Minnesota law prohibits appliances from being placed with household garbage because they have components that are harmful to human health and the environment.  Major appliances no longer in usable condition must be recycled. The term "major appliance" includes the following items:

• Air conditioners
• Clothes washers and dryers
• Dishwashers
• Water heaters
• Furnaces
• Microwaves
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Ovens, ranges and stoves
• Garbage disposals
• Trash compactors
• Dehumidifiers
• Heat pumps

Recycling Appliances

Option 1:  Some retailers will take and recycle old appliances when you purchase a new one.  Utilize these programs when available.

Option 2: Bring your appliances to one of the following appliance recyclers.  Fees apply, call business for pricing and hours.

A-1 Recycling
2567 Kasota Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
763-712-1344
www.a1appl.com

Advanced Recyclers
8980 S Hwy 149
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
651-454-9215
www.jrsappliance.com

Certified Recycling
14305 Ewing Ave
Burnsville, MN 55306
952-894-1448
www.certifiedrecycling.org

Plaza TV and Appliance, Inc.
946 S Robert St
West Saint Paul, MN 55118
651-457-1196
www.plazatv.com

Option 3:If you do not have a way to transport an appliance to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or one of the appliance recyclers above to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee. 

Some batteries contain no harmful materials and other batteries do; please take the time to know the difference. 

People use more and more household batteries.  The average person owns about two button batteries, ten normal (A, AA, AAA, C D 9V, etc.) batteries and throws out about eight household batteries per year.  About three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S.

Types of Batteries and Disposal Methods:

• Non-rechargeable alkaline and carbon zinc (heavy duty) batteries may be placed in the garbage.  They no longer contain hazardous material and do not need to be recycled.
• Lithium, button, and rechargeable nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are toxic and should not be placed in the garbage. They should be recycled. 
• Vehicle batteries for cars, boats, snowmobiles, etc. are illegal to throw in the garbage and must be recycled.  By MN State Law, businesses that sell lead-acid batteries are required to accept up to five used batteries per person at no charge. 

To recycle batteries, bring them to the Dakota County Recycling Zone located in Eagan. 

Invest in Rechargeable Batteries

Over its useful life, each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries.  All rechargeable batteries are recyclable.  While they may cost more up front, they'll save money in the long run because they last longer than disposables. 

Here are some tips to get the most out of your rechargeable batteries:

• Follow the charging guidelines provided by the manufacturer
• Let a discharged battery cool (or warm) to room temperature before recharging
• Recharge batteries only when they are near to fully discharged

If you recently removed carpeting from your home, you have a number of options to dispose of it.  Bro-Tex, a textile recycling company in Saint Paul, gives you the opportunity to recycle your unwanted carpeting at a number of locations around the Twin Cities metropolitan area.  To recycle your carpet with Bro-Tex, it must meet the following requirements:

• Carpet must be dry, clean, and debris-free
• Carpet and carpet padding must be separated
• Carpet must be rolled or bagged; rolls should be a maximum of six feet in length and should be tied with string or twine -- no duct tape.

Notaccepted:  

• rubber-backed, carpet tile or other rigid flooring
• carpet scraps or trimmings
• carpet with tack strips, nails or staples

This carpet will be recycled into new carpet, plastic parts such as drain pipes, acoustic matting or absorbent products for spills. The following business has a drop-off location for carpet.

Carver County Environmental Center
116 Peavy Cir
Chaska, MN 55318
952-361-1800
www.co.carver.mn.us
Call for hours
Fee: $20 per load

If recycling is not an option, take carpet to a transfer siteor call your garbage hauler to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee.

Paperwork with confidential information should be shredded to prevent the possibility of identity theft but not all paper needs to be shredded. When going through documents, only tear off sections that contain personal information to be shredded, and recycle the rest of the document.

There are a number of options for residents and businesses to have their paperwork securely shredded.  If you can transport your documents, you may choose to utilize a shredding drop-off location. If you would prefer to have paperwork shredded at your home or business, you may choose one of the following shredding pick-up services. Shredding services are subject to fees; call ahead for pricing.

Drop-Off Locations

Randy’s Environmental Services (South Location)
12620 Vincent Ave S
Burnsville, MN 55337
763-972-3335
www.randyssanitation.com
Pricing per bankers box (about 55 lbs)
Additional info: documents secured immediately and shredded within 48 hours
Hours: M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-noon, Sun-closed 

Veteran Shredding
1800 Cliff Rd E, Dock Door #18
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-758-2980
www.veteranshredding.net
Call for pricing
Additional info: All documents shredded immediately
Hours: M-F 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sun-closed

First Shred
Drop-off station at UPS Store
3432 Denmark Ave
Eagan, MN 55123
651-687-0440
www.firstshred.com
Pricing per pound
Additional info: limit of 3 bankers boxes
Call for hours

Shred Nations
Drop-off station at UPS Store
1670 S Robert St
West St Paul, MN 55118
651-204-9174
www.shrednations.com
Pricing per pound
Visit website for hours

Office Depot/Max locations: 
7361 153rd St
Apple Valley, MN 
952-997-2434

14121 Alrich Ave. S
Burnsville, MN
952-898-3777

1271 Promenade Place
Eagan, MN
651-686-6606

Pick-up Services

Veteran Shredding
952-758-2980
www.veteranshredding.net
Call for pricing
Additional info: on-site shredding
Call for appointment

First Shred
972-241-0153
www.firstshred.com/residentialservice
Call for pick-up pricing
Additional info: see website
Call for appointment

Pioneer SecureShred
612-381-2199
www.pioneersecureshred.com
Call for pick-up pricing
Additional info: On-site and off-site shredding available
Call for appointment

Randy's Environmental Services
Document Destruction Devision
763-972-3335
www.randyssanitation.com
Call for pick-up pricing
Additional info: On-site and off-site shredding available
Call for appointment

Shred Nations
800-747-3365
www.shrednations.com
Call for pick-up pricing
Additional info: On-site and off-site shredding available
Call for appointment

It is important to carefully dispose of home and business electronics including but not limited to: 

• Televisions
• Computers (central processing units, monitors, laptops)
• Computer accessories such as keyboards, speakers, printers and other peripherals
• VCRs, DVD players and Blu-Ray players
• Gaming consoles
• Fax Machines
• Cell phones, mp3 players and other handheld devices

Recycling Electronics

Option 1: Bring your unwanted electronics to The Recycling Zone, a local electronics recycler or a retail store with an electronics recycling program.

The Recycling Zone
3365 Dodd Rd
Eagan, MN 55121
651-905-4520
www.dakotacounty.us (search Recycling Zone)
Wed: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Thurs: noon - 8:00pm
Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fee: Most items are free, computer monitors and TVs are $10 each

Local Electronics Recyclers
Contact electronics recyclers directly for hours of operation and fees.

Advanced Recyclers
8980 S Hwy 149
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
651-454-9215
www.jrsappliance.com

Certified Recycling
14305 Ewing Ave
Burnsville, MN 55306
952-894-1448
www.certifiedrecycling.org

Plaza TV and Appliance, Inc.
846 S Robert St
West Saint Paul, MN 55118
651-457-1196
www.plazatv.com

Veteran Shredding
1800 Cliff Rd E Dock Door #18
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-758-2980
www.veteranshredding.net

Retail Stores with Electronics Recycling Programs
Contact stores directly for hours and program details.

Best Buy
Multiple locations [find a store]
www.bestbuy.com/recycling
Limit 3 electronics per household, per day.
Limit 2 TVs per household, per day. LED screens smaller than 50". Tube TVs smaller than 32" and under. 25$ fee for TVs and monitors. Visit Best Buy website for restrictions and items accepted.

Staples
Multiple locations [find a store]
Staples Eco-services webpage
Limit 3 electronics per person, per day.
Visit Staples website for items accepted and restrictions.

Target
Multiple locations [find a store]
Recycle handheld devices such as mp3 players and cell phones at recycling station at front of store.
Devices such as GPS, tablet PCs and gaming consoles can be traded in for a Target gift card through target.nextworth.com
Contact store directly for details.

Recycling for Raptors
Multiple locations [find a store]
Recycling used inkjet printer cartridges only. 
Contact the U of M Raptor Center directly for details.

Option 2: If you do not have a way to transport an electronic item to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or one of the local electronics recyclers above to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee.  The Recycling Zone does not arrange pick ups of electronic items.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use significantly less energy than traditional (incandescent) light bulbs. If every America home replaced one bulb with a CFL, we'd save enough energy to light 3 million homes, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to ~800,000 cars. Even though CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, that amount is significantly less than the amount of mercury avoided as a result of the energy savings.

Recycling Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

• CFL bulbs: It is illegal to place CFL bulbs in the garbage, because they contain a small amount of mercury. You can recycle CFLs (bulbs ONLY) at any of the locations in the green box below. CFLs (bubls and tubes) are also collected at Household Hazardous Waste Clean-Up days for free. NOTE: if you have fluorescent tubes, please scroll down for recycling options as these are not accepted at the locations listed in the table below.

• Fluorescent tubes: These cannot be placed in the trash. Instead, take them to The Recycling Zone[free from a residential source, for a fee from businesses], Batteries Plus, or Certified Recyclingfor a fee, so they may be disposed of properly and safely.

Why use a CFL?

• A CFL can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime if used instead of an incandescent bulb
• It uses 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and lasts 10 times longer
• Produces about 75% less heat, so it's safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling

Preventing CFLs from Breaking:

• Always switch off and allow the bulb to cool before handling. If possible, screw/unscrew the CFL by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing
• Do not overtighten
• Keep out of lamps that could easily tip

Cleaning Up a Broken CFL:

Exposure to broken CFLs can pose a health risk, especially to pregnant women and young children. 

1. Open a window, shut off central air conditioning or forced-air heating, and clear the room for at least 15 minutes, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends.
2. Follow the detailed cleanup steps for either hard surfaces or carpeting/rugs posted on the EPA web site.

Check out these other helpful links:

• For purchasing tips visit the Energy Star web site.
• Find more information on facts and myths about CFLs.

Furniture in good condition can be donated to any of the following businesses to be resold and reused.  For furniture items no longer in good condition, Certified Recycling in Burnsville offers drop-off or pick-up service to deconstruct and recycle the materials. Otherwise, call your garbage hauler for a one-time pick up (call for fees), or bring them to a landfill.

Certified Recycling
14305 Ewing Ave
Burnsville, MN
985-894-1448

Donation Options

Apple Valley

Goodwill
7320 153rd St
Apple Valley, MN
952-953-4410

Savers
7608 W 150th St
Apple Valley, MN
952-432-7263

Burnsville

C.H.A.P. Thrift Store
2020 E Hwy 13
Burnsville, MN
952-890-8222

Salvation Army - Burnsville Family and Thrift Store
10141 Irving Ave
Burnsville, MN
952-435-7462

UNIQUE Thrift Store
14308 Burnhaven Dr
Burnsville, MN
952-898-0988

Eagan

Goodwill
1247 Northwood Pkwy
Eagan, MN
651-994-7907

Other Locations

Bridging
201 W 87th St
Bloomington, MN
952-888-1105

Goodwill
1425 S Robert St
West Saint Paul, MN
651-451-2014

For the avid gardener, spring and summer means the accumulation of those black plastic garden pots.  Plastic pots take up space in landfills; they do not readily decompose and remain intact for many years. 

Lowe's home improvement stores provide a drop-off garden pot recycling program for customers.  No matter where you purchase the plant, you can return the materials to a Lowe's Garden Center to be recycled.  Learn more on the Lowe's website.

Lowe's--West St. Paul
1795 Robert St.
West St. Paul, MN 55118
763-367-4139

Lowe's--Shakopee
4270 Dean Lakes Blvd.
Shakopee, MN 55379
952-367-9000

Additionally, some garbage haulers now accept black plastic garden pots with your curbside recycling.  If you have one of the following haulers, keep plastic from the landfills by recycling your plastic pots, trays and hanging baskets in your recycling cart.  Just clean the pots of dirt before putting them with your recycling.

• Nitti Sanitation
• Highland Sanitation
• GarbageMan of Burnsville
• Waste Management
• Dick's Sanitation/Lakeville Sanitary
• Aspen Waste Systems

For more information about specific recycling guidelines, check out what your garbage hauler accepts.

Mattresses and box springs are a bulky item in our waste stream and can be problematic because they are hard to move, clog up equipment, and are hard to compact in a landfill.  Fortunately, there are options for reusing and recycling old mattresses and box springs in the Twin Cities. 

Reuse

Mattresses and box springs aren't accepted at thrift stores, but they are accepted at a local nonprofit store in the Twin Cities. Bridging accepts donations of quality, gently used furniture and household goods (see list here) at their Bloomington location. You have the choice to bring your donations to their facility at no charge, or schedule a pick-up from your home for a fee ($75 for curbside pick up, $150 for in-home pick up). Bridging does not accept bed frames, headboards or footboards.

Bridging
201 W 87th St
Bloomington, MN 55420 [map]
952-888-1105
www.Bridging.org
M-Th 10am-6pm; F-Sa 9am-3pm

Recycle

Mattresses no longer in usable condition can be recycled. This option  is a way to recover and recycle materials like metal, wood and textiles. Call for drop-off hours and information on fees.

Certified Recycling
14305 Ewing Ave
Burnsville, MN 55306
952-894-1448
www.certifiedrecycling.org

Second Chance Recycling
1179 15th Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-332-0664 ext. 14
www.secondchancerecyclingmn.com

J&J Recycling Center
607 Barge Channel Road
Saint Paul, MN 55107
651-227-4457
www.dumpsterrentalmn.com

If recycling mattresses and box springs is not an option, ask the retailer that brings your new mattress if they offer disposal.  If they don't, call your licensed garbage hauler to schedule a pick-up (if you live in an apartment or are part of an association, find contact information for the licensed commercial haulers), or bring it to a landfill, both for a fee. 

Do Not Flush Prescription Drugs Down the Toilet. Prescription and over the counter medications should not be flushed down the toilet, poured down a sink or placed in the trash.Instead, take prescription and over-the-counter medication to select law enforcement drop-off locations in Dakota County (listed below) to safely and anonymously dispose of them.

Medication Drop-Off Stations

Residents can drop off expired or unwanted medicine for free at:
Locations open 24-hours, seven days a week:

• Burnsville Police Station (100 Civic Center Pkwy) 
• Hasting Sheriff's Office (1580 Hwy 55)
• Mendota Heights Police Station (1101 Victoria Curve)
• West St. Paul Police Station (1616 Humboldt Ave)

Locations open Monday-Friday, 8am to 4:30pm:

• Apple Valley Police Station(7100 147th St W)
• Eagan Police Station(3830 Pilot Knob Rd, open M-F, 8am to 6pm)
• Lakeville Police Station (9237 183rd St W)
• Farmington Police Station (19500 Municipal Dr)
• Rosemount Police Station (2875 145th St W)

Medicines accepted:

Household medications are accepted in any form including prescription, over-the counter and pet medicines. Examples include:

• blister packs
• capsules
• pills
• creams
• gels
• vials
• inhalers
• IV bags
• liquids
• patches
• powders
• sprays
• tablets

Not accepted:

• NO needles, syringes or fever thermometers. Bring these items to The Recycling Zonein Eagan for free, environmentally-safe disposal.
• NO medicines from businesses, including health care facilities, long-term care facilities, pharmacies, doctor’s offices or veterinary clinics. 

Preparation guidelines:

• Drop off is safe and anonymous. No ID is required and no questions will be asked.
• Keep medicines in their original container and place them in a sealed, clear plastic bag (pills can remain in their blister packs).
• Use a marker to cross out any names on medicine containers.
• Place medicine that is no longer in its original container in a clear plastic bag and write the name of the medicine on the bag.

For more information and FAQs, visit the Dakota County Sheriff's Office Prescription Drug Drop-Off page.

Why are unused prescription and over-the-counter medications a concern?

The problem is two-fold:

1) Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals and over the counter drugs are present in our nation's waterbodies and certain drugs may cause ecological harm. Outdated or unusable drugs that are disposed of by flushing or pouring down a sink, enter the environment because wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove them;

2) Storing unused or outdated prescriptions creates an opportunity for illicit use.  Use the Dakota County Sheriff's Drop-Off program to dispose of medications safely.

Reduce and Reuse

Only take a bag if you need it and consider using a reusable bag instead to reduce your plastic use. Many stores also offer a small discount if you bring your own bag which can save you money over time. If you forget your reusable bag and only have one or two small items, consider carrying them out of the store instead. Some thrift stores will accept plastic and paper bags to use for their customers. Please check with the store prior to donating your bags.

*Some locations have temporarily stopped offering plastic bag drop-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to check with the specific location prior to your drop-off.

Recycling

DO NOT include plastic bags with your curbside recycling. Many grocery stores and co-ops participate in plastic bag and film recycling. Consumers may deposit clean, dry plastic bags in specially designed collection bins found at participating retail locations including Cub Foods, Lund's/Byerly's, Target, Walmart and more. 

How to recycle plastic bags at designated locations

Note: All material must be clean and dry:

• Plastic grocery bags
• Plastic retail bags (remove string ties and rigid plastic handles)
• Plastic dry-cleaning bags
• Plastic cereal bags (must be dry with ALL food residue removed)
• Plastic bread bags (must be dry with ALL rood residue removed)
• Plastic produce bags (must be dry with ALL food residue removed)
• Plastic frozen food bags (must be dry with ALL food residue removed)
• Plastic wrap from paper products (paper towels, etc.)
• Plastic salt bags (remove rigid plastic handles)
• Plastic zipper bags (remove top closing mechanism)
• Plastic stretch/shrink wrap
• 6-pack holder rings

Don't recycle

• Plastic bags with food residue
• Plastic bags with strings
• Plastic soil or mulch bags
• Plastic zipper bags with rigid plastic closing mechanism
• Plastic bubble wrap
• Plastic food containers

Recycling around the home has become easier than ever as more materials are being accepted by haulers and facilities. However, reusing or recycling parts of the home itself after a remodel isn't as easy as throwing it in your curbside bin. Luckily, there are resources in the metro county to reuse and recycle just about any part of the home including carpet, cabinets, insulation, roofing material and more! Check out the reuse and recycling opportunities list below for the names and numbers of locations near you. 

Reuse opportunities

For a item to be reused, it must be in excellent condition free of stains, rips or tears. Each reuse location will have specific standards that must be adhered to. Call ahead to see if your item will be accepted or email the locations with a photo of the item you wish to donate. 

Habitat for Humanity Restore
2700 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapoilis
612-588-3820

Accepts: Appliances, building materials, carpet, flooring, hardware, kitchen cabinets, paint, tools and other misc. items
See full list of accepted items

Better Futures MN
2620 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis
612-455-6133

Accepts: Doors, cabinets, lighting, lumber, appliances, tiles and plumbing
See a full list of accepted items

Bridging MN
201 W 87th St, Bloomington MN
952-888-1105

Accepts: Furniture, housewares, small appliances & electronics, mirrors, artwork and pictures
See a full list of accepted items

Recycling opportunities

Dem-Con Companies
13161 Dem-Con Drive, Shakopee MN
952-445-5755

Accepts: Asphalt, cabinets, carpet, concrete, fencing material, fiberboard, house wrap, molded fiberglass, pipe, plywood, roofing material, sheetrock, siding, treated wood and more
See a full list of accepted items

Randy's Sanitation
12620 Vincent Ave S, Burnsville MN
763-972-3335 

Accepts: Appliances, construction material, bath tubs, pallets, sinks, toilets and more
See a full list of accepted items 

Have a question that wasn't answered? Let us know in the comments below. {jcomments on}

State law in Minnesota prohibits the disposal of yard waste with your garbage.  If you have the ability to take your yard waste to a compost site, you have the choice of a number of privately-run sites in the area.  All yard waste disposal is subject to fees; call ahead for pricing.

Food & yard waste drop-off locations

The Mulch Store, Empire
16454 Blaine Ave
Rosemount, MN 55068
651-423-4401
www.mulchstoremn.com
Open year-round
Call for hours.
Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, and all food scraps
For Sale: Compost, landscape mulch.

Yard waste only drop-off locations

The Mulch Store, Burnsville
1030 W Cliff Rd
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-736-1915
www.mulchstoremn.com
Open seasonally (April through November 30, weather permitting).
Call for hours.
Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, soil.
For Sale: Compost, blended dirt, landscape mulch.

Gertens R.E.S.
805 Yankee Doodle Rd
Eagan, MN 55121
651-209-3511
www.gertens.com
Open seasonally (April through November 30, weather permitting).
Call for hours.
Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, soft plant material, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, soil, sod, fill, gravel, stone/rock, concrete (rebar-free).
For Sale: Compost, landscape mulch, decorative rock.

Gertens Brickyard (retail location)
5500 Blaine Ave
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
651-450-1501 (store)
651-239-1369 (direct)
www.gertens.com 
Open year-round
Call for hours.
Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, soft plant material, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, soil, sod, fill, gravel, stone/rock, concrete (rebar-free).
For Sale: compost, top soil, landscape mulch, decorative rock, gravel, river rock.

South Saint Paul Compost Site
681 Verderosa Ave
South St. Paul, MN 55075
651-554-3260 
www.southstpaul.org
Open seasonally.
See website for hours.
Accepts: Grass, sod, sod trimmings, garden waste. You may bring your compost in any type of bag or by the trailer load.
Fee: Call for fees.

S & S Tree Horticultural Specialists, Inc.
405 Hardman Avenue South, South St. Paul
Phone Number: (651) 451-8907
Open seasonally- call for exact dates
Saturday and Sunday Only 7:00am- 11:00am
Accepts: Brush and Tree waste only
No fee

Residents can also schedule a pick-up with their garbage service provider for an added fee.

Almost all metals can be recycled.  Metal items that are not food containers are considered "scrap metal."  Examples of scrap metal include:

• lawn mowers (fluids drained)
• snow blowers (fluids drained)
• metal grills
• bicycles
• cast iron sinks/bathtubs
• metal fencing
• metal car parts
• most other metal items

Recycling Scrap Metal

Option 1:  Bring your unwanted metals to the Recycling Zone or a local scrap metal recycler.  Call first.

The Recycling Zone
3365 Dodd Rd
Eagan, MN 55121
651-905-4520
www.dakotacounty.us 
Wed: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Thurs: noon - 8:00pm
Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fee: Free of charge

Local scrap metal recyclers
Contact scrap metal recyclers directly for hours of operation and fees/payouts.

AAA Auto Salvage
2871 W 160th St
Rosemount, MN 55068
651-423-2432
www.aaaparts.com

Advanced Recyclers
10619 Briggs Drive
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
651-454-9215
www.jrsappliance.com

Alters Metal Recycling
801 Barge Channel Rd
St. Paul, MN 55107
651-222-2751
www.altermetalrecycling.com

Northern Metal Recycling
651-224-4877
521 Barge Channel Rd
St. Paul, MN 55107
www.northernmetalrecycling.com

Option 2: If you do not have a way to transport scrap metal to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or one of the scrap metal recyclers above (as available) to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee.