Recycling

Cart size

Recycling carts are available in three sizes:

• Small, 32 gallons
• Medium, 64 gallons (standard size)
• Large, 96 gallons

There's no price difference between the three sizes and there's no fee to switch. To get a bigger or smaller cart, a second cart or request repairs contact us.

Walk-up services

Residents with mobility concerns can request temporary or permanent walk-up service. There is no charge for this request.

How to place items in your cart

We have single sort recycling, which means you don't separate items. Everything goes together in the cart! All recyclable items should be placed loosely in the cart (do not use plastic bags). If your cart is full, you can put extra recyclables in paper bags and place them next to your cart at the curb on your pick-up day.

What can be put in your recycling cart?

These items can be put in your cart loose (not in plastic bags):

Plastics

• Bottles (pour out liquid and put caps back on)
• Jugs
• Cups
• Containers 

Paper

• Mail
• Magazines and catalogs
• Paper bags
• Newspaper and ads
• Cardboard
• Boxes from cereal, crackers, toothpaste, medication and other toiletries
• Shoe boxes. gift boxes
• Take out or delivery pizza boxes (no food or grease, remove plastic items)
• Shredded paper in closed paper bags

Cartons

• Milk cartons
• Soup cartons
• Juice boxes

Glass

• Bottles and jars

Metal

• Food and beverage cans
• Scrap metal items less than 10 pounds and shorter than 18 inches in any direction. No wire or rods.  

What cannot be put in your cart?

These items cannot go in your cart:

• Garbage, food waste, diapers
• Plastic bags and wrap
• Refrigerated or frozen food boxes 
• Styrofoam cups, plates and packaging
• Paper towels, plates, napkins and tissues
• Window glass, drinking glasses, mirrors, light bulbs
• Motor oil bottles and other containers that held hazardous products
• Leaves, grass, brush
• Wood and drywall
• Needles and nails
• Black plastic items

Printable list

More information

Even though these items cannot go in your cart, some items can still be recycled.

Electronic and hazardous materials

Composting

Oil recycling

Yard waste

Don't see your item on the list? View our Recycling Guide with information on how to deal with other items.

When is household recycling collected?

Your cart must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your recycling day and will be picked up no later than 6:30 p.m. Route schedules can change due to weather, road work, mechanical repairs etc.

Recycling is collected every other week. View Recycling Week calendar

Find which day of the week your recycling is collected

Launch the interactive map to find your recycling day

Reminders

You can get email or texts message reminders for which week is a recycling week.

Sign up for recycling pickup reminders You can select email or text.

When is apartment recycling collected?

Apartment recycling is collected weekly. Residents must bring their recyclables to their apartment's waste enclosure.

Holiday collection

There is no recycling collection on:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

If your regular collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will be delayed by one day.

Missed collection

If your recycling cart was out by 6:30 a.m. on your pick-up day but was not collected by 6:30 p.m. call Recycling Services at 763-493-8006 by noon the next business day to report it was missed and schedule a pickup. Leave a message if calling after hours.

Hauler and fees

The city contracts with one company (currently Waste Management) to provide curbside recycling. The fees for recycling services are paid by property owners through their utility bill.

Where else can I take recycling?

The Hennepin County Recycling and Transfer Station, will take regular recycling and many items that cannot be put in the curbside cart. Items typically cannot be mixed.