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 Window - metal frame

Window - metal frame

Disposal method: Large recyclable item pick up

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 10 storm windows per week, or 2 doors 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 the South Transfer Station with a voucher.
Learn more about our Voucher program
Fun fact:

There are building material reuse stores in the City. Search online to find one and call for drop-off information.

Icon for Christmas tree - real

Christmas tree - real

Disposal method: Garbage, Drop-off

What to do:
Remove all lights and decorations and put the tree next to your garbage cart. If your tree is 6 feet or taller, you must cut it in half.
More information:
Christmas trees have chemicals applied to them. The chemicals help keep the needles on longer and reduce fire potential. These chemicals often make them non-compostable. They are burned for energy. Search online for disposal more options.
Fun fact:
The DNR recommends proper disposal of trees after the holiday season. They do not encourage people to keep in your backyard as animal habitat. Trees from other states may have invasive species on them that we don't want to spread in Minnesota.
Learn more about Holiday Greenery Management from the DNR
Icon for Packing peanuts - foam

Packing peanuts - foam

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Save for reuse or donate if usable. If unable to reuse, 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 for reuse. Some local shipping stores may also accept for reuse.

Fun fact:

Foam is made of #6 (PS) plastic. No foam of any kind: egg cartons, cups, plates, peanuts, or other #6 plastics is able to be recycled. Polystyrene (#6) plastic has very weak to non-existing markets.

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 Exercise equipment - metal

Exercise equipment - 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
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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.