Accepted recycling

Use this page to understand what is and is not recyclable in your blue One-Sort recycling cart.

Recycling guide

Print and post this guide to help you remember what’s recyclable.
Get the recycling guide

How to prepare your recycling

Loose recyclables in blue container
  • Put your recycling in your cart loose.
  • Do not bag your recycling - If you collect recycling in plastic or paper bags in your home, please empty the bags into your cart. 
    • Paper bags can go in your recycling cart.
    • Plastic bags should go in the garbage or brought to a plastic bag drop-off location. 
  • Keep containers in their 3-D (3 dimensional) shape
  • Flatten all boxes
  • Never put plastic bags or plastic films in your recycling cart.

 

Paper

Recyclable paper products

Recyclable

  • Mail, office and school papers
  • Magazines, newspapers and inserts
  • Phone books
  • Books (soft or hardcover)
  • Clean paper bags (flatten)

Recyclable boxes (must be flattened)

  • Cardboard (no more than 3 feet by 3 feet in size)*
  • Cereal, cracker, shoe and gift boxes
  • Refrigerated food and beverage boxes
  • Toothpaste, medication and other toiletry boxes

*Cardboard that does not fit in your recycling cart should be bundled with string or twine (no tape), or flattened and put inside another cardboard box. Set cardboard bundles or boxes next to your recycling cart. Boxes and bundles must not be larger than 3 feet x 3 feet and weigh less than 40 pounds.

Not recyclable

  • Napkins and paper towels
  • Paper cups
  • Paper plates
  • Egg cartons
  • Ice cream tubs
  • Asian takeout boxes
  • Shredded paper
  • Thermal receipts
  • Tissue paper
  • Carbon paper

Plastic

 

Various plastic containers, such as milk jug and yogurt and berry containers

Recyclable bottles and jugs #1, #2, #5 (caps on)

  • Water, soda and juice bottles
  • Milk and juice jugs
  • Ketchup and salad dressing bottles
  • Dishwashing and laundry soap bottles and jugs
  • Shampoo, soap and lotion bottles

Recyclable cups and containers #1, #2, #5

  • Yogurt, pudding and fruit cups
  • Margarine, cottage cheese and other tubs and lids
  • Produce, deli and takeout containers

Not recyclable

  • Plastic bags or film
  • Bubble wrap
  • Plastic foam (commonly referred to as Styrofoam)
  • #3, #4, # 6 and #7 plastics
  • Black plastics
  • Any container that held hazardous waste

Glass

 

Various glass bottles. Wine, beer, tomato sauce bottles.

Recyclable

  • Food and beverage bottles and jars

Not recyclable

  • Drinking glasses
  • Window glass
  • Ceramics
  • Mirrors

Metal 

pop cans, soup containers, decorative tins, and pie tin

Recyclable

  • Food and beverage cans
  • Aluminum foil and trays
  • Decorative tins and pie tins

Not recyclable

  • Appliances
  • Electronics
  • Cords
  • Hangers
  • Silverware
  • Propane cylinders

Cartons

 

Recyclable cartons like cream, broth, and juice.

Recyclable

  • Milk cartons
  • Juice boxes
  • Soup, broth and wine cartons

Not recyclable

  • Paper or plastic foam (Styrofoam) egg cartons
  • Ice cream tubs or coffee cups
  • Foil juice pouches

Cardboard cans

coffee can, powdered drink mix, mixed nut container

Recyclable

  • Chip, nut and other snack cans
  • Frozen juice and refrigerated dough cans
  • Powdered juice mix cans
  • Powdered cleaner cans

Not recyclable

  • Automotive grease or wax containers

More items not accepted in recycling carts

  • Batteries
  • Containers that held hazardous waste
  • Clothes hangers (metal, plastic or wood)
  • Cords, electronics or appliances
  • Durable goods – storage bins, toys, sports gear, furniture, building materials, garden hoses or edging, brooms, shovels, picture frames, housewares or decor
  • Holiday string lights
  • Lightbulbs
  • Paint
  • Textiles – clothes, shoes, linens, blankets, curtains
  • Scrap metal – pots and pans, pipes, poles, toasters, chairs, scooters
  • Syringes

While these items are not accepted in the blue One-Sort recycling carts, some of them may be accepted at recycling drop-off sites.

Learn more about recycling disposal options

Three solid waste and recycling interns standing next to recycling and organics carts

Make a difference in your community

Become a recycling block leader and help your neighbors reduce waste, reuse, recycle and compost.
Learn about this opportunity

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

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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.