 Hennepin County completed a third successful year of the Apartment Recycling Champion program in 2025. Through the program, 11 residents at multifamily properties were hired for three or six months to distribute education materials, monitor trash and recycling areas for contamination, respond to resident questions on recycling, set up recycling bins in their building’s common areas, and educate and inspire their neighbors to reduce waste and recycle more.
Champions reached people in over 1,500 units at 10 multifamily properties across Hennepin County. The multifamily properties ranged from a small 5 unit building all the way up to a complex with 1,000+ units across 3 buildings.
Champions served as a trusted resource, communicating with their neighbors in culturally relevant ways.
"The most positive outcome for me participating in this program is that I had the opportunity to get to know more of my neighbors. It just feels good to try to make a difference in my community," shared one of the champions.
Overall, champions were proud of the work they completed and saw the impact in their building. "There is so much bad news about the environment and climate that we can feel not just hopeless but helpless. Engaging my neighbors in the concrete things we can do that make a big positive difference, like recycling, was huge. It helped them feel part of a solution!" said another champion.
As a property manager, if you are interested in improving recycling participation and waste reduction education among residents in your building, consider recruiting a resident to help and serve as a trusted messenger for their neighbors! Order free supplies and email the apartment recycling coordinator at apartmentrecycling@hennepin.us for advice.
 With so many single-use plastic items in our lives, avoiding them may feel overwhelming! Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to help create a world with less plastic. Are you up for the challenge? Join the Plastic-Free Challenge to explore what’s possible.
During the one-month challenge, you can focus on learning about plastic recycling, making plastic-free swaps, and advocating for changes in your community. As part of a community acting together, see how our individual actions add up to a big impact!
Registration opens on January 1
The Plastic-Free Challenge is a month-long effort starting February 1 to reduce plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle. Businesses, organizations, and community groups can also join the challenge as Plastic-Free Challenge partners.
The challenge runs during the month of February. Registration opens on January 1. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.
 Between packaging from deliveries, decorations, gift wrap, and more, the holiday season is a time when we often have a lot of stuff to get rid of. To make sure you recycle and reuse as much as you can, review the holiday disposal guide tips below for the best way to get rid of common holiday items.
Recycle at home
Boxes
This includes cardboard boxes, boxes from deliveries, shoe boxes, and electronics boxes. Empty and flatten boxes before putting them in the recycling. If you have a lot of boxes, check with your hauler to see if they can be placed alongside your recycling cart. Cardboard is also accepted at Hennepin County drop-off facilities.
Paper
You can recycle packing paper, cards, and envelopes made of plain paper, and newspaper, Kraft paper, or other plain paper used as gift wrap. Flatten paper before recycling to ensure it gets properly sorted at the recycling facility.
Bring to a drop-off facility for recycling
Plastic bags, film, and bubble wrap
Deliveries can come with a lot of plastic packaging. You can bring shipping envelopes made entirely of plastic, plastic film, air pillows, and bubble wrap to a drop-off for recycling. Plastic bags and film must be clean and dry, and plastic air pillows should be deflated. Some retail and grocery stores have collection containers, and these items are accepted at Hennepin County drop-off facilities.
String lights, electronics, and batteries
It’s common this time of year to have things like string lights that no longer work, electronics that you are upgrading, or items with batteries that you need to get rid of. These items are accepted at Hennepin County drop-off facilities for recycling or proper disposal. Find options for disposing of common household items on the Green Disposal Guide.
Trash
Packing materials
StyrofoamTM is not recyclable. Reuse StyrofoamTM for future packaging and mailing needs or put it in the trash. Shipping envelopes made of multiple materials (such as paper and bubble wrap) go in the trash.
 Reuse gift wrap and decorations
As you clean up during the holidays, items like gift bags, gift boxes, ribbons, and bows are great to save and reuse next year! Newspaper, Kraft paper, or other plain paper used as gift wrap can be reused or recycled at home. Flatten paper before recycling to ensure it gets properly sorted at the recycling facility.
Unfortunately, many items commonly used to decorate gifts become too damaged to reuse or cannot be recycled. These should go in the trash:
- Glossy, shiny, or glittery wrapping paper
- Tissue paper
- Cards that have glitter, foil, or plastic adornments
- Cards printed on photo paper
 Real Christmas trees, wreaths, and greenery
At the end of the season, check with your city, garbage hauler, or yard waste drop-off site for disposal options. Remove all decorations prior to disposing of your live tree.
If wreaths and greenery are not accepted by your hauler, put them in a plastic bag in the trash. Unless you know your tree and greenery was grown in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture recommends you shouldn’t leave them in your backyard because of concerns about pests. Learn more about best practices for holiday greenery.
Artificial trees or greenery with flocking or glitter
Artificial trees and wreaths in good condition should be saved for reuse, given away, or donated. Trees, wreaths, and other greenery with flocking (a covering of artificial snow), glitter, or other decorations that cannot be removed should go in the trash.
Did you know over 95% of a mattress and box spring can be recycled? Beginning in 2026, multifamily properties in Hennepin County will be eligible for free curbside mattress and box spring recycling. To participate in the program, the property’s manager or owner must submit an application to be approved. If you are a resident at a multifamily property, share the opportunity with your property manager so they can get the property approved to participate.
More information on how to apply coming in 2026. Stay tuned!
The multifamily recycling grant program is currently closed but will open again in early 2026. Hennepin County offers grants for multifamily properties to improve recycling and reduce contamination, prevent waste or start organics recycling for composting. Areas of focus can include organics hauling service, construction of waste enclosures or chutes, bulky waste and waste prevention. Visit the apartment recycling web page to stay updated on the 2026 grant program launch.
In the meantime, free resources are available to Hennepin County residents to improve recycling in apartments, condos, and townhome associations. 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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