Due to changes in the international, national and local recycling markets, it's more important than ever to only put the proper items in recycling carts.
While the Twin Cities’ recycling programs have made it easy to recycle many items from the curb, there are several recyclables that can’t be recycled in your curbside bin.
Here are a few items you should never throw in your personal recycling bins.
Unaccepted Recyclables
Although the Twin Cities’ recycling programs accept several household items, there are many products that you can’t throw in the bin - even though they can technically be recycled. The following items should never be tossed in your curbside recycling:
- Batteries
- Plastic bags
- Cords, electronics or appliances
- Paper or foam cups, plates clamshells, ice cream cartons
- Straws, napkins or paper towels
- Durable goods (storage bins, toys, sports gear, furniture, building materials, hoses, garden edging, brooms, shovels, ceramics, glassware, mirrors, picture frames, other housewares or décor)
- Scrap metal (pots and pans, pipes, poles, toasters, chairs, scooters)
- Clothes hangers (metal, plastic or wood)
- Paint, bulbs or containers that held hazardous waste
- Textiles (clothes, shoes, linens, blankets or curtains)
- Syringes
- # 6 plastic (rigid or foam)
- Black plastic
Placing these (technically) recyclable items in the curbside bin can actually result in your entire bin of recyclables to become contaminated. Doing so usually results in your recyclables being tossed out with the trash.
How To Dispose of Non-Recyclable Recyclables
The Public Works Department of Minneapolis provides a What to Do List to help locals understand how to dispose of everyday things. It offers instructions on how to dispose, recycle, or drop off your items.
It is also 23 pages long…
That’s where your friendly crew at Junk360 comes in! As an eco-friendly junk removal company, we don’t just bring items to the dump. Instead, we:
- Sort items to see what can be donated or recycled
- Bring donations to the proper facilities
- Recycle all materials that qualify
All of this is done with every truckload, at no extra cost to the customer.
We’ll properly dispose of all recycled items that can’t be placed in your curbside bins. This includes things like:
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Mattresses
- Large bulky items are made from recyclable materials
