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Here in the Twin Cities, you can be assured the materials you put in your recycling you is getting recycled – as long as the materials are accepted in your program and prepared properly. Minnesota state law requires this.
However, keeping out items that don’t belong in the recycling is everyone's responsibility. The best thing we can do to support recycling is to make sure you know what can be recycled and what can’t.
With summer upon us, and with more parties and group gatherings to attend, here are some of the most common materials to keep out of recycling containers:
Large plastic items
Laundry baskets, plastic lawn furniture, storage bins, plastic toys, and other large plastic items can't be recycled in your recycling cart. Recycling facilities are not designed to handle larger plastic items, and there are no good markets for them.
 Paper plates and cups
Paper cups and plates cannot be recycled because they are often lined with plastic or contaminated with food. Paper plates and cups should go into the trash. Avoid using disposable paper plates and cups by choosing reusable or compostable options instead. If you don’t have the option to compost at your building, you can use a drop-off site in your city.
 Plastic utensils and straws
Plastic utensils and straws are too small and difficult to sort at recycling facilities, and there are no recycling markets for them. Avoid plastic utensils and straws. Choose reusable options if possible.
 Paper take-out containers
Paper to-go containers cannot be recycled because they are often lined with plastic or contaminated with food. Certified compostable to-go containers, plates, napkins, and paper towels can be composted but cannot be recycled. If you don’t have the option to compost at your building, you can use a drop-off site in your city.
 While Minnesotans overall do a good job of recycling, it’s important for everyone to recycle right and know what does and doesn’t go into the recycling containers. Remember: "when in doubt, throw it out."
Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash.
 Upcoming clinics
Clinics are held on the second Saturday of most months from noon to 4 p.m., with the last items accepted at 3:30 p.m. Events are first come, first served. No pre-registration required.
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Saturday, July 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Avenue South, Minneapolis
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Saturday, August 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at Southdale Library, 7001 York Avenue South, Edina
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Saturday, September 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Leech Lake Twin Cities office, 2438 27th Avenue South, Minneapolis
Email Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195 with questions.
 We love food, which leaves us wondering: why do we let so much of it go to waste? In the United States, about 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain, and much of that food waste happens at home.
Most of the food we throw in the trash is leftovers or unspoiled food that could have been eaten, according to a recent waste study in Minneapolis. All of that wasted food adds up to wasted money. The average family of four spends more than $2,500 on food that goes to waste every year.
Take the Stop Food Waste Challenge to learn better strategies for buying food you’ll eat and eating the food you buy.
About the Stop Food Waste Challenge
The month-long Stop Food Waste Challenge starts August 1. The challenge can help you notice when you are wasting food, commit to actions that will have the greatest impact in your household, connect you with helpful resources, and provide support and motivation along the way.
The challenge runs during the month of August 2024. Sign up opens on July 1.
Parkview Apartment Homes improves recycling with new signs reminding residents to flatten cardboard boxes
Parkview Apartment Homes, a 106-unit multifamily building in Bloomington, received site visit assistance and additional signage to help improve recycling at the property.
One challenge at the building was cardboard boxes frequently were not broken down. This caused the recycling dumpster to fill up too quickly and diminish the recycling capacity at the building. To improve this, additional signage was placed on the recycling dumpsters to remind residents to always flatten cardboard boxes thus providing more space for additional recyclables.
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Since adding the new flatten cardboard labels, maintenance staff have noticed a drastic improvement in the amount of cardboard that is being flattened before being put in the dumpster and an increased recycling rate property-wide.
Recycling at Parkview has increased by 5%, or about 1,000 pounds of additional recycling. The energy and resources saved through this increase in recycling means that Parkview Apartment Homes is on track to prevent 1.43 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year as well.
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Assistance and resources available to multifamily properties
Hennepin County offers technical assistance to properties to improve recycling. Recycling staff help assess best options, review potential costs and savings, and determine the steps to improve recycling programs. In addition to on-site or online assistance, a variety of resources are available to property managers and residents, including reusable recycling tote bags, aluminum signs, labels, and educational resources.
Multifamily recycling grants
Hennepin County offers grants for multifamily properties to start or improve recycling or organics recycling, reduce contamination, prevent waste, and educate their residents on recycling and waste prevention. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until mid-November 2024, or until the annual program budget is exhausted.
Areas of focus can include purchasing bins and compostable bags, paying for hauling costs, constructing waste enclosures or chutes, managing or preventing the waste of bulky items, and educating residents. Applicants may apply for up to $3,000 for bins and compostable bags and up to $20,000 for all other categories combined.
Review the grant guidelines (PDF) and the grant flyer (PDF) to learn more. Visit the apartment recycling web page to begin the application process.
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Multifamily recycling resources
Free resources are available to Hennepin County residents to improve recycling in apartments, condos, and townhome associations.
We recently updated our resource order form to a new platform! Be sure to save the new link. See what's available and order free resources.
Our committed staff is ready to help you start or improve recycling at your apartment or condo. We can help you assess your best options, review potential costs and savings, and determine the steps forward to improve your programs. Free assistance can be provided online or in-person. Contact the apartment recycling program coordinator to request assistance by emailing apartmentrecycling@hennepin.us.
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