Hard to Dispose

  • Appliances

    Minnesota law prohibits appliances from being placed with household garbage because they have components that are harmful to human health and the environment.  Major appliances no longer in usable condition must be recycled. The term "major appliance" includes the following items:

    • Air conditionersStove
    • Clothes washers and dryers
    • Dishwashers
    • Water heaters
    • Furnaces
    • Microwaves
    • Refrigerators
    • Freezers
    • Ovens, ranges and stoves
    • Garbage disposals
    • Trash compactors
    • Dehumidifiers
    • Heat pumps

    Recycling Appliances

    Option 1:  Some retailers will take and recycle old appliances when you purchase a new one.  Utilize these programs when available.

    Option 2: Bring your appliances to one of the following appliance recyclers.  Fees apply, call business for pricing and hours.

    A-1 Recycling
    2567 Kasota Ave.
    St. Paul, MN 55108
    763-712-1344
    www.a1appl.com

    Advanced Recyclers
    8980 S Hwy 149
    Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
    651-454-9215
    www.jrsappliance.com

    Certified Recycling
    14305 Ewing Ave
    Burnsville, MN 55306
    952-894-1448
    www.certifiedrecycling.org

    Plaza TV and Appliance, Inc.
    946 S Robert St
    West Saint Paul, MN 55118
    651-457-1196
    www.plazatv.com

    Option 3:If you do not have a way to transport an appliance to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or one of the appliance recyclers above to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee. 

  • Batteries

    Some batteries contain no harmful materials and other batteries do; please take the time to know the difference. 

    People use more and more household batteries.  The average person owns about two button batteries, ten normal (A, AA, AAA, C D 9V, etc.) batteries and throws out about eight household batteries per year.  About three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S.

    Types of Batteries and Disposal Methods:

    • Non-rechargeable alkaline and carbon zinc (heavy duty) batteries may be placed in the garbage.  They no longer contain hazardous material and do not need to be recycled.
    • Lithium, button, and rechargeable nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are toxic and should not be placed in the garbage. They should be recycled. 
    • Vehicle batteries for cars, boats, snowmobiles, etc. are illegal to throw in the garbage and must be recycled.  By MN State Law, businesses that sell lead-acid batteries are required to accept up to five used batteries per person at no charge. 

    To recycle batteries, bring them to the Dakota County Recycling Zone located in Eagan. 

    Invest in Rechargeable Batteries

    Over its useful life, each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries.  All rechargeable batteries are recyclable.  While they may cost more up front, they'll save money in the long run because they last longer than disposables. 

    Here are some tips to get the most out of your rechargeable batteries:

    • Follow the charging guidelines provided by the manufacturer
    • Let a discharged battery cool (or warm) to room temperature before recharging
    • Recharge batteries only when they are near to fully discharged
  • Carpet

    rolls of old carpetingIf you recently removed carpeting from your home, please be aware that local disposal options for textiles have changed. Bro-Tex and Carver County Environmental Center do not accept carpet, padding, or textiles for recycling as they did in the past. Instead, you can follow this link to the Dakota County Recycling Guide to find landfill disposal options or call your garbage hauler directly to set up a pick-up.

    As the recycling industry advances, it is important to be aware that technologies accessible to recycling facilities are constantly changing. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes new information and the development of new technologies creates a lull in recycling accessibility for a short time. We hope to be able to offer a wider range of options for carpet and textile recycling soon. Thank you for your patience!

  • Document Shredding

    Paperwork with confidential information should be shredded to prevent the possibility of identity theft but not all paper needs to be shredded. When going through documents, only tear off sections that contain personal information to be shredded, and recycle the rest of the document.

    There are a number of options for residents and businesses to have their paperwork securely shredded.  If you can transport your documents, you may choose to utilize a shredding drop-off location. If you would prefer to have paperwork shredded at your home or business, you may choose one of the following shredding pick-up services. Shredding services are subject to fees; call ahead for pricing.

    Drop-Off Locations

    Randy’s Environmental Services (South Location)
    12620 Vincent Ave S
    Burnsville, MN 55337
    763-972-3335
    www.randyssanitation.com
    Pricing per bankers box (about 55 lbs)
    Additional info: documents secured immediately and shredded within 48 hours
    Hours: M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-noon, Sun-closed 

    Veteran Shredding
    1800 Cliff Rd E, Dock Door #18
    Burnsville, MN 55337
    952-758-2980
    www.veteranshredding.net
    Call for pricing
    Additional info: All documents shredded immediately
    Hours: M-F 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sun-closed

    First Shred
    Drop-off station at UPS Store

    3432 Denmark Ave
    Eagan, MN 55123
    651-687-0440
    www.firstshred.com
    Pricing per pound
    Additional info: limit of 3 bankers boxes
    Call for hours

    Shred Nations
    Drop-off station at UPS Store
    1670 S Robert St

    West St Paul, MN 55118
    651-204-9174
    www.shrednations.com
    Pricing per pound
    Visit website for hours

    Office Depot/Max locations: 
    7361 153rd St
    Apple Valley, MN 
    952-997-2434

    14121 Alrich Ave. S
    Burnsville, MN
    952-898-3777

    1271 Promenade Place
    Eagan, MN
    651-686-6606

    Pick-up Services

    Veteran Shredding
    952-758-2980
    www.veteranshredding.net
    Call for pricing
    Additional info: on-site shredding
    Call for appointment

    First Shred
    972-241-0153
    www.firstshred.com/residentialservice
    Call for pick-up pricing
    Additional info: see website
    Call for appointment

    Pioneer SecureShred
    612-381-2199
    www.pioneersecureshred.com
    Call for pick-up pricing
    Additional info: On-site and off-site shredding available
    Call for appointment

    Randy's Environmental Services
    Document Destruction Devision
    763-972-3335
    www.randyssanitation.com
    Call for pick-up pricing
    Additional info: On-site and off-site shredding available
    Call for appointment

    Shred Nations
    800-747-3365

    www.shrednations.com
    Call for pick-up pricing
    Additional info: On-site and off-site shredding available
    Call for appointment

  • Electronics

    pile of electronics: tvs, printers, computer equipmentIt is important to carefully dispose of home and business electronics including but not limited to: 

    • Televisions
    • Computers (central processing units, monitors, laptops)
    • Computer accessories such as keyboards, speakers, printers and other peripherals
    • VCRs, DVD players and Blu-Ray players
    • Gaming consoles
    • Fax Machines
    • Cell phones, mp3 players and other handheld devices

    Recycling Electronics

    Option 1: Bring your unwanted electronics to The Recycling Zone, a local electronics recycler or a retail store with an electronics recycling program.

    The Recycling Zone
    3365 Dodd Rd
    Eagan, MN 55121
    952-891-7800
    www.dakotacounty.us (search Recycling Zone)
    Wed: 9:00am - 8:00pm
    Thurs: noon - 8:00pm
    Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm
    Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm
    Fee: Most items are free, computer monitors and TVs are $10 each

    Local Electronics Recyclers
    Contact electronics recyclers directly for hours of operation and fees.

    Advanced Recyclers
    8980 S Hwy 149
    Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
    651-454-9215
    www.jrsappliance.com

    Certified Recycling
    14305 Ewing Ave
    Burnsville, MN 55306
    952-894-1448
    www.certifiedrecycling.org

    Plaza TV and Appliance, Inc.
    846 S Robert St
    West Saint Paul, MN 55118
    651-457-1196
    www.plazatv.com

    Veteran Shredding
    1800 Cliff Rd E Dock Door #18
    Burnsville, MN 55337
    952-758-2980
    www.veteranshredding.net

    Retail Stores with Electronics Recycling Programs
    Contact stores directly for hours and program details.

    Best Buy
    Multiple locations [find a store]
    www.bestbuy.com/recycling
    Limit 3 electronics per household, per day.
    Limit 2 TVs per household, per day. LED screens smaller than 50". Tube TVs smaller than 32" and under. 25$ fee for TVs and monitors. Visit Best Buy website for restrictions and items accepted.

    Staples
    Multiple locations [find a store]
    Staples Eco-services webpage
    Limit 3 electronics per person, per day.
    Visit Staples website for items accepted and restrictions.

    Target
    Multiple locations [find a store]
    Recycle handheld devices such as mp3 players and cell phones at recycling station at front of store.
    Devices such as GPS, tablet PCs and gaming consoles can be traded in for a Target gift card through target.nextworth.com
    Contact store directly for details.

    Recycling for Raptors
    Multiple locations [find a store]
    Recycling used inkjet printer cartridges only. 
    Contact the U of M Raptor Center directly for details.

    Option 2: If you do not have a way to transport an electronic item to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or one of the local electronics recyclers above to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee.  The Recycling Zone does not arrange pick ups of electronic items.

  • Fluorescent bulbs

    CFL BulbsCompact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use significantly less energy than traditional (incandescent) light bulbs. If every America home replaced one bulb with a CFL, we'd save enough energy to light 3 million homes, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to ~800,000 cars. Even though CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, that amount is significantly less than the amount of mercury avoided as a result of the energy savings.

    Recycling Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

    • CFL bulbs: It is illegal to place CFL bulbs in the garbage, because they contain a small amount of mercury. You can recycle CFLs (bulbs ONLY) at any of the locations in the green box below. CFLs (bubls and tubes) are also collected at Household Hazardous Waste Clean-Up days for free. NOTE: if you have fluorescent tubes, please scroll down for recycling options as these are not accepted at the locations listed in the table below.


    The Recycling Zone

    3365 Dodd Road
    Eagan, MN 55121
    952-891-7800
    Bulbs accepted for free from residents

    City of Burnsville Maintenance Facility
    13713 Frontier Court
    Burnsville, MN 55337
    952-895-4511
    M-F 7am-3:30pm
    Bulbs accepted for free from residents

    City of Apple Valley Maintenance Facility
    6442 140th St W
    Apple Valley, MN 55124
    952-953-2400
    M-F 8am-4:30pm
    Bulbs accepted for free from residents

    Cleanlites Recycling, Inc
    7650 215th St, W 
    Lakeville, MN 55044
    952-469-1060
    website
    Bulbs accepted for a FEE from residents 

    Home Depot
    Multiple locations
    Home Depot store locator
    Menards
    Multiple locations
    Menards store locator
    Ace Hardware
    Multiple locations
    Ace store locator
    True Value
    Multiple locations
    True Value store locator

     

    • Fluorescent tubes: These cannot be placed in the trash. Instead, take them to The Recycling Zone[free from a residential source, for a fee from businesses], Batteries Plus, or Certified Recyclingfor a fee, so they may be disposed of properly and safely.

    Why use a CFL?

    • A CFL can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime if used instead of an incandescent bulb
    • It uses 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and lasts 10 times longer
    • Produces about 75% less heat, so it's safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling

    Preventing CFLs from Breaking:

    • Always switch off and allow the bulb to cool before handling. If possible, screw/unscrew the CFL by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing
    • Do not overtighten
    • Keep out of lamps that could easily tip

    Cleaning Up a Broken CFL:

    Exposure to broken CFLs can pose a health risk, especially to pregnant women and young children. 

    1. Open a window, shut off central air conditioning or forced-air heating, and clear the room for at least 15 minutes, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends.
    2. Follow the detailed cleanup steps for either hard surfaces or carpeting/rugs posted on the EPA web site.

    Check out these other helpful links:

  • Furniture

    Furniture in good condition can be donated to any of the following businesses to be resold and reused.  For furniture items no longer in good condition, Certified Recycling in Burnsville offers drop-off or pick-up service to deconstruct and recycle the materials. Otherwise, call your garbage hauler for a one-time pick up (call for fees), or bring them to a landfill.

    Certified Recycling
    14305 Ewing Ave
    Burnsville, MN
    985-894-1448

    Donation Options

    Apple Valley

    Goodwill
    7320 153rd St
    Apple Valley, MN
    952-953-4410

    Savers
    7608 W 150th St
    Apple Valley, MN
    952-432-7263

    Burnsville

    C.H.A.P. Thrift Store
    2020 E Hwy 13
    Burnsville, MN
    952-890-8222

    stack of furnitureSalvation Army - Burnsville Family and Thrift Store
    10141 Irving Ave
    Burnsville, MN
    952-435-7462

    UNIQUE Thrift Store
    14308 Burnhaven Dr
    Burnsville, MN
    952-898-0988

    Eagan

    Goodwill
    1247 Northwood Pkwy
    Eagan, MN
    651-994-7907

    Other Locations

    Bridging
    201 W 87th St
    Bloomington, MN
    952-888-1105

    Goodwill
    1425 S Robert St
    West Saint Paul, MN
    651-451-2014

  • Garden Pots

    For the avid gardener, spring and summer means the accumulation of those black plastic garden pots.  Plastic pots take up space in landfills; they do not readily decompose and remain intact for many years. 

    Lowe's home improvement stores provide a drop-off garden pot recycling program for customers.  No matter where you purchase the plant, you can return the materials to a Lowe's Garden Center to be recycled.  Learn more on the Lowe's website.black plastic garden pots

    Lowe's--West St. Paul
    1795 Robert St.
    West St. Paul, MN 55118
    763-367-4139

    Lowe's--Shakopee
    4270 Dean Lakes Blvd.
    Shakopee, MN 55379
    952-367-9000 

  • Mattress & Furniture Collection

    Is that old bed keeping you up at night? Not sure what to do with your now uncomfortable couch? Well rest easy, we've got you covered. 

    From March 1 - December 22, 2023, Dakota Valley Recycling is partnering with Certified Recycling to offer discounted mattress and furniture recycling for residents of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville. The coupon grants $10 off each piece of furniture, mattress or box spring dropped off.

    Before you bring your items to Certified, please consider donation first. If they are in good condition, free of rips and stains, then you can bring them to a local non-profit organization called Bridging located in Bloomington. Bridging accepts usable mattresses, furniture, and houseware for free to drop-off, or a flat rate of $125 to have picked up from your home.

    If your items are not in good enough condition to donate, then this discounted collection is the perfect opportunity for you to recycle your old mattress or piece of furniture. To participate, residents must present Certified Recycling with the drop-off coupon shown below (print and digital versions accepted) along with proof of residence. Mattresses must be dry and free of bed bugs. See below for further details.

    Where:

    Certified Recycling, 14305 Ewing Avenue, Burnsville, MN
    952-894-1448 

    When:

    March 1 - December 22, 2023
    Mondays - Fridays from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm

    Recycling Rate:

    $10 off per unit (any size mattress, box springs are separate units -- no limit per resident)

    Rules:

    Must be a resident of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan or Lakeville. Must provide photo ID with current address and the event coupon.
    All beds must be dry and free of bed bugs and other contaminants.
    For more information about proper mattress disposal, visit our Mattress Recycling Guide.

     

     

  • Mattresses

    Mattresses and box springs are a bulky item in our waste stream and can be problematic because they are hard to move, clog up equipment, and are hard to compact in a landfill.  Fortunately, there are options for reusing and recycling old mattresses and box springs in the Twin Cities. 

    Reuse

    Mattresses and box springs aren't accepted at thrift stores, but they are accepted at a local nonprofit in the Twin Cities. Bridging accepts donations of quality, gently used furniture and household goods at their Bloomington and Roseville locations. You have the choice to bring your donations to their facility at no charge, or schedule a pick-up from your home for a fee ($125 for curbside or garage pick up). Bridging also accepts metal, collapsible bed frames.

    For a full list of what Bridging accepts, visit www.bridging.org/give-stuff.

    Bridging
    201 W 87th St
    Bloomington, MN 55420 [map]
    952-888-1105

    1730 Terrace Dr
    Roseville, MN 55113
    651-631-3255

    www.bridging.org
    M-Th 10am-6pm; F-Sa 9am-3pm

     

    Recycle

    Mattresses no longer in usable condition can be recycled. This option  is a way to recover and recycle materials like metal, wood and textiles. Call for drop-off hours and information on fees.

    Certified Recycling
    14305 Ewing Ave
    Burnsville, MN 55306
    952-894-1448
    www.certifiedrecycling.org

    Second Chance Recycling
    1179 15th Avenue SE
    Minneapolis, MN 55414
    612-332-0664 ext. 14
    www.secondchancerecyclingmn.com

    J&J Recycling Center
    607 Barge Channel Road
    Saint Paul, MN 55107
    651-227-4457
    www.dumpsterrentalmn.com

    If recycling mattresses and box springs is not an option, ask the retailer that brings your new mattress if they offer disposal.  If they don't, call your licensed garbage hauler to schedule a pick-up (if you live in an apartment or are part of an association, find contact information for the licensed commercial haulers), or bring it to a landfill, both for a fee. 

  • Pharmaceutical Disposal

    Pharmeceutical DisposalDo Not Flush Prescription Drugs Down the Toilet. Prescription and over the counter medications should not be flushed down the toilet, poured down a sink or placed in the trash.Instead, take prescription and over-the-counter medication to select law enforcement drop-off locations in Dakota County (listed below) to safely and anonymously dispose of them.

    Medication Drop-Off Stations

    Residents can drop off expired or unwanted medicine for free at:
    Locations open 24-hours, seven days a week:

    • Hasting Sheriff's Office (1580 Hwy 55)
    • Mendota Heights Police Station (1101 Victoria Curve)
    • West St. Paul Police Station (1616 Humboldt Ave)
    • **Temporarily Unavailable** Burnsville Police Station (100 Civic Center Pkwy) 

    Locations open Monday-Friday, 8am to 4:30pm:

    • Apple Valley Police Station(7100 147th St W)
    • Eagan Police Station(3830 Pilot Knob Rd, open M-F, 8am to 6pm)
    • Lakeville Police Station (9237 183rd St W)
    • Farmington Police Station (19500 Municipal Dr)
    • Rosemount Police Station (2875 145th St W)

    Medicines accepted:

    Household medications are accepted in any form including prescription, over-the counter and pet medicines. Examples include:

    • blister packs
    • capsules
    • pills
    • creams
    • gels
    • vials
    • inhalers
    • IV bags
    • liquids
    • patches
    • powders
    • sprays
    • tablets

    Not accepted:

    • NO needles, syringes or fever thermometers. Bring these items to The Recycling Zonein Eagan for free, environmentally-safe disposal.
    • NO medicines from businesses, including health care facilities, long-term care facilities, pharmacies, doctor’s offices or veterinary clinics. 

    Preparation guidelines:

    • Drop off is safe and anonymous. No ID is required and no questions will be asked.
    • Keep medicines in their original container and place them in a sealed, clear plastic bag (pills can remain in their blister packs).
    • Use a marker to cross out any names on medicine containers.
    • Place medicine that is no longer in its original container in a clear plastic bag and write the name of the medicine on the bag.

    For more information and FAQs, visit the Dakota County Sheriff's Office Prescription Drug Drop-Off page.

    Why are unused prescription and over-the-counter medications a concern?

    The problem is two-fold:

    1) Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals and over the counter drugs are present in our nation's waterbodies and certain drugs may cause ecological harm. Outdated or unusable drugs that are disposed of by flushing or pouring down a sink, enter the environment because wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove them;

    2) Storing unused or outdated prescriptions creates an opportunity for illicit use.  Use the Dakota County Sheriff's Drop-Off program to dispose of medications safely.

  • Plastic Bags

    Reduce and Reuse

    Only take a bag if you need it and consider using a reusable bag instead to reduce your plastic use. Many stores also offer a small discount if you bring your own bag which can save you money over time. If you forget your reusable bag and only have one or two small items, consider carrying them out of the store instead. Some thrift stores will accept plastic and paper bags to use for their customers. Please check with the store prior to donating your bags.

    *Some locations have temporarily stopped offering plastic bag drop-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to check with the specific location prior to your drop-off.

    Recycling

    DO NOT include plastic bags with your curbside recycling. Many grocery stores and co-ops participate in plastic bag and film recycling. Consumers may deposit clean, dry plastic bags in specially designed collection bins found at participating retail locations including Cub Foods, Lund's/Byerly's, Target, Walmart and more. 

    How to recycle plastic bags at designated locations

    Note: All material must be clean and dry:
    • Plastic grocery bags
    • Plastic retail bags (remove string ties and rigid plastic handles)
    • Plastic dry-cleaning bags
    • Plastic cereal bags (must be dry with ALL food residue removed)
    • Plastic bread bags (must be dry with ALL rood residue removed)
    • Plastic produce bags (must be dry with ALL food residue removed)
    • Plastic frozen food bags (must be dry with ALL food residue removed)
    • Plastic wrap from paper products (paper towels, etc.)
    • Plastic salt bags (remove rigid plastic handles)
    • Plastic zipper bags (remove top closing mechanism)
    • Plastic stretch/shrink wrap
    • 6-pack holder rings

    Don't recycle

    • Plastic bags with food residue
    • Plastic bags with strings
    • Plastic soil or mulch bags
    • Plastic zipper bags with rigid plastic closing mechanism
    • Plastic bubble wrap
    • Plastic food containers
  • Recycling After Home Renovations

    Recycling around the home has become easier than ever as more materials are being accepted by haulers and facilities. However, reusing or recycling parts of the home itself after a remodel isn't as easy as throwing it in your curbside bin. Luckily, there are resources in the metro county to reuse and recycle just about any part of the home including carpet, cabinets, insulation, roofing material and more! Check out the reuse and recycling opportunities list below for the names and numbers of locations near you. 

    infographic of home renovation waste

    Reuse opportunities

    For a item to be reused, it must be in excellent condition free of stains, rips or tears. Each reuse location will have specific standards that must be adhered to. Call ahead to see if your item will be accepted or email the locations with a photo of the item you wish to donate. 

    Habitat for Humanity Restore
    2700 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapoilis
    612-588-3820

    Accepts: Appliances, building materials, carpet, flooring, hardware, kitchen cabinets, paint, tools and other misc. items
    See full list of accepted items

    Better Futures MN
    2620 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis
    612-455-6133

    Accepts: Doors, cabinets, lighting, lumber, appliances, tiles and plumbing
    See a full list of accepted items

    Bridging MN
    201 W 87th St, Bloomington MN
    952-888-1105

    Accepts: Furniture, housewares, small appliances & electronics, mirrors, artwork and pictures
    See a full list of accepted items

    Recycling opportunities

    Dem-Con Companies
    13161 Dem-Con Drive, Shakopee MN
    952-445-5755

    Accepts: Asphalt, cabinets, carpet, concrete, fencing material, fiberboard, house wrap, molded fiberglass, pipe, plywood, roofing material, sheetrock, siding, treated wood and more
    See a full list of accepted items

    Randy's Sanitation
    12620 Vincent Ave S, Burnsville MN
    763-972-3335 

    Accepts: Appliances, construction material, bath tubs, pallets, sinks, toilets and more
    See a full list of accepted items 

  • Recycling FAQs

    Have a question that wasn't answered? Let us know in the comments below. {jcomments on}

  • Residential Compost Sites

    fallen leavesState law in Minnesota prohibits the disposal of yard waste with your garbage.  If you have the ability to take your yard waste to a compost site, you have the choice of a number of privately-run sites in the area.  All yard waste disposal is subject to fees; call ahead for pricing.

    Food & yard waste drop-off locations

    The Mulch Store, Empire
    16454 Blaine Ave
    Rosemount, MN 55068
    651-423-4401
    www.mulchstoremn.com
    Open year-round
    Call for hours.
    Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, and all food scraps
    For Sale: Compost, landscape mulch.

    Yard waste only drop-off locations

    The Mulch Store, Burnsville
    1030 W Cliff Rd
    Burnsville, MN 55337
    952-736-1915
    www.mulchstoremn.com
    Open seasonally (April through November 30, weather permitting).
    Call for hours.
    Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, soil.
    For Sale: Compost, blended dirt, landscape mulch.

    Gertens R.E.S.
    805 Yankee Doodle Rd
    Eagan, MN 55121
    651-209-3511
    www.gertens.com
    Open seasonally (April through November 30, weather permitting).
    Call for hours.
    Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, soft plant material, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, soil, sod, fill, gravel, stone/rock, concrete (rebar-free).
    For Sale: Compost, landscape mulch, decorative rock.

    Gertens Brickyard (retail location)
    5500 Blaine Ave
    Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
    651-450-1501 (store)
    651-239-1369 (direct)
    www.gertens.com 
    Open year-round
    Call for hours.
    Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings, soft plant material, brush, tree waste, stumps, logs, soil, sod, fill, gravel, stone/rock, concrete (rebar-free).
    For Sale: compost, top soil, landscape mulch, decorative rock, gravel, river rock.

    South Saint Paul Compost Site
    681 Verderosa Ave
    South St. Paul, MN 55075
    651-554-3260 
    www.southstpaul.org
    Open seasonally.
    See website for hours.
    Accepts: Grass, sod, sod trimmings, garden waste. You may bring your compost in any type of bag or by the trailer load.
    Fee: Call for fees.


    S & S Tree Horticultural Specialists, Inc.
    405 Hardman Avenue South, South St. Paul
    Phone Number: (651) 451-8907
    Open seasonally- call for exact dates
    Saturday and Sunday Only 7:00am- 11:00am
    Accepts: Brush and Tree waste only
    No fee

     

    Residents can also schedule a pick-up with their garbage service provider for an added fee.

  • Scrap Metal

    Almost all metals can be recycled.  Metal items that are not food containers are considered "scrap metal."  Examples of scrap metal include:

    • lawn mowers (fluids drained)
    • snow blowers (fluids drained)
    • metal grills
    • bicycles
    • cast iron sinks/bathtubs
    • metal fencing
    • metal car parts
    • most other metal items

    Recycling Scrap Metal

    Option 1:  Bring your unwanted metals to the Recycling Zone or a local scrap metal recycler.  Call first.

    The Recycling Zone
    3365 Dodd Rd
    Eagan, MN 55121
    952-891-7800
    www.dakotacounty.us 
    Wed: 9:00am - 8:00pm
    Thurs: noon - 8:00pm
    Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm
    Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm
    Fee: Free of charge

    Local scrap metal recyclers
    Contact scrap metal recyclers directly for hours of operation and fees/payouts.

    AAA Auto Salvage
    2871 W 160th St
    Rosemount, MN 55068
    651-423-2432
    www.aaaparts.com

    Advanced Recyclers
    10619 Briggs Drive
    Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
    651-454-9215
    www.jrsappliance.com

    Alters Metal Recycling
    801 Barge Channel Rd
    St. Paul, MN 55107
    651-222-2751
    www.altermetalrecycling.com

    Northern Metal Recycling
    651-224-4877
    521 Barge Channel Rd
    St. Paul, MN 55107
    www.northernmetalrecycling.com

    Option 2: If you do not have a way to transport scrap metal to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or one of the scrap metal recyclers above (as available) to schedule a pick-up for a one-time fee.

  • Shredding Events

    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
    3870 Pilot Knob Rd., 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: 2023 date TBD (Sept)
    Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
    Location: Eagan Cascade Bay Waterpark
    3870 Pilot Knob Rd., Eagan, MN 55122
    Cost: FREE  (limit to four paper bags or small boxes per vehicle)

    Date: 2023 date TBD (end of Sept)
    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: 2023 date TBD (end of Sept)
    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: 2023 date TBD (Oct)
    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.

  • What You Can Do At Home To Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

    REDUCE:

    REUSE:

    RECYCLE:

    ◊Upcoming Events◊

Contact Us

City Education Department
13713 Frontier Court
Burnsville, MN 55337-3817
Phone: 952-895-4559

Dakota Valley Recycling

DVR is the partnership recycling department for the Cities of Apple Valley, BurnsvilleEagan and Lakeville that connects residents and businesses to recycling, composting and waste disposal information.

DVR is not a drop off facility and does not accept any materials for recycling.