Disposal guide

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

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Icon for Glass - drinking, glasses, plates, bowls, vases, or decorative glass items

Glass - drinking, glasses, plates, bowls, vases, or decorative glass items

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

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

More information:
The following types of glass are not recyclable
  • drinking glasses and ceramics
  • window glass and mirrors
  • bakeware and Pyrex™
  • decorative glass (vases, candle holders)
They have strengthening additives and have different melting points than glass bottles and jars.
Fun fact:
Recycling sorting facilities can only take glass bottles and jars. If it came with a food or beverage inside it, it is recyclable. Empty mason jars are also recyclable.
Icon for Paper bag

Paper bag

Disposal method: Recycle

What to do:

Flatten and put in your recycling cart.

More information:
Reuse paper bags as gift wrap or to hold your organics recycling.
Fun fact:

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

Icon for Gutters - metal

Gutters - 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 by 6 a.m. on your recycling week. You must cut gutters to less than 6 feet long and secured bundles with tape or twine. Bundles must weigh less 40 pounds. Please label "for Solid Waste". Limit of 2 bundles 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 Shredded paper

Shredded paper

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

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.
More information:

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
Fun fact:

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. 

Icon for Tissue paper

Tissue paper

Disposal method: Garbage

What to do:

Save for reuse. If not usable, bag and put in your garbage cart.

More information:

Tissue paper is made of mostly glue and filler. It is not recyclable or compostable.

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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.