The PPA Environmental Committee has put
together a list of items you may not know where to recycle. It is
designed for Prospect Park residents, so whenever possible, we've included a
link or website address to the nearest local location.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Have
a suggestion or an addition to the list? Please email environment@prospectparkmpls.org with
the subject: Recycling
|
Air
conditioner – working |
Southeast
Seniors is looking for air conditioners that can be given to seniors
with limited income. Please email Betsy Snyder at betsy@seseniors.org for
more information. (Note:
for non-working air conditioners, please see ‘Appliances’) |
|
Aluminum
foil |
Has
to be about 95 percent clean and should be balled up — recycle foil balls 2”
in diameter or more. |
|
Appliances |
Hennepin
County ( https://www.hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide/items/appliances )
accepts microwaves, water coolers, sump pumps, garbage disposals, and
dehumidifiers. $15/each. |
|
Batteries |
Hennepin
County ( https://www.hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide/items/batteries
) accepts batteries at either their Bloomington or Brooklyn
Park location. Welna Hardware also
accepts batteries (and Christmas lights) and is within biking distance. |
|
Books |
Fiction,
non-fiction and children's books can be dropped off at the Luxton
Park Book Exchange that is housed at the Luxton Park Recreational
building. Textbooks and other types of books can be taken to Boneshaker
Bookstore (https://www.boneshakerbooks.com/ )
on Franklin. |
|
Bottle
caps |
If
it’s a plastic bottle, keep the cap on. The bottle and the cap are different
types of plastic, but in processing they’re ground up, and, since they have
different buoyancies, naturally separate in water. If it’s a metal cap on a
glass bottle, like a beer bottle cap, you can recycle it, but trap it in a
soup can by pinching the lid closed (not a beer can, wrong material). Same
goes for, say, Snapple caps. Metal lids on glass jars, like those used for
pickles or spaghetti sauce, can be recycled on their own if they’re 3” in
diameter or more. If it’s a plastic cap on a glass bottle, like you find on
hot sauce, put in something bigger that’s #2 plastic, like a laundry
detergent container. |
|
Carpeting |
New or unused carpet can be
donated to the Habitat
for Humanity ReStore (http://restore.tchabitat.org/donate) . Used
carpet that is clean and dry can be recycled at
|
|
Clothes
(see Rags if no longer wearable) |
Clean
clothes can be brought to the Goodwill. |
|
Containers |
Containers
- City of Minneapolis (http://www2.minneapolismn.gov/solid-waste/recycling/Food-Beverage-Container-Recycling
) |
|
Electronics |
Computers,
laptops, phones, TVs and Christmas lights can all be recycled through Techdump,
(www.techdump.org ) located in St. Paul. Some items they accept for
free, while there is a charge for others. Be sure to check out their Residential
Drop Off Pricing Guide and their website for hours and locations. |
|
Eyeglasses |
Drop
off your old pair with the PPA Environment Committee. We have a table
at most neighborhood events (Ice Cream Social, Annual Neighborhood Meeting,
etc.) Feel free to email environment@prospectparkmpls.org to
confirm when we will have a table. Otherwise, you can bring them to the |
|
Lightbulbs |
Incandescent,
halogen and LED lights may be put in the garbage. Fluorescent
lights must
be recycled because they contain mercury. Hardware stores, such as Welna Hardware on
Franklin, will take regular sized unbroken bulbs for free. There is a
small fee (25 cents) for fluorescent tubes. NOTE: If
the fluorescent lights are broken, they should be thrown away. |
|
Metal |
Hennepin County (https://www.hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide/scrap-metal-recyclers)
provides a list of where to bring metal.
|
|
Organics |
Homeowners - Organics
- Hennepin County Renters –
you can sign up to drop off your organics through the city of Minneapolis - http://www.minneapolismn.gov/solid-waste/organics/drop-off-sites .
As of November 2019, the closest drop off site is Van Cleve Park. The
PPA Environmental Committee is looking into getting a drop off site in
Prospect Park. |
|
Plastic
bags |
Certain
stores like Fresh Thyme or Hampden
Park Coop accept plastic bags for recycling. Make sure they are
clean, dry and empty. |
|
Styrofoam
(Rigid blocks) |
Drop
off - The closest drop off location for rigid block Styrofoam
(the kind that packs electronic equipment) is in Coon
Rapids. Mail In – If you don’t want to
drive to Coon Rapids, there is also the option to mail your Styrofoam to a
recycling center. Average
shipping fees range from $1.50-$9.00 based on the total packaging weight and
volume. Since expanded polystyrene is extremely light weight (98% air) it can
be economically shipped to a regional location. Considering that
the average car gets approximately 15-20 miles per gallon (mpg) at $3.50 to
$4.00 per gallon, the postage cost to return EPS for recycling is often an
economical, environmentally friendly choice. Details can be
found at EPS
Packaging (www.epspackaging.org ). |
|
Tea
bag pouches |
If
the pouch is made of multiple materials (some have metallic or plastic on the
inside), it’s not recyclable. If it’s paper, put it inside something bigger,
like an envelope, so it doesn’t get lost in the sorting process. |
|
Rags |
Bundle
in bag clearly marked "Rags". They can be brought to the Goodwill. |
