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

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Icon for Tin - building material

Tin - building material

Disposal method: Drop-off

What to do:

Item not accepted for pickup by Solid Waste & Recycling. Bring to one of the following

 

More information:
Solid Waste & Recycling customers get 6 clean up vouchers each year. With a voucher, you can bring extra garbage, large items and building materials to the South Transfer Station. You must request a voucher before going to the transfer station.
Learn about our Voucher program
Icon for Wood with lead-based paint

Wood with lead-based paint

Disposal method: Drop-off

What to do:

Wood with lead-based paint must go to a permitted Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfill. It is not picked up by Solid Waste & Recycling. Bring wood painted with lead-based paint to one of the following

Wear gloves and shoe-covers when removing or handling items with lead-based paint. For safety, put small pieces of wood, paper towels, gloves, and shoe covers into a thick sealed plastic bag. 

Learn about lead-based paint from the Minnesota Department of Health

More information:
Solid Waste & Recycling customers get 6 cleanup vouchers each year. With a voucher, you can bring extra garbage, large items and building materials to the South Transfer Station. You must request a voucher before going to the transfer station.
Learn about our Voucher program
Fun fact:

Lead is a toxic metal that was used in older homes, including in paint and solder for water pipes. Lead may also be found in lead sinkers used for fishing. Exposure to lead can cause a range of health effects.

Learn more from the Minnesota Department of Health

Icon for Reusable bottle, mug - metal

Reusable bottle, mug - metal

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

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, bring to one of the following for recycling as scrap metal
More information:
Post on a neighborhood social media platform to see if anyone in your neighborhood is interested.
You could also keep it in a box with other small electronic or metal items. When the box is full, set it next to your recycling cart on your recycling day. Label the box "for Solid Waste". The garbage crew will write your item on a list. A separate truck will come the next business day to pick it up for recycling.
Learn more about Large item collection
Fun fact:
Recycling sorting facilities can only take metal food and beverage cans, bottles and trays. Other metal items can hurt employees or damage equipment at the recycling sorting facility.
See Accepted recycling
Icon for Silverware and straws - metal

Silverware and straws - metal

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

What to do:
Donate if usable. If not usable, bring to one of the following for recycling
More information:
You could also keep it in a box with other small electronic or metal items. When the box is full, set it next to your recycling cart by 6 a.m. on your recycling day. Label the box "for Solid Waste". The garbage crew will write your item on a list. A separate truck will come the next business day to pick it up for recycling.
Learn more about Large item collection
Fun fact:

The recycling sorting process cannot sort metal utensils. They're too small and too awkward of a shape. Most silverware ends up with the crushed glass.

Recycling sorting facilities can only take metal food and beverage cans, bottles and trays. Other metal items can hurt employees or damage equipment at the recycling sorting facility.
See Accepted recycling
Icon for Couch - sofa (not a hide-a-bed)

Couch - sofa (not a hide-a-bed)

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:
Bridging is a local non-profit who will take usable furniture and household goods. They give it to local families in need.
Visit Bridging's website
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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

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.