specific rules)
  • Magazines, catalogs, newspapers, and inserts
  • Mail, office, and school papers
  • Phone books and other soft cover books
  • Refrigerator boxes
  • Shoe boxes, gift boxes and electronic boxes
  • Toothpaste, medication, and other toiletry boxes
  • Unlined Kraft paper (such as paper used for shipping padding and paper grocery bags, flatten for best results)

Not accepted

  • Cardboard cans with metal lids
  • Greeting cards that are shiny, or contain aluminum foil or plastic
  • Hardcover books
  • Lined Kraft bags 
  • Napkins or paper towels
  • Paper berry cartons
  • Paper cups, plates, and bowls
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Paper soiled with food
  • Shipping envelopes padded with bubble-wrap
  • Shredded paper (shredded paper should not be put in your curbside bin; however, some businesses and cities offer shredding services or special recycling options. Check with your city or search for shredding services for more information).
  • Tissue paper
  • Waxed cardboard
  • Wrapping paper

Material type: Glass

Preparation tips: Empty and rinse.

A note on caps: Replace metals caps that can be screwed on. Any caps that are plastic or made of a mix of materials should go in the trash. Smaller metal caps (i.e., bottle caps) that cannot be replaced can be collected in a steel can (like a soup can) that is squeezed shut before it's put in the recycling. Otherwise metal bottle caps can be thrown in the trash.

Accepted

  • Food and beverage bottles and jars
  • Mason jars

Not accepted

  • Ceramics
  • Drinking glasses
  • Glass bakeware
  • Glass dishes
  • Light bulbs
  • Mirrors
  • Vases
  • Window glass

Material type: Cartons

Preparation tips: Empty and rinse. Do not flatten. Remove and throw away caps and straws. 

Accepted 

  • Juice boxes 
  • Milk and juice cartons, including half gallon, quart, and individual sizes
  • Refrigerated and shelf-stable cartons such as soup, broth and wine cartons 

Not accepted

  • Ice cream cartons 
  • Plastic-lined paper takeout cartons 

Material type: Metal

Preparation tips: Empty, rinse, and remove lid. Do not crush metal cans and containers. Place loose metal lids inside can and pinch opening of can closed, if possible, to keep lids inside. For aluminum foil, remove all food and roll into a ball at least as large as a softball.

Accepted 

  • Decorative popcorn and cookie tins
  • Food and beverage cans 
  • Aluminum foil (must be clean and balled) 
  • Aluminum trays, tins, or pie tins (must be clean) 

Not accepted

  • Aerosols containing either hazardous or non-hazardous materials (such as shaving cream, hairspray, and paint)
  • Batteries 
  • Containers that held hazardous products such as paint thinner
  • Holiday and string lights 
  • Loose metal caps 
  • Paint cans 
  • Pressurized cylinders like propane and helium tanks 
  • Scrap metal, such as pots and pans, hangers, shelves, nails, auto parts, pipes, and poles 
  • Wire
What happens to your recycling and tips to recycle right

Recycling Exists: Learn the real story behind recycling

Questions about what happens to recycling after it leaves our homes have been increasing over the years. That's why Hennepin County is working with five other metro counties to restore trust in Minnesota's recycling system with this united message: In Minnesota, recycling is real and it works.

Minnesota and the Midwest are home to many recycling facilities that collect, sort, process, and manufacture items made from the bottles, boxes, and other containers we put our recycling bins.

For example, clear glass is made into bottles for drinks, pickles, salad dressing, and more in Shakopee, plastic milk and laundry detergent jugs are made into durable decking, fencing and landscaping products in Paynesville, and paper and cardboard are made into cereal and cracker boxes in Saint Paul.

Here in the Twin Cities, you can be assured the recycling you put in your cart is getting recycled as long as the materials are accepted in your program and prepared properly. Minnesota state law requires this. 

Our efforts to recycle and reduce waste save energy, protect resources, and support about 78,000 jobs in the state.

Learn more at RecyclingExists.com.

Tips to recycle right

Although you might want to recycle everything, the best thing you can do to support recycling is to only recycle the items accepted in your program and keep stuff that isn’t recycled out. That way recycling facilities and manufacturers get items they can make into new products.

Items you can recycle include paper and cardboard, cartons, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, and plastic bottles, jugs, and containers. 

Make sure to put these items loose in your recycling cart – don’t put them in bags. Flatten cardboard boxes. Give containers a quick rinse. It’s ok to put the caps back on.

See the recycling guide (PDF) or what to recycle list on this page for more details.

Keep these items out of your recycling cart

Plastic bags

Plastic bags and wrap get tangled in the equipment at recycling sorting facilities and workers spend hours each day removing them. Plastic bags and wrap can be recycled if brought to a retail drop-off location.

Bags of recycling

Recycling in bags don’t get properly sorted at the recycling facility, and recyclers can’t tell what’s in the bag. Make sure to place your recycling loose in your recycling cart.

Large plastic items

Large plastic items like laundry baskets, storage bins, lawn furniture, and plastic toys, and other large plastic items can't be recycled. There are not good markets for recycling these items, and they are difficult to sort at recycling facilities. Purchase high-quality items, use them for as long as possible, and donate items that are in good shape when you're ready to get rid of them.

Random metal items

Random metal items such as pots and pans, pipes, hangers, and tools can damage equipment and harm workers at recycling facilities. All metal can be recycled, just not in your recycling cart at home. Take random metal items to a scrap metal recycler; find locations on the Green Disposal Guide.

Propane tanks

Cylinders and tanks contain a compressed gas that makes them explosive and potential fire hazards. It is illegal to put propane tanks, helium tanks, and other pressurized cylinders in your household recycling or trash. Properly dispose of all pressurized cylinders; find options on the Green Disposal Guide.

Single-use plastic utensils and straws

Plastic utensils and straws are too small and difficult to sort at recycling facilities, and there aren’t stable recycling markets for them. Avoid them by choosing reusable options or refusing them when you can.

Paper plates, cups, and takeout containers

Paper cups, plates, takeout containers can’t be recycled because they are often lined with plastic or contaminated with food. Avoid them by choosing reusable cups, mugs and plates.

Electronics and batteries

Electronics and batteries can’t be sorted properly at recycling facilities, and certain batteries can cause fires at facilities. But batteries and electronics should be recycled at drop-offs. Learn options for batteries and electronics on the Green Disposal Guide.

Cords and string lights

Keep “tanglers” like cords, hoses and string lights out of your recycling bin. As the name suggests, these items get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities. You can recycle cords and string lights at Hennepin County drop-off facilities. Learn more on the Green Disposal Guide.

Needles and sharps

Needles and sharps should be managed and disposed of safely to prevent injury and disease transmission from needle-sticks. They should never be placed in your recycling cart. Learn about disposal options on the Green Disposal Guide.

How to get rid of it guide

Learn about waste disposal options

The how to get rid of it guide (PDF) provides an overview of waste disposal options for residents. Topics include donate and repair, recycling, organics recycling, backyard composting, yard waste, household hazardous waste, medicine, needles and sharps, drop-off facilities and collection events. For items not included in the how to get rid of it guide, search for them in the Green Disposal Guide.

The guide is available in the following languages:

  • How to get rid of it guide (English PDF)
  • Daim ntawv qhia kom povtseg li cas (Hmong PDF)
  • Qajeelfama akkaataa itti gatanii (Oromo PDF)
  • Руководство по утилизации (Russian PDF)
  • Hagaha sida qashinka la isaga qubo (Somali PDF)
  • Guía de cómo deshacerse de los residuos (Spanish PDF)
  • Hướng dẫn cách thức loại bỏ (Vietnamese PDF)

Order printed copies for free.

City recycling contacts

Your city recycling coordinator is your point person for information about recycling, trash disposal, and special clean ups in your city.

City recycling contacts

This list was last reviewed and updated in July 2024. 

Bloomington

  • Website: Bloomington residential solid waste program
  • Phone: 952-563-4659
  • Email: UtilityBilling@bloomingtonmn.gov

Brooklyn Center

  • Website: Brooklyn Center waste management
  • Phone: 763-493-8006
  • Email: BPOM@BrooklynPark.org

Brooklyn Park

  • Website: Brooklyn Park recycling
  • Phone: 763-493-8006
  • Email: BPOM@BrooklynPark.org

Champlin

  • Website: Champlin garbage, recycling, organics, and yard waste
  • Phone: 763-421-8100
  • Email: utilitybilling@ci.champlin.mn.us

Chanhassen

  • Website: Chanhassen recycling, garbage, and yard waste
  • Phone: 952-227-1133

Corcoran

  • Website: Corcoran recycling
  • Phone: 763-420-2288
  • Email: General@corcoranmn.gov

Crystal

  • Website: Hennepin Recycling Group
  • Phone: 763-493-8006
  • Email: BPOM@BrooklynPark.org

Dayton

  • Website: Dayton new resident information
  • Phone: 763-421-1791
  • Email: abenting@cityofdaytonmn.com

Deephaven

  • Website: Deephaven recycling and refuse
  • Phone: 952-941-5174
  • Email: DeephavenCartDelivery@republicservices.com

Eden Prairie

  • Website: Eden Prairie garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-949-8330

Edina

  • Website: Edina garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-826-0463
  • Email: tsingh@edinamn.gov

Excelsior

  • Website: Excelsior refuse and recycling
  • Phone: 952-474-5233
  • Email: cityhall@excelsiormn.org

Golden Valley

  • Website: Golden Valley waste and recycling
  • Phone: 763-593-8030
  • Email: ekehrberg@goldenvalleymn.gov

Greenfield

  • Website: Greenfield recycling
  • Phone: 763-477-6464
  • Email: mwebb@ci.greenfield.mn.us

Greenwood

  • Website: Greenwood utilities
  • Phone: 952-474-6633
  • Email: administrator@greenwoodmn.com 

Hanover

  • Website: Hanover recycling calendar
  • Phone: 763-972-3335
  • Email: cityhall@ci.hanover.mn.us

Hopkins

  • Website: Hopkins garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-939-1382
  • Email: jthoennes@hopkinsmn.com 

Independence

  • Website: Independence recycling
  • Phone: 763-479-0527
  • Email: ljohnson@ci.independence.mn.us

Long Lake

  • Website: Long Lake garbage services and recycling information
  • Phone: 952-473-6961
  • Email: jmoeller@longlakemn.gov

Loretto

  • Website: Loretto recycling
  • Phone: 763-479-4305
  • Email: mschneider@ci.loretto.mn.us

Maple Grove

  • Website: Maple Grove refuse, recycling, and yard waste
  • Phone: 763-494-6361
  • Email: rmcmullen@maplegrovemn.gov

Maple Plain

  • Website: Maple Plain garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 763-479-3335

Medina

  • Website: Medina recycling
  • Phone: 763-473-4643
  • Email: city@medinamn.gov

Medicine Lake

  • Website: Medicine Lake garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 763-542-9701
  • Email: info@cityofmedicinelake.com

Minneapolis

  • Website: Minneapolis garbage, recycling, and cleanup
  • Phone: 612-673-2917
  • Email: SWRcustomer@minneapolismn.gov

Minnetonka

  • Website: Minnetonka garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-988-8400
  • Email: dellingson@minnetonkamn.gov

Minnetonka Beach

  • Website: Minnetonka Beach garbage, recycling, and yard waste
  • Phone: 952-941-5174
  • Email: info@ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us

Minnetrista

  • Website: Minnetrista solid waste and recycling
  • Phone: 952-241-2528
  • Email: rneumann@ci.minnetrista.mn.us

Mound

  • Website: Mound residential recycling
  • Phone: 952-472-0603
  • Email: admin@cityofmound.com

New Hope

  • Website: New Hope waste and recycling
  • Phone: 763-493-8006
  • Email: BPOM@BrooklynPark.org

Orono

  • Website: Orono garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-249-4600
  • Email: clusian@oronomn.gov

Osseo

  • Website: Osseo recycling, garbage, and yard waste
  • Phone: 763-425-2624
  • Email: cityhall@ci.osseo.mn.us

Plymouth

  • Website: Plymouth recycling and disposal
  • Phone: 763-509-5906
  • Email: recycling@plymouthmn.gov

Richfield

  • Website: Richfield garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 612-861-9188
  • Email: garbageandrecycling@richfieldmn.gov

Robbinsdale

  • Website: Robbinsdale residential solid waste
  • Phone: 763-531-1211
  • Email: utilities@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us

Rockford

  • Website: City of Rockford
  • Phone: 763-477-6565
  • Email: cityhall@cityofrockford.org

Rogers

  • Website: Rogers recycling and waste
  • Phone: 763-428-2253
  • Email: info@rogersmn.gov

St. Anthony

  • Website: St. Anthony Village garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 612-782-3301
  • Email: city@savmn.com

St. Bonifacius

  • Website: St. Bonifacius garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-446-1061

St. Louis Park

  • Website: St. Louis Park garbage and recycling
  • Phone: 952-924-2562
  • Email: recycling@stlouisparkmn.gov

Shorewood

  • Website: Shorewood recycling
  • Phone: 952-960-7900
  • Email: cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us

Spring Park

  • Website: Spring Park recycling, organics, yard waste, and utility services
  • Phone: 952-471-9051
  • Email: info@ci.spring-park.mn.us

Tonka Bay

  • Website: Tonka Bay garbage, recycling, and yard waste
  • Phone: 952-474-7994
  • Email: info@cityoftonkabay.net

Wayzata

  • Website: Wayzata garbage, recycling, and organics
  • Phone: 952-404-5363
  • Email: city@wayzata.org

Woodland

  • Website: Woodland recycling
  • Phone: 952-474-4755 or 952-358-9936
  • Email: woodlandCS@republicservices.com
City cleanup events

City cleanup events offer residents a chance to get rid of hard-to-dispose items such as old furniture, exercise equipment, appliances, electronics, and more.

Most cities across Hennepin County hold cleanup events, often in the spring and/or fall. Some cities offer special curbside pick-up service, while others open temporary drop-off sites.

Check with your city for details about events, including the schedule, what's accepted, and other guidelines.

For apartment, condo and townhouse residents

Property owners are required to provide residents with the opportunity to recycle.

Contact your building manager or association to find out where recycling bins are located and what type of sorting system is used at your property.

Contact your city recycling coordinator if this service is not available.

Learn about the assistance and resources available from Hennepin County.

Get involved and stay informed

Volunteer to promote recycling

Show your commitment to the environment by becoming a Community Recycling Ambassador!

Community Recycling Ambassadors are trained on waste prevention, recycling and composting, and effective communication skills through a six-week course.

Once training is complete, participants commit to volunteering 30 hours putting their skills to work on projects and activities that minimize waste and provide waste reduction, recycling and composting education. Community Recycling Ambassadors have the flexibility to pursue and create waste-reduction focused volunteer opportunities that interest them and serve their communities’ unique needs.

Learn about the Community Recycling Ambassador program.

Live a lower waste lifestyle with the Zero Waste Challenge

Get help living a lower waste lifestyle by joining a Zero Waste Challenge program. These programs will help you learn more about preventing waste, recycling, and composting, connect you with resources to help you reach your goals, and provide support and motivation along the way.

There are three opportunities to get involved:

  • Zero Waste Challenge: Personalized program where you get waste coaching and access to other educational opportunities
  • Plastic-Free Challenge: online, month-long challenge
  • Stop Food Waste Challenge: online, month-long challenge

Learn more about the Zero Waste Challenge programs.

Engage and educate others

A wide variety of free environmental education resources, project support, and funding are available to organizations working with residents and youth in Hennepin County. Explore the county's environmental education programs and resources.

Become a thoughtful consumer

Waste less and live better by only buying what you need, buying high-quality items that are designed to last, and considering alternatives to buying new such as shopping used, borrowing, or swapping. Visit Choose to Reuse to learn tips for being a thoughtful consumer and get resources for shopping used, borrowing, or swapping.

Repair broken items at a Fix-It Clinic

Get free help repairing your broken household items and learning valuable repair skills. See the schedule of upcoming Fix-it Clinics.

Reuse and recycle building materials

Reduce the impact of your next home improvement project by salvaging, reusing, and recycling building materials and incorporating used materials. Learn about grants for deconstruction and building material reuse retailers.

Reduce waste and improve recycling at businesses and schools

Encourage the place where you work and your favorite businesses to reduce waste and improve recycling. Learn about available grants, signage, and technical assistance.

Reduce waste and educate the next generation by working with schools to reduce waste and improve recycling. Grants and technical assistance are available.

Stay informed

Connect with us on social media:

  • Hennepin Environment on Facebook
  • @hennepinenviro on Twitter
  • Hennepin Environment on Instagram

To receive information about environmental news, programs and events in Hennepin County, sign up for the Green Notes newsletter.

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