Disposal guide

This searchable guide tells you how to properly dispose of many common and uncommon household items.

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Icon for Frozen food boxes, freezer boxes

Frozen food boxes, freezer boxes

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:

Some frozen food boxes have thick plastic linings. Until all are designed the same, all frozen food boxes should be put in the garbage. It is impossible to separate out those that can be recycled from those that cannot.

Fun fact:

Recycling facilities do not accept paper that is meant for direct food contact. This includes items like

  • napkins and paper towels
  • paper plates, cups and bowls
  • paper to-go containers

Delivery pizza boxes are the exception. If there is little oil or grease, they can be recycled.

Icon for Pizza box - delivery

Pizza box - delivery

Disposal method: Recycle, Organics

What to do:

Remove plastic that keeps the top of the box from touching the pizza and put it in the garbage. If there is only a little bit of oil or grease, the pizza box can be recycled. If there is a lot of oil and grease, the pizza box should be put in your organics recycling cart. 

More information:

Pizza boxes should be recycled if they can be. Paper can be recycled up to seven times. The paper in a pizza box has another life left as a piece of paper. 

See Accepted recycling

Pizza boxes do not need to have the BPI certification on them to be composted.

See Accepted organics

Icon for Cardboard

Cardboard

Disposal method: Recycle

What to do:

Flatten all boxes (cardboard, cracker, cereal, soda, etc.) and put in your recycling cart. Do not stuff into cart. Cart contents should come out easily when the cart is tipped.

More information:
Cardboard that does not fit in your recycling cart should be flattened and put inside another cardboard box. Set cardboard bundles or boxes next to your recycling cart. Boxes and bundles must not be larger than 3 feet x 3 feet and weigh less than 40 pounds.
Fun fact:
It is the easiest for crews to pick up extra cardboard if it is flattened and in one box. The boxes will separate in the truck. The sorting process works best when boxes are flattened and loose.
Each time paper is recycled the fibers break and get shorter. Paper can be recycled up to 7 times before the fibers are to small to make new paper.
Icon for Aerosol can - hazardous

Aerosol can - hazardous

Disposal method: Hazardous waste, Garbage

What to do:

Bring full or partly full aerosol cans to a Hennepin County Drop-off facility

Hazardous spray cans include

  • butane
  • penetrants
  • hair spray
  • bug spray
  • spray paint

Items marked Caution, Caustic, Corrosive, Danger, Flammable, Poison, Volatile, or Warning are considered hazardous waste.

Bag and put empty spray cans from hazardous products in the garbage.  

More information:

Put empty spray cans from non-hazardous products in your recycling cart.

This includes items like

  • spray cheese
  • whipped cream
  • shaving cream
  • sun screen
  • air fresheners
Fun fact:

Full or partially full spray cans are a safety hazard for collection crews.

Icon for Electrical fuses

Electrical fuses

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:

Electrical fuses are non-hazardous.

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If you cannot find an item

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Resources

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

Public Works

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Phone

612-673-2917

Address

Eastside Maintenance Facility
2635 University Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418

Office hours

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday

This building is closed to the public.