How to recycle

No separation of items is necessary. Simply place all items together in the single sort recycling container. Please rinse containers and allow them to dry before recycling them. In order to be an effective recycler, it is important to follow these simple guidelines (PDF). Just remember - Empty. Clean. Dry.

Hennepin County offers a great tool for learning where to recycle and dispose of items in their Green Disposal Guide.

  1. paper & boxes
  2. plastic
  3. cartons
  4. glass
  5. metal
  • Cardboard
  • Cereal and cracker boxes
  • Magazines and catalogs
  • Mail, office and school papers
  • Newspapers and inserts
  • Phone books
  • Shoe, gift and electronics boxes
  • Toothpaste, medication and toiletry boxes

Don't recycle

  • Batteries
  • Containers that held hazardous products
  • Dishes
  • Drinking glasses
  • Microwaveable food trays
  • Mirrors
  • Paper soiled with food, paper cups and plates, paper towels
  • Plastic utensils and straws
  • Plastic shopping bags (several stores have receptacles in their entrances where plastic shopping bags may be recycled.)
  • Plastic wrap
  • Large plastic items (i.e. furniture, toys, laundry baskets)
  • Polystyrene foam
  • Shredded paper
  • Random metal items (i.e. pots, pans, hangers, tools)
  • Bags of recyclables (Recyclers can't tell what is in the bags. It may not get recycled. Place items loose in cart.)