1. Contact Lenses  

Through a program sponsored by Bausch + Lomb and TerraCycle, you can send in your used contact blister packs, top foil, and contact lenses to be recycled. Simply place any of these items in a small cardboard box, once full print out a free shipping label and take the box to any UPS location. More information and shipping labels can be found here. 

2. Brita Filters

If your house has a Brita filter, you can now send back your used filters to be recycled and even earn points towards new purchases through the Brita Rewards program. More information and how to sign up can be found on their website here.

3. Bras

You can donate your gently used bras to women and girls in desperate need of them through The Bra Recyclers. Simply wash them, print out a label, and send them in. More information can be found here.

4. Burt's Bees Products

Through TerraCycle, you can send back any emptied and cleaned Burt's Bees branded personal, lip, or beauty care packaging. More information about how this program works can be found here.

5. Tennis Balls

Through a partnership between Laykold and Ace Surfaces, you can send in old tennis balls to be recycled into world-class tennis ball surface. To find out more about this program, you can visit this website.

6. Greeting Cards

You can send new or used, all-occasion greeting cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. They work with children to recycle the cards into new ones and sell them. Money raised from selling the cards goes to funding programs for abused, neglected, or homeless children, young adults, and families. Information about where to send the cards can be found on St. Jude's website.

7. Solo Cups

TerraCycle has partnered with Solo Squared to create a free recycling program for rigid, #6 plastic cups. Simply ship any amount of cups with a free shipping label you can print on this website.

8. Instrument Stings

A partnership between TerraCycle and D'Addario has created a free recycling program for instrument strings and clippings. The nearest drop off location in Dakota County can be found at LaVonne Music in Savage. More information about the program can be found here.

9. Wine Corks

Recycling natural cork encourages the use of natural cork (a traditional sustainable practice) and can be used in products in place of other environmentally harmful foams and plastics. ReCORK provides drop-off locations where you can bring your corks to be recycled for free. The nearest Dakota County drop off locations are at Marketplace Liquor in Savage and Houlihans in Eagan. More information and address can be found at this website.

10. Food Wrappers, Disposable Cups, and Coffee Accessories

Subaru in partenrship with TerraCycle have launched a new campaign called Subaru Loves the Earth. Through this program, anyone can bring in disposable cups and lids, candy and snack wrappers, and coffee, tea, or creamer capsules to participating Subaru dealerships to be recycled for free. More information about the program and how Subaru is working to become zero landfill can be found here.

This year, our Environmental Guide will be sent out a bit later in the year. In the meantime, check it out right here! 

The New Year is a time for resolutions that are made to bring about positive changes in your life. This year, make a difference in your community and start off the New Year right by adding some easy green resolutions to your list. Here are five ideas to help you get started:  

1. Reduce your food waste: 40% of food is currently being wasted in the United States. That means wasted resources, time, energy, and money. Reducing your food waste might be as easy as making smaller trips to the store with a clear list in mind, or just storing your food properly to make it last as long as possible. For more tips, visit our Reduce Your Food Waste Guide. 
   
   
2. Reuse with ease: Why buy something new when you can fix something you have for free? This year, resolve to attend a Dakota County Fix-It Clinic when you have something in need of repair. Clinics are offered every month in cities around Dakota County and you can bring up to five small household items such as torn clothing, broken vacuum cleaners, and more. 
   
   
3. Recycle everything you can: This year, recycle more by using the hauler specific recycling guides found here. While you’re at it, make sure to recycle the things that can’t go in your curbside bin such as electronics by taking them to the Recycling Zone!
   
   
4. Ditch the plastic: Approximately 50% of the plastic we use, we use once then throw away. Make 2018 the year you make a conscious effort to bring a reusable bag shopping and a reusable water bottle whenever possible. 
   
   
5. Recycle your organics: Organic material such as food scraps and food-soiled paper don't have to end up in the landfill. Instead turn them into a rich soil  amendment by recycling them. Dakota County now has two free drop sites for your household organics. You can also resolve to backyard compost this year too! Find out how using our Backyard Composting Guide here. 

The Burnsville Ames Center continues to "wow the crowds" with its newest venture: organics recycling. Guests at the Ames Center may notice the new, brightly colored bins around the venue that feature traditional recycling, trash, and a special spot just for organic waste.

To make recycling easier, the new containers have labels showing what can be thrown where, and most of the items in the concession/bar have been switched to BPI-Certified compostable alternatives. While bottles, cans and paper handouts can continue to go in the regular blue recycling bin, things such as cups, plastic forks, napkins, apple cores, and most food containers can go into the green organics bin. Other items such as candy wrappers or chip bags should still go in the trash.

Many of these new BPI-Certified compostable items are made of a plant based plastic and look like they could go in the recycling bin. However, in order for them to be turned into compost, they will need to go in the green bin with other compostable items. If you are unsure if the item you purchased is compostable, check the item for the BPI Logo or just ask any staff member at the Ames Center. 

Organics recycling plays an essential role in keeping valuable materials out of landfills. Organics collected at the Ames Center will be brought to a local organics recycling facility to be turned into compost, a valuable soil additive. Compost improves soil quality, reduces erosion, reduces greenhouse gases, and decreases the need for chemical fertilizers. 

So, next time you’re at the Ames Center, grab an ice cold refreshment and make to sure throw the whole cup in the green bin when you’re done- straw too!

Dakota Valley Recycling coordinates multiple opportunities every year for residents to recycle bulky items, hazardous waste, and other problem materials that are not accepted curbside. Most events are open to all residents within Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Lakeville. Some of the events are free, and others require small disposal fees. Click on the tabs from the list below for more information about DVR's annual collection events. 

Tips for drop-off days

• Coordinate with your neighbors or friends to load up one vehicle to deliver items to the drop-off day in order to reduce wait times.
• For your safety, do not step out of your vehicle during drop-off days. 
• Do not pack batteries and bulbs together. Separating them will reduce likelihood of breakage and prevent hazardous spills. 
• Consider donation before recycling whenever possible by using the Dakota County Reuse Guide.
• Dakota County residents may attend any of the Dakota County drop-off days happening throughout the year. Paper shredding is often offered at all drop-off day events. To find other events, visit the Dakota County Green Guideand click Recycling Events. 

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. 

Composting is nature’s way of recycling materials.  It is the natural breakdown of organic wastes by bacteria, fungi, worms, and other organisms under controlled conditions. Besides conserving resources and diverting organic material from landfills, backyard composting can save you money. By diverting your household’s food waste from the garbage, you can reduce the size and cost of your garbage container.

Recipe for composting:

Materials & Ingredients Needed:
Compost container
Stirring tool: shovel or pitchfork
Water
“Brown” compostable materials (see below for list)
“Green” compostable materials (see below for list)

Instructions for Successful Composting:

1. Construct your compost container: Select a dry, shady spot near a water source to place your compost bin.
2. Add “green” compostable material: This includes fruit and vegetable scraps, bread products, grass clippings, plant trimmings and weeds. These materials are high in carbon.
3. Add “brown” compostable material: This includes fallen leaves, straw, sawdust, wood chips, and twigs. These materials are high in nitrogen.
4. Mix: Turn the compost with a stirring tool regularly; no more frequently than once a week. This prevents unpleasant odors and quickens decomposition.  If strong odors occur despite regular turning, add a bulking agent (straw, sawdust or dry leaves). Add water if pile seems too dry (compost should appear “damp” but not soggy).
5. Use: The result of composting is a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling mixture that can be used as a fertilizer, mulch or in a potting mix.

Helpful Hints

• “Brown” compostable materials include fallen leaves, straw, coffee grounds, wood chips, twigs and sawdust. These materials are high in carbon.
•  “Green” compostable materials include weeds, grass clippings, plant trimmings and food scraps. They are high in nitrogen.
• The ideal ratio for “green” to “brown” material in your bin is generally considered to be a 50/50 mix (1:1 ratio). However, 1:2 or 2:1 ratios will still allow your pile to compost. Disproportionate amounts of “green” can lead to strong odors, and too much “brown” will dry out your pile and stop the composting process. 
• Coffee grounds are high in both carbon and nitrogen, so they are categorized as both green and brown, depending on whom you ask. Paper coffee filters can also be added to your compost pile.
• Do not add the following items to compost container: grease, oil, fat, bones, dairy products, meat or pet waste. These items can be recycled at one of the Dakota County Organics Drop-Sites instead. 

To get your own backyard composting bin:

Information on building compost containers (Missouri Extension Services).

Check at your local garden center for compost bins or go online to recycleminnesota.orgto see if a Compost Bin and Rain Barrel sale is happening near you. 

Check out a Sustainability Man video about composting:

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

Coming to a Park Near You

Sports tournaments, picnics, walks, playgrounds, nature: what else is in our parks? Recycling! The parks department in Burnsville is excited to announce the introduction of more than 130 new recycling bins in almost 25 parks in order to make public space recycling more available and convenient.

Items that are accepted in these bin include plastic bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper. But if you forget, the new bins come with picture-based labels which will show you exactly what should go in each bin. See for yourself on your next visit to the parks. 

Where They Are Going:

• Alimagnet
• Birnamwood Golf Course
• Black Dog
• Civic Center
• Cliff Fen
• Crystal Beach
• Crystal Lake West
• Kelleher
• Lac Lavon
• MN River Front
• Nicollet Common
• Neill North River Hills
• Paha Sapa
• Red Oak
• Rose
• Rudy L. Kraemer
• Sue Fischer Memorial
• Sunset Pond
• Terrace Oaks East
• Terrace Oaks West
• Vista View
• Wolk

Recycling is also available in other city parks as well. In Apple Valley, you can recycle at Johnny Cake, Quarry Point, and Valley Middle. In Eagan, recycling is available at Central Park, Lexington Diffley, and Northview. For Lakeville, Aronson, King, Quigley-Sime, and Steve Michaud all have recycling. Just remember, with recycling now available, you don't have to 'trash' the parks. Relax, play, eat, enjoy yourself, and then recycle. It's that easy.

If you recently removed carpeting from your home, please be aware that local disposal options for textiles have changed. Bro-Tex and Carver County Environmental Center do not accept carpet, padding, or textiles for recycling as they did in the past. Instead, you can follow this link to the Dakota County Recycling Guide to find landfill disposal options or call your garbage hauler directly to set up a pick-up.

As the recycling industry advances, it is important to be aware that technologies accessible to recycling facilities are constantly changing. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes new information and the development of new technologies creates a lull in recycling accessibility for a short time. We hope to be able to offer a wider range of options for carpet and textile recycling soon. Thank you for your patience!

There are many reuse and donation opportunities for gently used clothing. 

Consignment shops - the following businesses accept clothing for consignment:

Clothes Mentor
952-953-3835
14629 County Road 11
Burnsville, MN 55337

Once Upon a Child
952-432-8802
1100 E. County Road 42
Burnsville, MN 55337

Plato’s Closet
952-431-8494
14603 County Road 11
Burnsville, MN 55337

Second Tyme Around Fashions
651-438-3863
1745 North Frontage Road
Hastings, MN

Turn Style Consignment Store
952-898-1042
Cobblestone Court
14150 Nicollet Ave. S.
Burnsville, MN 55337

Turn Style Consignment Store
952-891-3331
7367 179th St. W.
Lakeville, MN

Thrift stores and non-profits - the following accept clothing items as a donation:

Arc Greater Twin Cities
1650 White Bear Ave. N.
St. Paul, MN 55106
651-788-8300

C.H.A.P. Thrift Store  
952-890-8222
2020 E. Highway 13
Burnsville, MN 55337

Courage Center
763-520-06603
3915 Golden Valley Road
Minneapolis, MN 55422

Dakota Woodlands
651-456-9110
3430 Wescott Woodlands
Eagan, MN 55123

Disabled American Veterans
651-487-2002
572 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN

Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota
651-287-2300

Goodwill
952-953-4410
7320 153rd St.
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Goodwill
651-994-7907
1247 Northwood Parkway
Eagan, MN 55121

Goodwill 
651-451-2014
1425 S. Robert St.
West St. Paul, MN 55118

Hastings Family Service
651-437-7134
121 E. Third St.
Hastings, MN 55033

Lupus Foundation of Minnesota  
952-746-5151
2626 E. 82nd St.
Suite 135
Bloomington, MN 55425

Neighbors, Inc.  
651-455-1508
218 13th Ave S.
South St. Paul, MN 55075

Salvation Army
Burnsville Family and Thrift Store
952-435-7462
10141 Irving Ave.
Burnsville, MN 55337

Vietnam Veterans of America
651-778-8387

Savers
952-432-7263
7608 W. 150th St. W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124

UNIQUE Thrift Store
952-898-0988
14308 Burnhaven Drive
Burnsville, MN 55337

Are you planning to hold an event? Would you like to hold an event, but don’t know what to do about all the trash? 

Now you can reserve trash, recycling, and organics collection containers from Dakota Valley Recycling all year long. The X-frame containers are easy to set up and use!

Even if you already have trash cans, recycling and organics collection containers can help reduce the amount of waste from your event.

If you're new to collecting organics, you may want to check out our Intro to Organics Recycling and consult this detailed guide to compostable items.

Call 952-895-4559 to check availability and make a reservation, or for any additional questions.

What can go into your recycling bin at home? New technologies allow more items to be turned into new products, which means you can recycle more than ever! As the recycling industry advances, we're here to keep you informed. Save, print, or memorize the list below to stay updated!

 For a Spanish version, visit our Translated Materials page.

Need a list of haulers that are licensed to provide garbage and recycling in your city?  Click on your city for their hauler directory: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan or Lakeville

Feel like you just have too much stuff cluttering up your home? It's easy to accumulate things, but getting organized might seem like an insurmountable task. Luckily, there are many resources for getting your unwanted things recycled and disposed of properly. View our downloadable Dive into Decluttering Guideand view the tips and locations below to get started. 

Tips:

• Set aside a small amount of time: Instead of trying to do it all at once, try to set obtainable goals to avoid getting overwhelmed. For example your goal may be "15 minutes a day sorting my office closet" or "1 hour a week cleaning the garage." 
• Have three boxes: "Keep" "Donate/Disposal" and "Hold".  The "Hold" box is for things you think you want to get rid of, but you aren't sure.  Put the "Hold" box in a storage space (attic, closet or garage), and after 30 days, anything you haven't removed from the box probably isn't something you're actively using--and can be donated or recycled. 
• Go digital: photos and home videos can be transferred to a digital format to go on your home computer.  Even things like play bills, ticket stubs and letters can be scanned in.
• Take photos and move on: Collecting things can be fun, but evaluate if an old collection is taking up too much space. If you still have the collection of teddy bears from your childhood, consider taking a photo of the collection to remember it by, then donating the items for the next generation to enjoy.  Or, keep one of your favorites if you think you'd like to display it. 

Know where to throw--
resources for disposing of common unwanted items:

For more information, or if you are interested in attending a Decluttering Workshop, call 952-895-4515 or email a DVR staff member 

We understand recycling can be confusing, and it's hard to know what to do with all the different kinds of materials out there, which is why we've created a series of YouTube videos to answer your most pressing recycling-related questions. Take a Dive Into Recycling with DVR, and find out what to do with plastic bags, pharmaceuticals, and many other problem materials.

If you don't see something you need information on, leave us a comment under any of the videos and we'll add your question to our list!

Living in an apartment or multiple-dwelling property may limit your space and your control over your environment in comparison to a single-family home, but there are still easy ways to be green. This type of living situation comes with some different ways of dealing with waste, recycling, energy, etc. Check out the information below to help you get on your way.

Garbage and Recycling

1. Management companies/landlords of multiple-dwelling properties must offer tenants the opportunity to recycle, per city ordinance in Apple Valley, Burnsville, and Eagan, MN. See the Ordinances section. If you are not offered any recycling for the basic materials (cans, bottles, paper, etc.), talk to your management company. 

2. Property management companies can apply for free assistance through the Dakota County Multifamily Recycling Program in the form of containers, labels, totes, and education for residents and staff.

3. In the garbage industry, apartment buildings are often considered "commercial" accounts rather than "residential". If you need to contact the garbage or recycling hauler that services your building(s), please check our list of licensed commercial haulers. 

4. Did you know you must properly recycle electronics when you are done with them and NOT put them in the garbage?  They also cannot go in with regular recyclables (cans, bottles, paper, etc.). Find options for recycling electronics like televisions, computers, stereos, etc. at the electronics recycling section.

5. Need to find out how to recycle other items? Check out our Residential Recycling section. 

6. Want to learn how to properly dispose of many different items? Visit Dakota County's Recycling and Disposal Guide, an online tool with lots of information.

Energy

1. Easy things like turning off the lights and unplugging electronics while not in use can help save electricity and money.

2. Washing clothes in cold water uses less energy and will save you money if you have your own washer. It will also preserve your clothing.

3. Use CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs) in lamps and lighting fixtures instead of the old incandescent bulbs.  Not only will they last longer, but they use 75% less energy.  Just make sure to look for the Energy Star rating on the light bulbs to ensure long-lasting quality. Learn more about Fluorescent bulbs.

4. For many other energy-saving tips, check out the MN Energy Challengeand their "Renter" specific section. 

Moving in or moving out?

5. Want to find or get rid of gently used furniture and other household goods? Check out things like Craigslist or look at the Reuse sectionto find donation and other opportunities.

6. Do you have household cleaners, paint, old fluorescent bulbs or other items that need to be disposed of? These are considered household hazardous waste and can all be brought to The Dakota County Recycling Zone, in Eagan, at NO CHARGE. 

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.

ENERGY STARis a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
 

EPEAT, which stands for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, is an easy-to-use, on-line tool helping institutional purchasers select and compare computer desktops, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes. As of June 2007, approximately 532 products manufactured by 19 manufacturers were EPEAT registered and listed on the EPEAT Product Registry Web page.
 

Three good reasons to purchase Energy Star and EPEAT products:

• It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy.  Also improvements in equipment operation and end-of-life management practices.
• It makes it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.
• It provides clear, consistent procurement criteria so that consumers can promote environmental stewardship with their dollars.  Every time someone buys a product that’s a part of the EPEAT or Energy Star program, they’re helping give manufacturers an incentive to produce greener electronics that are less harmful to the environment.

 Check out the EPA web sitefor more information about EPEAT.

Make your next event or gathering a green one! Dakota Valley Recycling can help you plan a low-waste event by providing free resources to residents and event planners. View the following guides to get started.

Free Guides

1. Planning a low waste event

2. Reduce your waste guide for vendors

3. Vendors that sell compostable products

Borrow Supplies

If you live in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, or Lakeville, Dakota Valley Recycling also has free and easy to use recycling resources for your event including: 

• Portable recycling, organics, and trash stations
• Signs and banners
• Bags and litter grabbers

Contact Jackson Becker by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or by phone (952-895-4511) to reserve equipment. Please note that for larger events requiring 10 or more frames/stations, we will direct you to use Dakota County resources. 

Set up disposal

In order to recycle what you collect, you will have to arrange for a pick up service through a licensed hauler. For a list of licensed commercial haulers, visit our hauler guide here. 

If you collected organics during your event including food and compostable products, you must arrange a separate pick-up for the material to go to a commercial organics recycling site. You may set that service up with your selected hauler. If food and food scraps only were collected, you may place that in a backyard composter.

If you collected any hazardous materials during your event including but not limited to paints, cleaners, fuels, and most products labeled dangerous, flammable, combustible, poisonous, or corrosive, you will need to bring these items to The Recycling Zone in Eagan. Residents are able to drop off hazardous waste for free during open business hours.