Disposal guide

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

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Icon for Light bulb - incandescent or halogen

Light bulb - incandescent or halogen

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:

Incandescent light bulbs are not hazardous. Hennepin County will not accept this type of lightbulb.

Fun fact:

Glass from light bulbs is not recyclable. 

Icon for Washer or dryer - gas or electric

Washer or dryer - gas or electric

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.
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 Light bulb - high intensity discharge (HID)

Light bulb - high intensity discharge (HID)

Disposal method: Hazardous waste

What to do:
Not accepted for pickup Solid Waste & Recycling or drop off at the South Transfer Station.
More information:

You can also call your local hardware store to see if they accept bulbs from residents. Make sure to ask if there's a limit and a fee for drop-off. 

Icon for Packing peanuts - dissolvable / corn starch

Packing peanuts - dissolvable / corn starch

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.

Even if a peanut says it can be dissolved in water, it's best to not dissolve them in your sink. It can lead to clogs in pipes. It also adds to the items the water treatment facility must filter out of the system.

Icon for Cartons - milk carton, juice box, broth, soup

Cartons - milk carton, juice box, broth, soup

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

What to do:

Rinse and put in your recycling cart. Do not flatten. 

More information:
Cartons are sorted as a 'container' at the recycling facility, not as paper. Keeping cartons three-dimensional (3-D) helps them get sorted properly at the recycling facility. They are made of high-grade paper and need to be processed (pulped) longer than other paper items to remove the plastic layers.
Cartons are not compostable. 
Fun fact:

Rinsing containers helps keep your carts clean and free of critters. A simple rinse 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.

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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

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

Public Works

Facebook

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.