Dakota Valley Recycling coordinates multiple opportunities every year for residents to recycle bulky items, hazardous waste, and other problem materials that are not accepted curbside. Most events are open to all residents within Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Lakeville. Some of the events are free, and others require small disposal fees. Click on the tabs from the list below for more information about DVR's annual collection events. 

Tips for drop-off days

• Coordinate with your neighbors or friends to load up one vehicle to deliver items to the drop-off day in order to reduce wait times.
• For your safety, do not step out of your vehicle during drop-off days. 
• Do not pack batteries and bulbs together. Separating them will reduce likelihood of breakage and prevent hazardous spills. 
• Consider donation before recycling whenever possible by using the Dakota County Reuse Guide.
• Dakota County residents may attend any of the Dakota County drop-off days happening throughout the year. Paper shredding is often offered at all drop-off day events. To find other events, visit the Dakota County Recycling Guideand click Recycling Events. 

Event Details

Date: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Family Aquatic Center, 14421 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd, Apple Valley

For Apple Valley Residents ONLY. Must show proof of residence. 

Accepted Items 

• Appliances: $25-35/item  
• Tires:
  Car: $10 each; Semi: $10 each, Tractor: $25 each
• Scrap metal: $5-10/item
• Motorized Equipment: $35/item
• Mattress and box springs: $10-35 each
• Furniture:
  Recliners, sofas, love seats: $15-20
  Pull-out sofas: $25
  Wooden chairs: $5
• Carpet and padding: $1/square yard 
• Home remodeling debris: $10-50/pickup load
• Miscellaneous: $5-100 (based on volume) 
• Document destruction: FREE
  
  Cash or check payable to City of Apple Valley

Not Accepted

• Paint, cleaners, pesticides*
• Other household hazardous waste* 
• Electronics*
• Fluorescent bulbs*
• Motor oil/filters*
• Car batteries*
  
  *These items are accepted at the Burnsville Hazardous Waste Collection on Oct. 7, 2023, or year round at The Recycling Zone

• Any yard waste
• Business waste
• Railroad ties and treated lumber
• Pharmaceuticals

For more information about the drop-off event, or questions about recycling items not accepted at this event, contact Dakota Valley Recycling at 952-895-4559.

Dakota County and the City of Burnsville are hosting their annual Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Burnsville Maintenance Facility. The drop off is open to all Dakota County Residents. A valid drivers license is required. 

Event Details

Date: Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023
Time: 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Location: Burnsville Maintenance Facility
13713 Frontier Court, Burnsville MN 

ITEMS ACCEPTED AT NO COST:  

• Household Hazardous Waste: aerosols, auto batteries, cleaners, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs/tubes, gasoline, lawn chemicals, paint, pesticides, propane cylinders, rechargeable batteries, thermostats, used oil/filters, most products labeled dangerous, corrosive, flammable, poison, or combustible.
• Electronics: VCRs, DVD players, computers (not monitors), printers, computer accessories, stereos, digital cameras, fax equipment, electronic gaming systems, cell phones and other miscellaneous electronic devices.
• Misc. Electric Household Items: Vacuum cleaners, carpet sweepers, coffee makers, blenders (without glass), mixers, bread makers, fryers, food sealing equipment, electric knives, clothes irons, shaving equipment, hair dryers, holiday lights, space heaters, radios, clocks, telephones, fans, cameras, toaster ovens and misc. electric tools (drills, sanders, etc).  Batteries must be removed from all devices.  
• Scrap Metal: Metal grills (separate propane tank for HHW disposal), metal lawn furniture and other scrap metal items (try to remove as many non-metal parts as possible).    
• Appliances: Furnaces and trash compactors
• Tires: please separate from rim.
• Bicycles: drop-off bicycles of any size in any condition to be either refurbished or recycled.      
• Document Destruction: Computer paper, copy paper, envelopes, letterhead, notepad/legal paper, fax paper, junk mail, file folders, phone message notes. Paper clips and staples DO NOT have to be removed. No cardboard boxes, binders or rubber bands.

ITEMS ACCEPTED FOR A PER-ITEM FEE (cash or check only):  

• Prices will be updated by August 2023
• Electronics: Televisions and computer monitors will be accepted for $10 each  
• Appliances: Appliances will be accepted for a per item fee including:
  • Washers $20 each
  • Dryers $20 each
  • Air conditioners $25 each
  • Microwaves $20 each
  • Hot water heaters $20 each
  • Water softeners $30 each
  • Stoves/ovens $20 each
  • Refrigerators $25 each
  • Freezers $25 each
  • Dehumidifiers $25 each
  • Dishwashers $20 each
  • Misc. Appliances $20 each
• Power equipment: Push & riding lawn mowers, snow blowers, weed whips, pressure washers, chainsaws, air compressors, and other electric and battery operated equipment. Drain all gas and engine fluids $35 per item
• Scrap metal: Miscellaneous scrap metal items will be accepted and charged per vehicle-load at $5 - 25/Vehicle Load as long as it is free of wood/plastic debris.

Items NOT ACCEPTED at this event:

• NO carpet: for disposal of carpet and carpet padding, click here.
• NO furniture: for reuse options of furniture in good condition, click here.  For disposal options, click here.
• NO ammonia-gas appliances (such as RV appliances): ammonia-power appliances can be brought to JR's Advanced Recycling for a fee. For more information, click here.
• NO business waste: If you are a business with small amounts of hazardous waste, you may qualify for Dakota County's Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program. For more information, click here. 

For more information, or to find out if your item is accepted at the Drop-Off Day, call 952-895-4511

The Hazardous Waste Collection Event is partially funded by the city of Burnsville, Dakota County, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Make your next event or gathering a green one! Dakota Valley Recycling can help you plan a low-waste event by providing free resources to residents and event planners. View the following guides to get started.

Free Guides

1. Planning a low waste event

2. Reduce your waste guide for vendors

3. Vendors that sell compostable products

Borrow Supplies

If you live in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, or Lakeville, Dakota Valley Recycling also has free and easy to use recycling resources for your event including: 

• Portable recycling, organics, and trash stations
• Signs and banners
• Bags and litter grabbers

Contact Jackson Becker by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or by phone (952-895-4511) to reserve equipment. Please note that for larger events requiring 10 or more frames/stations, we will direct you to use Dakota County resources. 

Set up disposal

In order to recycle what you collect, you will have to arrange for a pick up service through a licensed hauler. For a list of licensed commercial haulers, visit our hauler guide here. 

If you collected organics during your event including food and compostable products, you must arrange a separate pick-up for the material to go to a commercial organics recycling site. You may set that service up with your selected hauler. If food and food scraps only were collected, you may place that in a backyard composter.

If you collected any hazardous materials during your event including but not limited to paints, cleaners, fuels, and most products labeled dangerous, flammable, combustible, poisonous, or corrosive, you will need to bring these items to The Recycling Zone in Eagan. Residents are able to drop off hazardous waste for free during open business hours.  

Did you know that the volume of trash generally increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Years? Help reduce that waste with some easy reducing and recycling holiday tips. 

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.

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.

For years, doctors have told people to stick to a low-salt diet.  According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), our waters should follow the same advice.

When snow and ice start to accumulate on Minnesota roads, parking lots, and sidewalks, one of the more common reactions is to apply salt, which contains chloride--a water pollutant.  When snow and ice melt, most of the salt goes with it, washing into our lakes, streams and rivers.  Once in the water, there’s no way to remove the chloride, and it becomes a pollutant.

According to Brooke Asleson, MPCA project manager for the Twin Cities Metro Area Chloride Project, “salt is a real threat to water quality.  It only takes one teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water.  We are trying to spread the word that less is more when it comes to applying salt because at high concentrations, chloride can harm the fish and plant life in our waters.”

Check out the MPCA's video on winter sidewalk and driveway maintenance, with tips on types of salt, when to use it and how much to use:

Here are some ways for homeowners to reduce salt use while still making sure your sidewalk and driveway is safe:

• Shovel.  The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use and the more effective it can be.  Break up ice with an ice scraper and decide if application of a de-icer or sand is even necessary to maintain traction.
• More salt does not mean more melting.  Use less than four pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet (an average parking space is about 150 square feet).  One pound of salt is approximately a heaping 12-ounce coffee mug.
• 15 degrees is too cold for salt to work.  Most salts stop working around this temperature.  Instead, use sand for traction.
• Sweep up extra salt.  If salt or sand is visible on dry pavement, it is no longer doing any work and will be washed away.

To learn more about what you can to reduce chloride in our waters, visit the agency’s Twin Cities Metro Area Chloride Project webpage.