Recycling

All residents and commercial properties, including multifamily, in Dakota County must recycle a designated list of materials and all haulers serving Dakota County must accept these items.

Follow these rules to ensure your recycling gets recycled:

• Do not use plastic bags. Place recyclables loose in your recycling cart or in a paper bag.
• Empty and dry bottles, jars and containers. They don't have to be perfect — just free of most residue.
• Leave caps on containers.
• Empty and flatten boxes.
• Check the Recycling Guide if you are not sure about an item.

Put these items in your recycling: 

Paper

• Newspaper and inserts
• Magazines and catalogs
• Mail and office papers 

Cardboard

• Corrugated cardboard
• Paperboard (e.g., cracker boxes) 

Cartons

• Milk and juice cartons
• Soup, broth, and wine cartons
• Juice boxes 

Metal cans

• Aluminum, tin, and steel cans

Glass bottles and jars

Plastic bottles, containers and jugs

• Containers numbered 1, 2 or 5
• Soda, juice and water bottles
• Milk and juice jugs
• Margarine, cottage cheese, cream cheese and other tubs and lids
• Laundry detergent bottles and jugs
• Clear berry and produce containers

DO NOT put these items in your recycling cart:

• Batteries
• Food and liquids
• Paper plates, cups, and napkins
• Plastic bags and wrap 
• Shredded paper
• Styrofoam
• Tanglers (e.g., chains, extension cords, hoses, string lights)
• Trash