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Recycle smart - know what goes in your recycling cart

Recycling has been in the news a lot lately due to shifts in markets and international policy changes. This has left many Minnesotans wondering what is happening to the recycling placed in their bins, and what they can do now to support recycling.

Support recycling by recycling the right stuff

First of all, know that you're recyclables are getting recycled! Unlike on the coasts where they rely heavily on international markets, recyclers in Minnesota send most of the material they collect to local and regional markets to be processed into new materials. Overall, Minnesotans are good recyclers. We have significantly lower contamination rates, or the amount of stuff placed in the recycling that can’t actually be recycled, than elsewhere in the country. And Minnesota state law prohibits materials separated and collected for recycling from being trashed.

The best thing you can do to support recycling is to make sure know what can be recycled and keep stuff that isn’t accepted out.

Recycle Smart: know what goes in your recycling cart

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.

Recycle Smart: 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 back 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 good 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.

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 coordinators

City	Phone number
Bloomington	952-563-4659
Brooklyn Center	763-493-8007
Brooklyn Park	763-493-8006
Champlin	763-421-8100
Chanhassen	952-361-1800
Corcoran	763-420-2288
Crystal	763-493-8006
Dayton	763-421-1791
Deephaven	952-890-1100
Eden Prairie	952-949-8330
Edina	952-826-0463
Excelsior	952-474-5233
Golden Valley	763-593-8030
Greenfield	763-477-6464
Greenwood	952-358-9935
Hanover	763-972-3335
Hopkins	952-939-1382
Independence	763-479-0527
Long Lake	952-473-6961
Loretto	763-479-4305
Maple Grove	763-494-6361
Maple Plain	763-479-3335
Medina	763-473-4643
Medicine Lake	763-542-9701
Minneapolis	612-673-2917
Minnetonka	952-988-8414
Minnetonka Beach	952-941-5174
Minnetrista	952-446-1660
Mound	952-472-0603
New Hope	763-493-8006
Orono	952-249-4600
Osseo	763-425-2624
Plymouth	763-509-5906
Richfield	612-861-9366
Robbinsdale	763-537-4534
Rockford (PDF)	763-477-6565
Rogers	763-428-2253
St. Anthony	763-784-8349
St. Bonifacius	952-446-1061
St. Louis Park	952-924-2562
Shorewood	952-960-7900
Spring Park	952-471-9051
Tonka Bay	952-474-7994
Wayzata	763-404-5366
Woodland	952-474-4755

If you need information for a community outside of Hennepin County, visit RethinkRecycling.com.

City cleanup events

2019 city cleanup events

Many cities offer cleanup events or special pick-up service for residents to properly dispose of common, hard-to-get-rid-of household items such as appliances, electronics, furniture and more. Check with your city for details on accepted items, possible fees, times and locations before the clean-up event.

Event information will be posted here as it becomes available.

Bloomington

Curbside collection on five Saturdays beginning April 6:

April 6: West city boundary to Normandale Boulevard
April 13: Normandale Boulevard to France Avenue
April 20: France Avenue to Penn Avenue
April 27: Penn Avenue to Portland Avenue
May 4: Portland Avenue to east city boundary

Recycle smart - know what goes in your recycling cart

Support recycling by recycling the right stuff

Recycle Smart: know what goes in your recycling cart

Recycle Smart: keep these items out of your recycling cart

Plastic bags

Bags of recycling

Large plastic items

Random metal items

Propane tanks

Single-use plastic utensils and straws

Paper plates,cups, and takeout containers

Electronics and batteries

Cords and string lights

Needles and sharps

City recycling contacts

City recycling coordinators

City cleanup events

2019 city cleanup events

Bloomington

Brooklyn Center (with Brooklyn Park, Crystal and New Hope)

Brooklyn Park (with Brooklyn Center, Crystal and New Hope)

Champlin

Crystal (with Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and New Hope)

Corcoran

Dayton

Deephaven

Eden Prairie

Excelsior

Golden Valley

Greenfield

Greenwood

Hanover

Hopkins

Independence (with Maple Plain)

Long Lake (with Minnetonka Beach and Orono)

Loretto

Maple Grove

Maple Plain (with Independence)

Medina

Minnetonka

Minnetonka Beach (with Long Lake and Orono)

Minnetrista (with Mound)

New Hope (with Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and Crystal)

Orono

Osseo

Plymouth

Rockford

Rogers

Shorewood

Spring Park

St. Anthony

St. Bonifacius

St. Louis Park

Wayzata

St. Louis Park

Cities with no cleanup event

Cities with fall events

For apartment, condo and townhouse residents

Support and get involved

Volunteer to promote recycling

Support businesses that recycle

Stay informed