Disposal guide

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

Featured search items

Brush and prunings

Mattress and box spring

Paper plates and take out containers – plastic lined

Fireworks

Loading...
Loading search results...
Icon for Fan - metal

Fan - metal

Disposal method: Large recyclable item pick up, Drop-off

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, set this item next to your carts out by 6 a.m. on your recycling day. Please label "for Solid Waste". There is a limit of 2 large items per week.
Learn more about Large item collection
More information:
The crew will write your item on a list and a separate truck will come the next business day to pick it up. You may also bring this item to one of the following
Fun fact:
Bridging is a local non-profit who will take usable furniture and household goods. They give it to local families in need.
Visit Bridging's website
Icon for Chinese food container

Chinese food container

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:
Square paper take-out pails and boxes are not recyclable; only some are compostable. Almost all take-out pails have a plastic coating on the inside and outside that does not break down in the paper pulping process or the composting process. Only boxes and pails with a BPI logo on them are accepted for composting.
See Accepted organics
Icon for Cleaners

Cleaners

Disposal method: Hazardous waste

What to do:
Not accepted for pickup Solid Waste & Recycling or drop off at the South Transfer Station.
Bring to a Hennepin County Drop-off facility
More information:

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

Fun fact:

Not all cleaning products are hazardous waste. Even so, you should bring them to a hazardous waste drop-off site due to the chemicals used to make them. Empty bottles can be recycled unless they're labeled with one of the caution words above.

Icon for Coffee cup - paper

Coffee cup - paper

Disposal method: Garbage, Organics

What to do:

Bag and put in your garbage cart. 

More information:
Some coffee cups are accepted for composting. To be accepted, the BPI logo must be on the cup. BPI certified products will fully and safely break down in the composting process. If you are unsure if an item is BPI certified, visit BPI's website and search their product catalog
BPI Compostable Product Catalog
If you are still unsure, bag and put the item in the garbage.
Fun fact:
Any item labeled compostable must be tested to make sure it is actually compostable.
Learn about the Compostable product labeling law
Icon for Fan - plastic

Fan - plastic

Disposal method: Large non-recyclable item pick up, Drop-off

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, we'll pick this up on your garbage day. Limit of 2 large items per week. Put large items next to your carts by 6 a.m. on your garbage day. Please label the item "for Solid Waste".
Learn more about Large item collection
More information:
Item will be picked up by the garbage truck. You may also bring this item to the South Transfer Station with a voucher.
Learn more about our Voucher program
Fun fact:
Bridging is a local non-profit who will take usable furniture and household goods. They give it to local families in need.
Visit Bridging's website
Loading...

If you cannot find an item

If you cannot find your item in this list, you can request that we add it to the disposal guide.               Make a request

Resources

Reduce waste, reuse and repair

Get resources to reduce waste, repair, donate usable items and recycle and compost right.

Choose to Reuse

Help keep usable items out of the trash by selling, donating or repairing them.

Drop-off facilities

Hennepin County has two drop-off facilities where you can bring recycling, electronics and appliances.

Green Disposal Guide

Hennepin County's guide to recycling, reusing or disposing of items.

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

Public Works

Facebook

Email Solid Waste & Recycling

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.