Disposal guide

Disposal method: Organics, Garbage

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

Napkins and paper towels are not recyclable.

Paper towels used with chemical cleaners need to go in the garbage.

Disposal method: Garbage

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

• drinking glasses and ceramics
• window glass and mirrors
• bakeware and Pyrex™
• decorative glass (vases, candle holders)

Disposal method: Recycle

Flatten and put in your recycling cart.

Avoid taking paper bags from the store in the first place.

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

• South Transfer Station with a voucher
• Hennepin County Drop-off facility
• scrap metal recycler

Disposal method: Garbage

Bag and put in your garbage cart. Shredded paper is not recyclable or compostable. 

• Shredded paper is too small to sort at the recycling facility.
• Toner ink from commercial printing contains microplastics making it not compostable.

Avoid shredding paper if you can by switching to online statements and bills.

For paper statements you receive

1. Tear off your name and account information off
2. Put the bigger piece of paper into your recycling
3. Put the small piece with your name and account number into a junk mail envelope. The smaller piece of paper in a bigger envelope will make sure it gets sorted for recycling. 

You could also

• contact a credit union or bank to see if they offer shredding services
• buy a special marker or stamp that blacks out your personal information
• reuse shredded paper for animal bedding

Shredded paper from confidential shred bins or shredding events is recycled. This paper is picked up in a truck solely for paper. These trucks often go directly to a paper mill for recycling.