City of Minnetonka

In preparation for the new recycling program, Allied Waste started delivering lidded, wheeled carts to homes in late November and December. Collection of recycling via these carts will not start until January. Until then, continue to put out your blue recycling bin on collection days.

Your recycling collection day doesn’t change, but starting in 2012, recycling is collected every two weeks. Your collection day is based on your location related to I-494—if you live west of I-494, collection is on Mondays; for those east of I-494, collection is on Tuesdays.

The dates of the first few months of recycling pickup are listed to help you get started. In addition, an additional schedule will be mailed to you from the city at the end of December 2011.

Area A: Tuesdays, Blue Weeks

Jan. 3, 17, 31; Feb. 14, 28; March 13, 27; April 10, 24

Area B: Tuesdays, Gray Weeks

Jan. 10, 24; Feb. 7, 21; March 6, 20; April 3, 17

Area C: Mondays, Gray Weeks

Jan. 9, 23; Feb. 6, 20; March 5, 19; April 2, 16, 30

Area D: Mondays, Blue Weeks

Jan. 2, 16, 30; February 13, 27; March 12, 26; April 9, 23

View a printable recycling collection map (PDF, 1 mb)

Recycling should be out by 6:30 a.m. on collection day. Place your recycling cart and garbage cart on opposite sides of your driveway—at least 3 feet apart from each other and other objects.

In 2012 only three holidays will delay recycling collection, and only for residents whose service dates fall in the week with that holiday.

Memorial Day, May 28

If May 28 is in the week of your recycling date, then collection is May 29 (west of I-494) and May 30 (east of I-494).

Labor Day, Sept. 3

If Sept. 3 is in the week of your collection date, then collection is Sept. 4 (west of I-494) and Sept. 5 (east of I-494).

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

If Dec. 25 is the week of your recycling service date, then collection is Dec. 26 (east of I-494). Residents with Monday service will be unaffected.

Some people choose to keep recycling and garbage containers outside because of limited garage space. Remember, city ordinances require all trash and recycling bins to be stored out of public view, either inside a garage or behind a screened enclosure, except for the evening before and the day of trash/recycling collection.

Call Allied Waste at 952.941.5174 to request a larger, smaller or replacement cart.

Once the new recycling program starts in January, you can do the following with your old blue recycling bin:

• Keep it and use it as you wish.
• Bring it to Minnetonka Public Works, 11522 Minnetonka Blvd., and leave it in the designated area at the recycling drop-off center.

Or, starting January 11 and continuing for four weeks, the bins will be picked up by the city. Leave your empty bin at the end of your driveway on the appropriate pickup day. Collection in each area starts Wednesdays and will continue until all bins are picked up. The recycling bin collection schedule is as follows (all dates are Wednesdays):

Area A

January 11 (alternate date: Feb. 8)*

Area B

January 18 (alternate date: Feb. 15)*

Area C

January 25 (alternate date: Feb. 22)*

Area D

February 1 (alternate date: Feb. 29)*

View a printable recycling bin pickup map (PDF, 1 mb)

*The alternate collection date will only be used if the public works staff has snowplowing or emergency duties and the recycling bin collection is cancelled. Changes will be posted on this page.

In addition to the materials residents were already recycling, the new program allows for recycling of:

• Plastic bags from retailers (please stuff all bags in another bag before placing in recycling cart)
• Foil-lined containers (juice boxes)
• All types of plastic food/beverage containers (#1–#7), including yogurt cups and butter/whip cream tubs.
• Wax-coated cardboard (which typically contains frozen items) still cannot be recycled. However, plastic-coated items such as milk cartons, juice boxes and cartons of soup/broth are recyclable.

Each recycling cart contains a list of acceptable and unacceptable items printed on the lid for easy reference.

Yes! Recycle these items!

• Newspaper and newspaper inserts
• Magazines and catalogs
• All junk mail and envelopes
• Cardboard (flatten the boxes)
• Office and school papers (all colors)
• Phone books
• Cereal and cracker-type boxes
• Brown paper sacks/bags
• Aluminum, steel and tin cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastics: #1–7—bottles, cups, food containers, tubs, bowls
• Yogurt cups and butter/whip cream tubs
• Plastic milk jugs and paper milk cartons
• Plastic bags (from retailers)
• Juice boxes and other paper cartons

No! Do not recycle these items!

• No garbage
• No food waste
• No food tainted items (used paper plates, paper towels or paper napkins)
• No pizza boxes
• No egg cartons
• No wax-coated cartons
• No ice-cream cartons
• No aluminum foil
• No Styrofoam (like cups/plates and packaging)
• No aerosol cans, propane tanks or helium tanks
• No batteries

Every household pays $2.50 per month for recycling, billed on the utility/water bill.