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 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 Egg carton - plastic

Egg carton - plastic

Disposal method: Recycle

What to do:

Put in your recycling cart.

More information:
Remove any paper inserts and put in your recycling cart separate from the plastic.
See Accepted recycling
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 Egg carton - paper

Egg carton - paper

Disposal method: Organics, Garbage

What to do:
Bag and put in your organics recycling cart. Organics may be set out in a paper grocery bag or a BPI certified compostable plastic bag.
See Accepted organics
If you are unable to participate in the organics recycling collection or drop-off program, bag and put in your garbage cart.
More information:
There is no cost for Solid Waste & Recycling customers to get a green organics cart at their home. Anyone, including renters, can sign up.
Sign up to get an organics cart at your home
Residents without City service can sign up to use an organics drop-off site.
Sign up to use an organics drop-off site
Fun fact:

Paper egg cartons are not recyclable. The fibers have been recycled too many times to be made into another paper item.

Icon for Bottle caps - plastic

Bottle caps - plastic

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Loose bottle caps should be bagged and put in the garbage.

More information:

Do not place caps loose into your recycling cart. They are too small to be properly sorted by themselves. They will fall through the sorting equipment and end up in the glass where they will be thrown away by the glass processor.

Fun fact:

Leave plastic caps on plastic bottles and containers. They'll be recycled if they're screwed back on the original plastic container.

Icon for Christmas tree - artificial

Christmas tree - artificial

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. Large items must be less than 6 feet in length. 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:

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

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.