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

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Icon for Video game systems and games

Video game systems and games

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

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, bring to one of the following
More information:
You could also keep it in a box with other small electronic or metal items. When the box is full, set it next to your recycling cart by 6 a.m. on your recycling day. Label the box "for Solid Waste". The crew will write your item on a list and a separate truck will come the next business day to pick it up for recycling.
Learn more about Large item collection
Fun fact:

Post on a neighborhood social media platform to see if anyone in your neighborhood is interested.

Icon for Garden (flower) pots and plastic trays

Garden (flower) pots and plastic trays

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Donate if usable. If not usable, bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:

Some garden centers and nurseries accept garden pots for reuse or recycling. Check with your local garden center or nursery to see if they accept garden pots or trays.

Fun fact:
Recycling facilities only accept plastic bottles and containers #1 (PET), #2 (HDPE), and #5 (PP) from food, beverages, bathroom and laundry products. Other plastic items that are too big or too small are not able to be sorted correctly. They also do not take plastics that are black in color.
See Accepted recycling
Icon for Refrigerator, fridge

Refrigerator, fridge

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

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, remove the door(s) and set the item and doors next to your carts 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
Ammonia, sulfur and propane cooled refrigerators are not accepted by Solid Waste & Recycling or at the South Transfer Station. These need to be brought to a drop-off location.
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
Icon for Aerosol can - non hazardous

Aerosol can - non hazardous

Disposal method: Hazardous waste, Recycle

What to do:

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

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
More information:
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.  
Fun fact:

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

Icon for Soda / pop boxes

Soda / pop boxes

Disposal method: Recycle

What to do:

Flatten and put in your recycling cart.

More information:
Boxes that go in your refrigerator are recyclable. Boxes that go in your freezer belong in the garbage. Until all frozen food boxes can be recycled, it's impossible to separate out those that can be recycled from those that cannot.
See Accepted recycling
Fun fact:

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.

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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.