Recycling General Information

The City of Brooklyn Park and the "Hennepin Recycling Group" cities of Crystal, New Hope and Brooklyn Center have entered into a joint powers agreement for administration of the recycling and waste materials management programs for all four cities. The Recycling Administration office handles questions and disperses information regarding recycling in the Brooklyn Park community.

It is the responsibility of each municipality to ensure that the public health and welfare of the community is maintained. By local ordinance and State law, every household, agency, business and facility must have, at a minimum, weekly collection of garbage and refuse from their premises, or provide the city with verifiable proof of an alternative legal disposal practice or waste management program, which must be approved by the city. It is illegal for any individual, company or organization to place garbage or refuse in or on any public or private property without the expressed consent of the public agency or property owner. Proof of such action, known as "illegal dumping", can result in prosecution and fines.

Each city requires that every garbage/refuse and recycling collection company be licensed, and sets collection standards and hauling requirements. License applications and appropriate license fees are required yearly.

Haulers who have successfully completed the application, meet all standards, and have paid all required fees, are allowed to provide collection services in the city in which these requirements are met.

Recycling Services are provided to all curbside residential households by one company operating under contract, to provide services according to standards established in the contract. The fee for recycling collection service is established by the city and collected from every residential property as a utility service fee. The City of Brooklyn Park provides collection to all single family separate/entry households and to all apartment/multi-family units in its recycling contract. The "HRG" cities provide service to all single family separate/entry households and apartment buildings with eight or less units. All larger apartment/multifamily buildings are required to provide recycling services for their residents by using a private contractor.

Garbage Services are provided to residential households when a resident selects any hauler-of-choice from a list of the licensed companies serving that city. The fee for garbage collection service is determined by the company of choice and fees are based on the level/type of service selected by that resident. The Administration Office surveys all licensed residential haulers twice each year and maintains a basic rates and services chart, which is available to any resident by contacting the Recycling Administration office.

It is recommended that customers review their service level and cost for service each year and evaluate fair cost for service. Haulers who have successfully completed the application, meet all standards, and have paid all required fees, are allowed to provide collection services in the city in which these requirements are met.

Apartment/multifamily buildings, businesses and agencies must select a garbage service provider from the licensed list and negotiate a service rate based on the quantity and type of waste generated.