Recycling Requirements
All businesses, organizations, multiunit residential properties, community festivals and events, schools and government are required to recycle. Recycling requirements are outlined in County Ordinance 110 Solid Waste Management.
Who is responsible?
- Property owners and managers of commercial buildings
- Property owners and managers of multiunit properties with four or more attached residential units
- All public and non-public schools
- Event property managers
- Event sponsors
Recycling requirements
Recycling collection options
1. Contract with a licensed waste hauler to pick up recycling.
2. Bring your recyclables to a permitted recycling facility.
Keep containers from overflowing
Work with your hauler to pick up more often or change your container size.
- Each indoor and outdoor trash container on the property must have a recycling container within 10 feet.
- Trash and recycling containers must be equally accessible.
Dakota County adopted a list of items that must be collected for recycling. There is also a list of items that must be kept out of the recycling.
Put these items into the recycling:
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 and jugs
- Containers numbered 1, 2 or 5
- Soda, juice and water bottles
- Milk and juice jugs
- Margarine, cottage cheese, cream cheese and other tubs and lids
- Laundry detergent bottles and jugs
- Clear berry and produce containers
Keep these items out of the recycling:
- Batteries
- Food and liquids
- Paper cups, plates and napkins
- Plastic bags and wrap
- Shredded paper
- Styrofoam
- Tanglers (chains, cords, hoses, string lights)
- Trash
- Label all recycling and trash containers on the property.
- Follow the county's label standards.
- Waste haulers are responsible for labeling all carts and dumpsters they provide.
Education is required for all staff, tenant, volunteer, student, housekeepking and custodial staff and any person who is responsible for sorting, managing recycling.
- Educate at least once each yar.
- Educate new staff within 30 days of hire.
- Re-educate after making major changes to the waste collection system.
- Keep a record of all educational activities.
- Follow the county's education standards.
The county will provide a reporting form when it is time for your organization to report.