Garbage and recycling requirements

Businesses or other organizations can contract with any licensed hauler.

Find a list of licensed haulers in Minneapolis

You must follow these guidelines whether you use the City's service or another licensed hauler:

• Garbage and recycling collection is required. If recycling is not available at your apartment or workplace, contact us.
• The collection site must be kept clean.
• The recycling collection area must be as easy to access.
• Dumpsters or carts must have the capacity to hold all the garbage and recycling produced.
• There must be enough space to store all waste containers for the property.
• Containers cannot be visible from the front of the property.
• You must have a written recycling plan, and you must give written recycling information to tenants every year.

See commercial recycling ordinance

Organics recycling at businesses

Any property can start an organics recycling program. This includes residential or commercial properties. Some businesses are required to have an organics diversion program.

When you're required to have organics recycling

Hennepin County requirements

Hennepin County requires businesses to have organics recycling if either of the following is true:

• You generate 1 ton or more of garbage each week
• You contract for 8 cubic yards or more of garbage each week

Visit Hennepin County's organics recycling webpage

City of Minneapolis requirements

You must have organics recycling if you use compostable plastics in your food business.

Visit our Green to Go webpage

Start organics with the City

Contact your hauler and ask if they provide the service. You can see list of haulers that offer organics recycling.

Visit Hennepin County’s Organics Recycling web page 

Start organics with the City

If organics recycling isn't available through your hauler, we may be able to provide it.

1. Call Solid Waste & Recycling
2. Staff will visit the property and determine if we can provide service to your building.
3. You can meet with our staff, but if you're not available, we can inspect the site without you. 
4. If we can provide organics service: we’ll give you an application.
   • Once you return it to us, we'll deliver your carts within 10 business days.
   • Your service will start as soon as you get your carts.

Report a business without recycling

If you work in or visit a commercial building that does not have recycling, you can report it to our office.

• Fill out an online form
• Contact us