Disposal guide

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

Donate if usable. If not usable, remove and properly manage batteries. Bring the device to one of the following

• Fix-it Clinic (Volunteers will help teach you how to fix it)
• South Transfer Station with a voucher
• Hennepin County Drop-off facility
• electronics recycler

Remove and bring the battery to a drop-off location for recycling.

• Any type of residential battery, bring to a Hennepin County Drop-Off facility
• For local drop-offs for rechargeable batteries, search The Battery Network's website

You must tape the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of the batteries for safe storage and transport. Bring the whole device to a drop-off location for recycling if you can't remove the battery.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can cause fires. They are used in many common items like

• electronic greeting cards and toys
• cellphones, smart watches and laptops
• power tools and electric lawn equipment
• e-bikes and electric vehicles

Fires can and do occur in collection vehicles and at waste and recycling facilities. Properly manage batteries to prevent injuries and destruction to vehicles and facilities.

Disposal method: Recycle

Put in your recycling cart.

Each time paper is recycled the fibers break and get shorter. Paper can be recycled up to 7 times before the fibers are too small to make new paper.

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

Donate if usable. If not usable, separate crossbar from poles and remove any concrete. Poles less than 6 feet in length will be picked up on your recycling week. Limit of 2 large items per week. Place next to your carts on your recycling day. Please post a sign or write on the item "For Solid Waste".

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

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

Disposal method: Garbage

Reuse when possible. Bag and put wrapping paper in your garbage cart.

Wrapping paper is often made of low grade paper with a lot of dye, glue and fillers. Paper mills do not see a value to this material in the recycling process. Look for alternatives for wrapping paper. Consider making reusable bags or wrapping presents in the comics section from the newspaper, old calendars or maps.

Disposal method: Organics, Garbage

Facial tissues or toilet paper used for blowing your nose can be composted. 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.

Toilet paper used to clean one's bottom is not accepted for composting.

See Accepted organics

The commercial composting process is hot enough to kill bacteria that may be in your tissues.

Compost facilities do not take toilet paper or tissues used in conjunction with urine or poo.

Unused toilet paper is not recyclable. The fibers in the paper are too short to be made into another paper product.