Recycling Works

Recycling is a team sport, and each player is important. Haulers collect recycling and bring it to a recycling facility. At the recycling facility, people pull contaminants out and keep the equipment running. Machines sort by materials to make sure items go to the right places. Businesses and manufacturers, many of which are local to Minnesota, turn those items into new products like boxes, bottles, cans, and even lawn furniture.

This process starts at home. When you recycle right, you maximize the number of valuable materials that can be turned into new products. Recycle these items:

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 & jugs

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

How to recycle right:

• Empty and dry bottles, jars, and containers (they don’t need to be perfect—just free of most food and residue).
• Leave caps on containers.
• Flatten boxes.
• Put these items loose into your recycling bins.
• Do not put plastic bags, batteries, black plastic, food, and things that can tangle around moving machines into your recycling at home.

If you’re wondering about a specific item, use the online Recycling Guide at www.dakotacounty.us, search recycling guide.

Partially funded by Dakota County and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.