As we approach the holiday season, it's important to remember that some of our neighbors don't have access to the warm shelter or feasts that others are used to. But there ways and opportunities to bring someone else the comfort we feel when sitting down to a warm meal this season. The easiest option: If you happen to buy extra ingredients, bring a portion to the food shelf! If you don't have food to donate, there are opportunities to offer other resources as well. Pack CSA boxes, deliver meals, or provide monthly donations to a local housing organization. When we share our spread, we spread some joy. 

Check out any of these Dakota County locations where you can bring your donations:

• 360 Community Food Shelves - Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington, Rosemount

• Hastings Family Services

• Hmong American Farmers Association – Hastings

• The Open Door Food Pantry - Eagan and Apple Valley

• Neighbors, Inc. – South St. Paul

Instead of throwing Mr. Jack-o-Lantern in the trash, residents of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Lakeville can drop off their pumpkins at Dakota Valley Recycling's annual pumpkin composting event. This year, the event will be held at FOUR locations making it easier than ever to carve some time into your schedule! The event is FREE for all participants. All collection bins will be available November 4th and 5th.

Drop-off Locations

Eagan Community Center
1501 Central Pkwy (southwest parking lot)
Eagan, MN 55121

Lakeville Police Station
9237 183rd St. W.
Lakeville, MN 55044

What happens to the pumpkins? 

All pumpkins are brought to the local Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Organics Recycling Facility where they will be turned into compost - a valuable soil additive. Compost improves soil quality, reduces erosion, reduces greenhouse gases, and decreases the need for chemical fertilizers. 

Questions about this event? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to send an email or call 952-895-4515

*New location in Burnsville!* America Recycles Day (November 15) is a nationally recognized day started by Keep America Beautiful dedicated to encouraging individuals and organizations alike to recycle and buy recycled products. Since 2008, Dakota Valley Recycling has held a shoe recycling collection event for a whole week in November to celebrate recycling. This year, Dakota Valley Recycling is working with USAgain, a national company that collects textiles to be reused or recycled. 

Where and when can you drop off shoes?

Apple Valley Community Center
14603 Hayes Rd.
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Burnsville Civic Center Amphitheater   *New location!!*
251 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337

Eagan Civic Arena
3870 Pilot Knob Rd
Eagan, MN 55122

Lakeville Fire Station 1
20190 Holyoke Ave.
Lakeville, MN 55044

What happens to the shoes collected?

Shoes in good condition will be cleaned up and reused by giving to those in need. Shoes that are no longer in good condition will be separated and the parts such as rubber and textiles will be recycled. 

Last years results

In 2020 we collected a total of 5.7 tons of shoes! Let's see what we can do in 2023!

That's equivalent to the weight of an adult Asian Elephant,

Or the weight of 23 fully grown pigs! 

Let's work to make 2023 a record year for recycling. For resources on where to bring textiles year round visit www.co.dakota.mn.us/and search Donate Your Stuff. For questions about this event, call the Dakota Valley Recycling Hotline at 952-895-4559 

Need to get rid of sensitive documents? Attend these Shred Events in Eagan, Lakeville, Burnsville, and Apple Valley! All events are open to all residents. Services are free and shredding will occur on-site. NO business waste including from home-based businesses. 

For more recycling events in other Dakota County cities, view the Dakota County Recycling Guide and click Recycling Events. 

Spring Events: 

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Apple Valley Aquatic Center
14421 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, MN 55124
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)

Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Eagan Cascade Bay Waterpark
1360 Civic Center Dr., Eagan, MN 55122
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)

Date: Saturday, May 27, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Lakeville Maintenance Facility
7570 179th St. W., Lakeville, MN 55044
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)

Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Burnsville Maintenance Facility
13713 Frontier Ct., Burnsville, MN 55337
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)
*Part of the annual DVR Summer Drop-off for appliances and electronics

Fall Events: 

Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023 
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Eagan Cascade Bay Waterpark
1360 Civic Center Dr., Eagan, MN 55122
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)

Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Location: Burnsville Maintenance Facility
13713 Frontier Ct., Burnsville, MN 55337
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)
*Part of the annual Burnsville Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Apple Valley Aquatic Center
14421 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, MN 55124
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)
*Part of the annual Apple Valley Fall Residential Clean-Up Day

Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Lakeville Maintenance Facility
7570 179th St. W., Lakeville, MN 55044
Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)

How to Prepare your documents for destruction:

• You may leave staples and paper clips on items before destruction. Large metal binder clips and three ring binders should be removed
• You may bring items in paper bag for easier handling. A plastic bag or cardboard box is fine too, but be prepared to dump items from plastic bag into cart. 

Paperwork with confidential information should be shredded to prevent the possibility of identity theft but not all documents need to be shredded. In fact, shredded paper wears down the fibers making it more difficult to recycle. With that in mind, please shred only what you need to, and recycle the rest. 

Can't make it to our shredding event? Check out our Document Destruction Guideto find locations to bring documents, or visit the Dakota County Recycling Guide to see a list of shredding events throughout the county (under Recycling Events). For more information on this event please call the Recycling Hotline at 952-895-4559.

Summertime sadness? How about summertime recycling madness!

Whether you're making a big move, cleaning out your closets, or helping a friend with some projects, you're in luck. Below is information on collections and events that are happening all throughout the summer, including times and locations for summer shredding events and current mattress discounts. Please also check out the Burnsville Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off event information, and join us in collecting and diverting waste from the landfill!

**Updated 6/16/2021