 If you recycle or compost through the City’s collection program, here’s guidance on getting rid of an item:
If you don’t have City collection, check Hennepin County's Green Disposal Guide.
How to dispose of common holiday items
- Holiday lights. Post usable holiday lights on Buy Nothing, another social media exchange site, or bring to a donation center. Bring non-working holiday lights and holiday lights that were not accepted for donation to a Hennepin County drop-off site.
- Pie tins, trays and aluminum foil. Recycle aluminum pie tins, trays and foil balls that have minimal food debris in your recycling cart. Aluminum foil must be in a ball at least 3 inches in size to be properly sorted.
- Gift wrap and bags. Reuse gift bags. Most wrapping paper is not recyclable and needs to be put in the trash. Only plain kraft paper gift wrap is accepted for recycling in your recycling cart. Make sure wrapping paper is flattened and not balled so it can be properly sorted. Consider alternatives to paper gift wrap and sticker gift labels.
- Cartons are accepted for recycling in your recycling cart. Keep them in their three-dimensional shape. They’re kept separate from other paper and shipped to special paper mills that can manage the layers of plastic and aluminum.
See Hennepin County’s checklist for gift wrap alternatives and other ways to reduce waste this holiday seasons.
A lot of people have extra recycling this time of year. Here’s how to set out extra recycling on your recycling day:
- For boxes that do not fit in your recycling cart, you can place them next to your recycling cart in another box. Keep boxes set outside of the cart to less than 3' x 3' and under 40 pounds. This is for safety and proper sorting.
- Put any extra bottles and cans next to your recycling cart in cardboard boxes or paper bags. (If you use plastic bags, the entire bag will be disposed of as garbage.)
Remember there's no charge to get another recycling cart. If you regularly have more recycling that will fit in your cart(s), contact our office at 612-673-2917 to request another cart.
 The City of Minneapolis is organizing the Feb. 8, 2025, Community Connections Conference around the power of participating in your community and local decision-making. The theme is “Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow.” The conference is an annual free event that connects Minneapolis residents, community groups, neighborhoods and local government.
Volunteer or exhibit
We welcome volunteers to help spread the word about the conference and to volunteer on the day.
We also invite everyone in the community to share information, skills, resources and opportunities through exhibitor booths.
Apply for your exhibit space by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 13. We are especially looking for informative, fun, interactive exhibits for both children and adults. Exhibit space is free for nonprofits and public institutions, and conference partners will also have booth spaces.
Learn more and sign up online.
Read more on the City website.
The Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts initiative will subsidize rent in vacant storefronts for five local arts organizations. This new pilot initiative’s inaugural awardees are Blackbird Revolt, Black Business Enterprises, Flavor World, Twin Cities Pride and Skntones.
In its first year, the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts fund will distribute awards totaling $224,202 to foster creativity, enhance vibrancy and promote sustainability in Minneapolis.
Read more on the City website.
 The new Lake Street Safety Center has opened at 2228 E. Lake St. next to the METRO Light Rail Lake Street/Midtown Station. The safety center features both City and community-based resources and social services. More service providers are now available for the community.
Service providers in the center include:
- Community navigators. They provide cultural or issue-specific support to victims and survivors of crimes.
- Crime prevention specialists. They can help you with safety concerns and resolve conflicts.
- Lake Street safety coordinator. The Lake Street safety coordinator can help business and property owners in the area.
- LEAD Minneapolis. They provide care and support to people needing services in the East Lake Street corridor.
- Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. They offer peer recovery support for the East African Community struggling with substance use disorder. They offer housing services, such as rental help and rapid rehousing.
- City’s 311 department safety center agents. Community members can walk in five days a week and get help with non-emergency issues and information on City services. The safety center agents can also connect you with the right support service, depending on your needs.
For more information on the services and their office hours, visit the City website.
The center is open weekdays: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Host a meeting at the safety center
Community members can now request to book the conference room to host a meeting. The room comfortably seats eight people. Wi-Fi and a large screen TV with HDMI hookup is available. Groups must bring their own laptop and any other equipment they need.
You can learn more about how to book the conference room on the City website.
Russell Fujisawa has been named director of the City of Minneapolis Civil Rights Department’s Office of Police Conduct Review. Fujisawa takes over for Carolina Amini, the acting division director since March. Fujisawa is charged with leading the division that investigates allegations of police misconduct.
Read more on the City website.
The Metropolitan Council is simplifying and lowering transit fares starting Jan. 1. Full-price fares on all Metro Transit buses and trains will be $2 any time of day. Young people, seniors and Medicare recipients will be able to ride Metro Transit’s non-express buses and light rail for $1 all day, every day. The cost of all-day and seven-day transit passes will also be reduced.
The changes are expected to make transit easier to use.
Read more about transit fares on the Metropolitan Council website.
Using new state and federal funding, the City of Minneapolis has started work to replace aging water infrastructure for property owners across the city. The City has completed a citywide inventory of all water service lines. The water service line is the pipe that runs from the water main in the street to the meter inside a property. In Minneapolis, the entire water service line is owned by the property owner.
Residents who have either a lead water service line, a galvanized water service line requiring replacement or a water service line of unknown material will receive a letter from the City. The letter has information about the water service line material, steps that can be taken to minimize lead exposure in drinking water, and an update on the City’s effort to replace lead water service lines. You can find an interactive map of the water service line inventory on the City’s website.
How we know our tap water is safe
Minneapolis water is tested hundreds of times a day to ensure it’s safe to drink, and it has always met all federal drinking water standards for lead. The water is treated to make sure lead from pipes does not get into the water.
This year, using the new grant funds, we began proactively replacing lead service lines at no cost to the homeowner. In total, we will replace around 400 lead service lines using grant funds in 2024 with a plan to replace 1,000 in 2025. This effort will continue until we have replaced or attempted to replace every lead service line in the city (replacement requires the property owner’s consent). It is important to note this is not an opt-in program. The state legislation requires us to prioritize replacement based on:
- Focusing on areas with lower-income residents and other disadvantaged communities.
- Focusing on areas with children with elevated blood lead levels.
- Coordinating the replacement of lead service lines with other capital improvement projects for the most efficient use of grant funding.
You can find more information on the City website.
With more dark hours this time of year, you might notice lights out more on parkways or in parks. If you see a light not working, contact:
For parkway lights
The City of Minneapolis 311 Service Center: Call 311, email or report it on the City website or the app.
For path and trail lights in parks
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board customer service: Call 612-230-6400 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday or email anytime.
If you witness someone damaging a light, call 911.
Minnesota homeowners and renters can apply for energy assistance to help keep their homes warm this winter.
By applying for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program, homeowners and renters may also qualify for Minnesota’s Weatherization Assistance Program and receive free home improvements to help save energy and ensure a warm, healthy, safe home.
Find more information and apply on the Minnesota Commerce Department website.
Contact Ward 6
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward6
Email: jamal.osman@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2206
We've moved while work is being done in City Hall. Our office is in:
Room 100, Public Service Center
250 South 4th St.
Get directions
For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para asistencia, llame al 311. Rau kev pab 311. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 311. |
