This guide is a living document, created by the Recycling Education Committee (REC) with the goal of streamlining recycling messaging across the state in a way that makes recycling easier for residents. Standardized communication for recycling best practices will help us collect more material with less contamination.
The guide breaks down recyclability by material type, suggests drop-offs for specialty recycling (like plastic bags, textiles, and batteries), and it even has a “Frequently Asked Questions” section to explain why certain materials are not recyclable curbside.
The goal of this document is to maintain an agreed-upon list of what is universally acceptable/not acceptable at the curbside or drop-off in Minnesota. This guide is intended to supplement existing programs and provide consistent messaging and signage that will increase consumer confidence in their own abilities to properly dispose of recyclable materials. We recognize that all programs are unique, and the guide might not match perfectly with local programs. However, this attempts to streamline recycling education as much as possible so that terminology and approaches are more consistent, where they can be.
All of the messages in the recycling outreach guide are customizable to your specific program, and they have been vetted by the REC. The use of these terms is completely voluntary and is meant to encourage public education. A secondary application of this guide might be to inform contract language between haulers and cities/counties across the state. Contract language may be obtained by contacting REC members. Examples of educational materials in which this guide might be used include:
The latest version of the guide was developed in 2024. You can find it by clicking on the button below.
The guide breaks down recyclability by material type, suggests drop-offs for specialty recycling (like plastic bags, textiles, and batteries), and it even has a “Frequently Asked Questions” section to explain why certain materials are not recyclable curbside.
The goal of this document is to maintain an agreed-upon list of what is universally acceptable/not acceptable at the curbside or drop-off in Minnesota. This guide is intended to supplement existing programs and provide consistent messaging and signage that will increase consumer confidence in their own abilities to properly dispose of recyclable materials. We recognize that all programs are unique, and the guide might not match perfectly with local programs. However, this attempts to streamline recycling education as much as possible so that terminology and approaches are more consistent, where they can be.
All of the messages in the recycling outreach guide are customizable to your specific program, and they have been vetted by the REC. The use of these terms is completely voluntary and is meant to encourage public education. A secondary application of this guide might be to inform contract language between haulers and cities/counties across the state. Contract language may be obtained by contacting REC members. Examples of educational materials in which this guide might be used include:
- Brochures and print materials
- Website content
- One-on-one education (phone, in person, email)
- Presentations
- Interviews for print or recorded media events
- Videos
- PSA (paid or free media—billboards, press releases, radio, TV, etc.)
- Social media
- Media campaign (includes one or more from the above)
The latest version of the guide was developed in 2024. You can find it by clicking on the button below.