Recycle Smart

Know what goes in your recycling cart!

Recycling has been in the news a lot lately due to shifts in markets and international policy changes. This has left many Minnesotans wondering what is happening to the recycling placed in their carts, and what they can do now to support recycling. In Saint Paul, 100% of residential materials are marketed in North America with 85% of recyclable materials marketed in Minnesota. Even with local and regional markets, the quality control and demand for clean material is ever increasing. It is important now, more than ever, to know what can be recycled and keep problem materials out of your cart.

With support from Ramsey County, Saint Paul is running the Recycle Smart campaign to raise awareness about the importance of recycling the right things. The campaign will focus on important items to keep out of your recycling cart, such as plastic bags, large plastic items, and random metal items. Look for the campaign on Metro Transit ads, social media, and other media outlets. Learn more here throughout the campaign.

Learn what can be recycled in Saint Paul             Information for Minneapolis Residents

Recycle Smart: Keep electronics and batteries out of your recycling cart.

15 February 2021

Batteries and electronics can damage equipment and harm workers collecting and sorting your recycling. Batteries are especially dangerous as they can start fires at recycling sorting facilities.

Recycle Smart and do your part to properly recycle electronics and batteries. Some of these items can be brought to a Citywide Drop-off event, find alternative disposal options below.

• Larger electronics, such as TVs, computer monitors and computer towers: Residents with Citywide Garbage Service may have these collected as a bulky item. Contact your garbage hauler to schedule a pickup. Find more info here.
• Household batteries: These items are not accepted in residential recycling or garbage collection programs. Drop these off at the Ramsey County Hazardous Waste site or an alternate battery recycler.
• Electronic items: Items with batteries that you cannot remove, such as certain cell phones, e-cigs, and electronic toothbrushes should be taken to an electronics recycler. Find disposal options here.

Recycle Smart and do your part to properly recycle electronics and batteries. Find details about Garbage Service bulky item collections, Citywide Drop-off Events, and HHW disposal options at stpaul.gov/recycle.