
The City of Minneapolis provides its residents with recycling carts to dispose of their recyclables. Recyclables must be placed loose in the cart and not bagged. Paper bags can be put in the recycling cart, but plastic bags must be disposed of in the garbage or brought to a plastic bag drop-off location. Residents must also ensure that their carts are clean and easily accessible for collection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags | Not recyclable. Should be put in the garbage or brought to a plastic bag drop-off location |
| Plastic films | Not recyclable. Can be brought to a drop-off location if clean and dry |
| Six-pack holders | Not recyclable |
| Paper bags | Recyclable |
| Cardboard boxes | Recyclable |
| Containers | Should be kept in their 3-dimensional shape |
| Boxes | Should be flattened |
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What You'll Learn

Plastic bags should be disposed of in the garbage or at a drop-off location
Plastic bags should not be placed in your recycling cart in Minneapolis. Instead, they should be disposed of in the garbage or at a plastic bag drop-off location. This is because plastic bags can contaminate recycling loads and make them more difficult to process.
If you collect your recycling in a plastic bag, you must dump the recycling out of the bag into your cart. Paper bags, on the other hand, can go in your recycling cart. If you have plastic bags or plastic film that you wish to recycle, they can be brought to a drop-off location, but they must be clean and dry.
Drop-off locations for plastic bags and plastic film in Minneapolis include:
Hennepin County drop-off facilities, such as the Brooklyn Park and South Hennepin (Bloomington) facilities.
It is important to note that plastic bags should be empty at the time of drop-off. Additionally, Hennepin County has specific guidelines for the disposal of organic waste in plastic bags. Organics must be brought in BPI-certified compostable plastic bags and emptied at the time of drop-off.
By following these guidelines for plastic bag disposal, residents of Minneapolis can help ensure that their recyclables are properly sorted and processed, reducing contamination and promoting a more sustainable environment.
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Recycling should be placed loose in the cart, not in plastic bags
The City of Minneapolis provides detailed guidelines on how to recycle various materials, including plastic. One of the key instructions is that recycling should be placed loose in the cart and not in plastic bags.
When preparing your recyclables for collection, it is important to ensure that they are not bagged. This means that if you collect your recycling at home in plastic bags, you should dump the recyclables out of the bag and into the recycling cart loose. Plastic bags are not acceptable in the recycling cart and should be disposed of in the garbage or taken to a designated plastic bag drop-off location.
The City of Minneapolis provides specific recycling carts, which are typically blue, for this purpose. These carts are designed to accommodate loose recyclables, and bagging your recycling items can hinder the sorting process. By keeping your recyclables loose, you facilitate efficient sorting and processing at the recycling facilities.
It is worth noting that paper bags are an exception and can be placed in your recycling cart. However, plastic bags, including those used for groceries or other purposes, must be kept out of the cart. If you have a large volume of recycling that exceeds the capacity of your cart, you can request additional recycling carts from the City of Minneapolis at no cost.
To summarise, when recycling in Minneapolis, remember to place your recyclables loose in the designated cart. Avoid using plastic bags for recycling, as they can contaminate the recycling stream and create additional issues during processing. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your recyclables are properly sorted and contribute to a more effective recycling process in your community.
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Paper bags can be recycled in the cart
The City of Minneapolis provides its residents with guidelines on how to recycle properly. Paper bags can be recycled in the cart. However, it is important to note that any recycling should be placed loosely in the cart and not bagged. If you collect recycling in paper bags in your home, simply dump the recycling out of the bag and place the bag in the cart. The same rule does not apply to plastic bags—these should be thrown in the garbage or brought to a plastic bag drop-off location.
Minneapolis has specific rules for recycling, and failure to follow them could result in your cart being taken away. For example, if you receive multiple tags or notices about problems with your recycling, your cart may be removed. To avoid this, ensure that only acceptable items are placed in the cart for recycling.
You can still set out recycling in paper bags or cardboard boxes for collection. Cardboard bundles or boxes should be placed next to your recycling cart and must not be larger than 3 feet by 3 feet or weigh more than 40 pounds. Additionally, keep containers in their 3-dimensional shape, and flatten all boxes. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your paper bags and other recyclables are properly disposed of in Minneapolis.
It is important to be mindful of what can and cannot be recycled in your cart. For example, plastic bags and plastic films should never be placed in the recycling cart. Other non-recyclable items include pressurized cylinders, such as propane, helium, and CO2. To properly dispose of plastic bags and films, ensure they are clean and dry, and bring them to a designated drop-off location.
To clarify, if you use paper bags to collect recycling in your home, remember to dump the recycling out of the bag and into your cart. The paper bag can be recycled, but the recyclables should not be bagged in your cart. This ensures that your paper bags are properly recycled, and you avoid any issues with collecting, sorting, and processing your recyclables.
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Plastic films are not accepted in the recycling cart
The City of Minneapolis provides clear guidelines on what can and cannot be placed in the blue One-Sort recycling cart. One of the key instructions is that plastic films are not accepted in the recycling cart. This rule is in place because plastic films, like plastic bags, can cause operational issues in the recycling process. When placed in the recycling cart, plastic films can get tangled in the machinery, leading to downtime and maintenance problems.
It is important for residents to understand that plastic films should be disposed of separately. Instead of putting them in the recycling cart, residents should take clean and dry plastic films to designated drop-off locations. This ensures that plastic films are handled appropriately and diverted from the recycling stream. By following these guidelines, residents can help minimize disruptions to the recycling process and support the city's efforts in managing waste effectively.
The City of Minneapolis provides specific instructions for preparing recyclables for collection. One important rule is to keep containers in their three-dimensional (3D) shape. This means that plastic containers should be kept intact and not crushed or flattened before placing them in the recycling cart. This guideline helps ensure that the recycling process runs smoothly and that materials are properly sorted at the recycling facility.
Additionally, it is important to note that plastic bags, like those used for groceries or retail purchases, should also not be placed in the recycling cart. Plastic bags can cause similar issues as plastic films, getting tangled in the machinery and hindering the recycling process. Residents are advised to dispose of plastic bags separately, either by placing them in the garbage or taking them to designated drop-off locations, such as those available at stores like Target and Cub.
The City of Minneapolis encourages proper recycling practices and provides resources to help residents understand what is acceptable in the recycling cart. By following these guidelines and keeping plastic films and bags out of the recycling stream, residents can play a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency of the recycling process and contributing to the city's sustainability goals. It is important to stay informed about acceptable recycling practices and to utilize the resources provided by the city to ensure that recyclables are properly sorted and disposed of.
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Plastic six-pack holders are not recyclable
In Minneapolis, plastic bags and films can be recycled if they are clean and dry and placed in a drop-off location. However, plastic six-pack holders are not typically recyclable in the city's curbside recycling program. These holders are often made from HDPE #2 plastic, which is technically recyclable. However, their shape poses a challenge for most recycling centers. Due to the way materials are sorted at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), small items like six-pack holders can slip through the disk screens and contaminate other recyclables.
As a result, most recycling programs do not want these holders mixed in with other recyclables. There may be alternative options for recycling plastic six-pack holders. Some local breweries and beer stores that use these holders might accept them for reuse or recycling. Additionally, the manufacturer of these holders, PakTech, offers drop-off locations for recycling in certain areas, although the availability of these locations varies across the country.
It is worth noting that plastic six-pack holders have been criticized by activists for their harmful impact on wildlife and pollution concerns. In response, some beverage companies are transitioning to more sustainable packaging options, such as cardboard or six-pack rings made from leftover barley straw. These alternatives aim to reduce plastic waste and provide eco-friendly solutions.
While recycling plastic six-pack holders can be challenging, it is important to explore alternatives to disposal. Reusing or returning these holders to businesses or manufacturers that accept them for recycling can help reduce their environmental impact. Additionally, supporting companies that prioritize sustainable packaging options can contribute to a more circular economy and minimize the negative effects of plastic waste on wildlife and the planet.
Overall, while plastic six-pack holders are not widely accepted in Minneapolis's curbside recycling program, there are alternative recycling options available, and the industry is moving towards more sustainable packaging choices.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bags and plastic films are not accepted in your blue One-Sort recycling cart. However, you can take them to a plastic bag drop-off location, as long as they are clean and dry.
Six-pack holders, black plastic bags, boat wrap, wet film plastic (including bags), and film plastic with residue (including bags) are some examples of plastics that are not accepted for recycling in Minneapolis.
Make sure to keep your recyclables loose in your recycling cart. Do not bag your recycling. If you collect recycling in plastic bags in your home, dump the recycling out of the bag into your cart. Flatten all boxes and keep containers in their 3-dimensional shape.
Paper bags and cardboard boxes can be recycled with plastics in your blue One-Sort recycling cart.











































