Accepted recycling
Understand what is and is not recyclable in your blue One-Sort recycling cart.
Know where to throw
Use our disposal guide to find out how to properly dispose of an item.
How to prepare your recycling
- 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 dump recycling out of the bag 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
- Mail, office and school papers
- Magazines and catalogs
- 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, electronics, 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)
- 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
- Shredded paper
- Napkins and paper towels
- Paper cups
- Paper plates
- Egg cartons
- Paper takeout boxes
- Ice cream tubs
- Thermal receipts
- Tissue paper
- Carbon paper
Plastic
Recyclable bottles and jugs #1, #2, #5 (caps on)
- Water, soda and juice bottles
- Milk and juice jugs
- Ketchup and salad dressing bottles
- Dishwashing liquid bottles and detergent jugs
- Shampoo, soap, and lotion bottles
Recyclable cups and containers #1, #2, #5
- Yogurt, pudding and fruit cups
- Clear disposable cups and bowls
- Margarine, cottage cheese and other containers
- Produce, deli and takeout containers
Not recyclable
- #3, #4, # 6 and #7 plastics
- Black plastics
- Plastic bags or film*
- Bubble wrap*
- Plastic foam (commonly referred to as Styrofoam)
- Any container that held hazardous waste
* Plastic bags and film can be brought to a drop-off location if they're clean and dry. Drop-off locations include:
- Most grocery stores or food co-ops
- Large retail stores
- Hennepin County Drop-off facilities
Glass
Recyclable
- Food and beverage bottles and jars
Not recyclable
- Drinking glasses
- Window glass
- Ceramics
- Mirrors
Metal
Recyclable
- Food and beverage cans
- Aluminum foil and trays
- Decorative tins and pie tins
Not recyclable
- Appliances
- Electronics
- Cords
- Pots and pans
- Silverware
- Pipes and poles
- Chairs
- Hangers
- Pressurized cylinders (propane, helium. CO2)
Cartons
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
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
- Bagged recycling
- Electronics and batteries
- Scrap metal – pots and pans, pipes, poles, toasters, chairs, scooters
- Tanglers – electrical cords, holiday lights, and hoses
- Durable goods – storage bins, toys, sports gear, furniture, building materials, brooms, shovels, picture frames, housewares or decor
- Textiles – clothes, shoes, linens, blankets, curtains
- Clothes hangers (metal, plastic or wood)
- Containers that held hazardous products
- Lightbulbs
- Paint cans
- Needles and syringes
Drop-off options may exist for some of these items.
Recycling guide
Print and post this guide to help you remember what’s recyclable.
Contact us
Solid Waste & Recycling
Phone
Address
Eastside Maintenance Facility
2635 University Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Office hours
9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday
This building is closed to the public.