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Reel into Recycling
Monofilament is a common type of fishing line made out of strong, yet flexible plastic, that is usually clear or slightly tinted. The line is not biodegradable and can 
cause devastating problems to aquatic and marine wildlife if not disposed of properly. Birds and wildlife are not able to see the line and can easily become tangled in it, often dying as a result.
Can you recycle fishing line?
Yes! Thanks to a local Eagle Scout, you can now recycle your monofilament line at numerous Lakes and parks in Dakota County. Do your part to help protect Minnesota’s natural resources and loved lakes by recycling on the go!
Where can you recycle fishing line?
In Apple Valley, you can find these monofilament recycling boxes at the wood post at Cobblestone lake and the wood pier at Lac Lavon Park.
In Eagan, you can find these boxes at the pier of Blackhawk Park, the metal pole and the pier of Carlson lake Park, the pier at Heine Pond Park, the Pier at Thomas Lake Park, the fence at the cluvert of Blackhawk Park, the wood post at Fish Lake Park, and the metal pole at Holz Lake.
In Burnsville you can find these boxes at the pier of Wood Pond Park and the pier at Crystal Lake.
How is monofilament recycled?
The line is collected from the drop-off bin and all non-plastic and non-recyclable parts are removed. It is then brought to a Berkly recycling facility where the line is melted down into hard plastic pellets that can be made into other products including fish habitat crates, tackle boxes, fish tank toys, and more! Since 1990, Berkley has recycled over 9 million miles of fishing line and helped save our natural resources.
Shoe Recycling Event
*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?
| The event will take place the week of November 13-20, 2023. All bins will be outside and open 24/7. |
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
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
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 Guide to 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.
Sports Equipment Donation
This fall, Dakota Valley Recycling and the cities of Burnsville, Eagan, and Lakeville are hosting a donation drive for sporting equipment in partnership with the United Heroes League, a non-profit whose mission it is to provide military kids around the country with sports equipment, camps, and special experiences. Having UHL headquartered right here in Dakota County (Hastings) gives DVR the home field advantage for a successful event, but we need your help to really hit it out of the park. Here’s what you need to know:
What to Donate: ALL reusable sports equipment for ANY sport—hockey, basketball, volleyball, football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, and many more. UHL is also currently seeking rollerblades.
Donation Location & Dates:
- Lakeville Ames Ice Arena, 19900 Ipava Ave, Lakeville
When: October 1–31, 2022
With donated materials, UHL has been able to outfit thousands of military kids around the country with top of the line gear. On top of that, donating reusable equipment keeps thousands of pounds worth of composite materials, metals, and plastics out of the landfill for a little while longer. Now that’s a home run!
For questions about this event, call the Dakota Valley Recycling hotline at 952-895-4559.