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

Computer monitor or tower

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Icon for Ice cream tub - paper

Ice cream tub - paper

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:

Paper ice cream tubs are not recyclable or compostable.

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.

See Accepted recycling
Only containers with a BPI compostable logo on them are able to be composted. If it doesn't have a BPI logo, bag and put it in your garbage.
See Accepted organics
Icon for Peanut butter tubs - plastic

Peanut butter tubs - plastic

Disposal method: Recycle

What to do:

Empty, rinse, put the cap back on and put in your recycling cart.

More information:
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
Fun fact:

Rinsing containers helps keep your carts clean and free of critters. A simple rinse or wipe is enough. You do not need to wash the container with soap or water. As long as it feels like an empty container, it will get recycled.

Icon for Reusable bottle, mug - plastic

Reusable bottle, mug - plastic

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, bag and put in your garbage cart.
More information:
Post on a neighborhood social media platform to see if anyone in your neighborhood is interested.
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 Medications and prescriptions

Medications and prescriptions

Disposal method: Other

What to do:

Bring unwanted medications to medicine drop box for proper disposal.

Find medicine drop box locations and hours

Empty pill bottles are recyclable as long as they are at least three inches in size. 

More information:

Medicine drop boxes accept

  • prescription medication (including controlled substances)
  • over-the-counter medicines
  • vitamins and supplements
  • pet medicines

All forms of medicine are accepted

  • pills, capsules and blister packs
  • powders, liquids, creams and gels
  • inhalers and aerosols
  • un-used EpiPens

Treat any item with a needle, including a used EpiPen, as household sharps.

 

Fun fact:

Medicines brought to drop boxes are brought to special incinerators. The high heat destroys them.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or drain. They can contaminate water, harm wildlife or end up in drinking water.

Icon for Silverware and straws - plastic

Silverware and straws - plastic

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

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

More information:

The recycling sorting process cannot sort plastic utensils. They're too small and too awkward of a shape. Most plastic silverware ends up with the crushed glass.

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
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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.