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

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 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 paper products

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

 

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 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:

Learn more about plastic bag and film recycling

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
  • Pots and pans
  • Silverware
  • Pipes and poles
  • Chairs
  • Hangers
  • Pressurized cylinders (propane, helium. CO2)

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
frozen juice can, pringles can, mixed nuts, iced tea tub

 

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.

Learn more about disposal options

Recycling guide

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

Contact us

Solid Waste & Recycling

Public Works

Facebook

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.

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