Minneapolis Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your Minneapolis collection day, recycling ABE/CD week, organics, yard waste, and holiday schedule for 2026.
City of Minneapolis · Solid Waste & Recycling / Public Works · Contractors: City crews & Minneapolis Refuse Inc. · Updated April 2026
Find Your Minneapolis Collection Day & Recycling Week
Your collection day and recycling week (ABE or CD) depend on your address. Use the official City lookup tool or select your day below to see your full weekly schedule — garbage, recycling, organics, yard waste, and holiday impacts.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Minneapolis collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day or recycling week yet? Use the official Minneapolis Collection Day Lookup tool (enter your address) to find your exact pickup day, recycling week (ABE or CD), and monthly calendar. Sign up for email reminders at the same page. See all contact options ↓
Minneapolis Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling division serves approximately 125,000 residential properties — single-family homes and buildings with up to four units. The City uses its own crews for half the routes and contracts with Minneapolis Refuse Inc. (MRI) for the other half. All carts must be set out by 6:00 a.m. at the alley or curb line. Fees appear on your monthly City utility bill.
Minneapolis’ Four Collection Streams — What Goes Where
Minneapolis operates four separate collection streams: garbage, recycling, organics (compost), and yard waste. All carts and yard waste must be at the alley or curb line by 6:00 a.m. on your pickup day. Garbage must be bagged. Yard waste and organics must be kept separate — they cannot be mixed together.
Black Cart — Garbage
Bagged household waste. Weekly. Cannot contain yard waste.
WeeklyBlue Cart — Recycling
Single-stream: cans, glass, plastics #1/#2/#5, paper, cardboard. Loose, never bagged. Every other week.
Every other week • ABE or CDGreen Cart — Organics
Food scraps, food-soiled paper, BPI-certified compostable items. Sign up to participate. Free, weekly.
Weekly • Opt-in • FreeYard Waste
Leaves, grass, branches (under 3 ft, under 3 in diameter). Reusable containers, compostable bags, or bundles. Apr–Nov.
Apr 6–Nov 28 • Free⏰ Set-Out Rules
- All carts and yard waste must be at the alley or curb line by 6:00 a.m. on your pickup day.
- Garbage must be bagged. You may have two additional bags or boxes outside the cart occasionally (each under 40 lbs).
- Yard waste cannot go inside any City-provided cart. It must be in approved containers or compostable bags set separately.
- Organics and yard waste must be set out separately — do not mix them.
- Remove carts from the alley or curb after collection on the same day.
- Keep the area within 20 feet of the alley or curb clean of litter and debris.
- Recycling and organics must be placed loose — never bag recyclables or organics in a regular plastic bag.
📍 Alley vs. Curb Collection
Depending on your neighborhood, collection occurs from either your alley or curb line. Your pickup point does not change from week to week. Use the City’s Collection Day Lookup to confirm whether your address uses alley or curb collection.
Minneapolis Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
When a major holiday falls on a weekday, all collection that day — and every day after it in the same week — shifts one day later. Friday becomes Saturday. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, collection is not affected. The City’s online Collection Day Lookup tool automatically shows the updated schedule during holiday weeks.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu–Fri routes shift one day later. Mon–Wed: normal. |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Fri → Sat. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Not observed by Minneapolis Solid Waste. No delay. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Fri → Sat. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Fri → Sat. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu–Fri routes shift one day later. Mon–Wed: normal. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat. Mon–Thu: normal that week. |
Minneapolis Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart
Minneapolis uses single-stream recycling in the blue cart, collected every other week on the same day as your garbage. Your address is assigned to either Week ABE or Week CD. All items must be clean, empty, and placed loose. Never bag recyclables. Recycling is sorted into 12–15 categories at the facility.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Aluminum & steel cans (food, beverage, empty aerosol)
- Glass food and beverage bottles and jars — all colors, rinsed
- Plastic bottles, jugs, cups, and containers #1, #2, #5 — empty and rinsed
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, office paper, mail, books, wrapping paper, paper bags
- Cardboard: flattened corrugated boxes, cereal/cracker/shoe boxes, paperboard
- Cartons: milk, juice, broth, soup boxes
- Aluminum foil, foil trays, and pie tins
- Decorative tins
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off
- Styrofoam / polystyrene → trash
- Food or food-soiled items → organics (green) cart
- Electronics or batteries → Hennepin County drop-off
- Tanglers: hoses, cords, wire hangers
- Bulky plastics: laundry baskets, toys, lawn chairs → trash
- Plastic containers #3, #4, #6, #7 → trash
- “Compostable” plastics → organics cart (BPI-certified only) or trash
Minneapolis Organics Recycling (Compost) — Free, Opt-In, Weekly
Minneapolis was one of the first large US cities to launch a citywide curbside organics program. Organics collection is free, weekly, and opt-in for all City-service residents. Sign up at minneapolismn.gov/organics to receive your green cart. Organics are brought to a commercial composting facility.
✅ Accepted in the Green Organics Cart
- All food scraps: fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, fish, dairy, eggs, eggshells
- Bread, grains, pasta, nuts and shells, coffee grounds
- Food-soiled paper: napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes, paper plates, paper bags
- BPI-certified compostable cups, plates, bowls, containers, utensils, straws
- BPI-certified compostable plastic bags (must have BPI logo)
- Wooden items: toothpicks, chopsticks, popsicle sticks
- Paper egg cartons
- Hair, nail clippings
🚫 Not in the Green Organics Cart
- Regular plastic bags — even “biodegradable” ones → trash
- Non-BPI “compostable” plastics → trash
- Recyclables (glass, cans, paper, cardboard) → blue recycling cart
- Yard waste (leaves, grass, branches) → set out separately
- Pet waste or cat litter → trash
- Diapers → trash
- Wax and waxed products → trash
- Any item with a plastic resin number in a triangle → trash (unless BPI-certified)
📍 Organics Drop-Off Sites
Minneapolis has 20 organics drop-off locations for residents who cannot participate in curbside organics (including renters without organics carts). Sites are located at parks, the South Transfer Station, and the Wedge Community Co-op. All materials accepted at curbside are also accepted at drop-off sites. Find locations at minneapolismn.gov/organics.
Minneapolis Yard Waste Collection 2026
Yard waste is collected weekly on your garbage pickup day during the seasonal collection window. There is no extra charge for properly prepared yard waste — it is included in your base service fee. By Minnesota state law, it is illegal to put yard waste in your garbage cart, and it is also illegal to use a regular plastic bag for yard waste collection.
📅 2026 Yard Waste Season
- Start: Week of April 6, 2026
- End: Your pickup day during the week of November 23–28, 2026
🍋 Acceptable Yard Waste Containers
- Reusable containers: 32–38 gallons, 26–32 inches high, with sturdy handles. Must weigh less than 40 lbs. Contact the City for identification stickers.
- Compostable bags: Must have the BPI logo. Paper lawn and leaf bags are also accepted.
- Bundles: Branches tied with string or twine. Each bundle must weigh less than 40 lbs.
- Buckets, pails, collapsible containers, and wheeled carts will not be collected.
- Plastic bags — including “compostable” bags without the BPI logo — are not accepted.
🌿 What Is Accepted as Yard Waste
- Leaves and grass clippings
- Tree debris: branches (less than 3 feet long and less than 3 inches in diameter) and twigs
- Garden waste: fallen apples, rotted or excess vegetables and fruit, plants
- Christmas trees (properly prepared — see below)
Not accepted: Larger branches (over 3 feet long or 3 inches in diameter) must go to a private facility. Boulevard tree debris is managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Forestry Division.
🎄 Christmas Tree Collection
After the holiday season, strip your tree of all decorations, lights, stands, and bags. Place the bare tree at your collection point. Trees too large to set out can be cut into smaller pieces. You can also take your tree to a Christmas tree drop-off site where it will be put to beneficial use (composted). Find drop-off sites at minneapolismn.gov.
Minneapolis Large Item & Bulk Pickup
As part of your City collection service, crews will take up to two large items per week. Some items go out on garbage day; others must go out on recycling day. Attach a note to each item saying “For Solid Waste.” Items not marked may not be collected. Large items must be out by 6:00 a.m. at your collection point.
📅 When to Set Out Large Items
- Garbage day: Wood furniture (sofas, chairs, tables, shelves, dressers, bed frames), couches, plastic items, rugs and carpet (rolled and tied)
- Recycling day: Appliances (stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers), electronics, hide-a-beds, mattresses and box springs, large metal items (set in a box), small metal items like pots/pans/hangers (boxed, under 40 lbs per box)
- Fridges and freezers: Accepted on recycling day but doors must be removed before setting out.
- Mattresses: Set out by 6:00 a.m. on recycling day. Keep as dry as possible — waterlogged or frozen mattresses are too heavy. Call the City if needed.
✅ Accepted as Large Items
- Wood furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, shelves
- Appliances: stoves, washers, dryers (recycling day)
- Fridges and freezers (doors removed; recycling day)
- Mattresses and box springs (dry; recycling day)
- Electronics (recycling day)
- Carpet and rugs (rolled and tied)
- Boxed small metal items (pots, pans, wire hangers)
🚫 Not Accepted as Large Items
- Tires → call for a free voucher to the South Transfer Station
- Construction or demolition debris → South Transfer Station (voucher required)
- Hazardous materials → Hennepin County drop-off
- Building and paving materials → South Transfer Station
- Items not generated at the property being serviced
- More than 2 large items per week
🚩 South Transfer Station & Cleanup Vouchers
Each City-service residential customer receives up to six free cleanup vouchers per year to bring waste to the South Transfer Station at 110 N. 4th Street, Minneapolis. Vouchers cover building materials, tires (free with voucher), and excess garbage. Call the Solid Waste & Recycling office to request a voucher before visiting. Building materials brought in without a voucher will be charged at scale rates.
Hazardous Waste & Electronics — Hennepin County Drop-Off Facilities
Household hazardous waste (HHW) must never be placed in any cart. Minneapolis residents use Hennepin County’s two year-round drop-off facilities for HHW, electronics, appliances, and problem materials. Proof of Hennepin County residency is required. Free for residents. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
🚩 Bloomington Facility
1400 West 96th Street, Bloomington, MN 55431
📞 (612) 348-3777
Tue–Sat: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Closed Sun & Mon. Closed major holidays (Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day).
🚩 Brooklyn Park Facility
8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
📞 (612) 348-3777
Tue–Sat: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Same hours as Bloomington facility. Organics drop-off also available (BPI-certified compostable bags, limit 5 bags/day).
✅ Accepted at Hennepin County Drop-Off
- Paint (latex and oil-based), stains, varnishes
- Household chemicals: solvents, cleaners, pesticides, pool chemicals
- Automotive fluids: motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, gasoline
- All batteries (household, rechargeable, automotive, lithium)
- Electronics: computers, TVs, phones, printers, monitors, audio equipment
- Appliances: AC units, fridges, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, dryers, freezers (all appliance types)
- Fluorescent and CFL bulbs, thermostats (mercury)
- Cardboard (flattened, max 3 ft × 3 ft), scrap metal, recyclables
- Organics in BPI-certified compostable bags (Brooklyn Park & Bloomington; limit 5 bags/day)
🚫 Not Accepted at Hennepin County Drop-Off
- Business waste (including rental property, HOA, nonprofit, home-based business waste)
- Explosives, ammunition, fireworks
- Radioactive materials
- Waste from counties other than those listed (Hennepin, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Washington; not Sherburne or Wright)
- Regular household trash
Apartments & Buildings with 5+ Units
City Solid Waste & Recycling services are automatically provided to single-family homes and buildings with four or fewer units. Buildings with five or more units are required to have their own garbage and recycling service through a private hauler.
🚚 Large Buildings & Businesses
- Large apartment complexes and businesses are required by City ordinance to have garbage and recycling pickup. Contact a private hauler to arrange service.
- Some buildings with 5+ units can opt in to City-provided collection services if the building owner registers with the City. Contact the Solid Waste & Recycling office to inquire.
- Residents in buildings using private haulers should contact their building manager for collection days, recycling schedules, and available organics programs.
- Organics drop-off sites throughout Minneapolis are available to all residents, regardless of whether they have curbside organics service.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Minneapolis
- Confirm your collection day and recycling week using the City’s Collection Day Lookup tool. Confirm whether you have alley or curb collection.
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all cause one-day delays. The City lookup tool reflects the updated schedule automatically during holiday weeks.
- Verify placement: all items out by 6:00 a.m. at the alley or curb line, garbage bagged, lids closed, large items marked “For Solid Waste.”
- Check for a blue educational tag. If your cart had a problem (contamination, improper yard waste container, lid open), crews may have left a blue tag instead of collecting. Fix the issue before your next scheduled pickup.
- Report the missed pickup by calling the Solid Waste & Recycling office the following business day. You must report within two business days or crews may not be able to return. Do not report by email — it may not be received in time. Phone: see the Contact section below.
- Check for winter delays. Heavy snow in Minneapolis can delay collection. Monitor minneapolismn.gov or your email reminders for updates.
Minneapolis Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Minneapolis or Just Moved In?
Enter your address at minneapolismn.gov/collection-day-lookup to confirm your collection day, recycling week (ABE or CD), alley or curb service, and generate a monthly calendar. Sign up for email reminders. Carts labeled “Property of the City of Minneapolis” should already be at your address. If missing, contact Solid Waste & Recycling. Sign up for the free organics (compost) cart separately at minneapolismn.gov/organics.
❄ Winter Collection Tips
- Clear snow away from your carts and the path to the alley or curb before collection day.
- Protect your mattress and large items from rain and snow — waterlogged mattresses are too heavy to collect.
- Monitor your email reminders or minneapolismn.gov for weather-related delays in heavy snow.
- Keep organic materials frozen or in a lidded pail in winter to reduce odor.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Minneapolis Residents Make
- Not signing up for the free organics cart — it’s opt-in; you must register at minneapolismn.gov/organics
- Mixing yard waste and organics — they must be collected separately; mixing sends everything to the landfill
- Forgetting that recycling is ABE/CD, not just A/B — always confirm your group using the address lookup
- Skipping the “For Solid Waste” note on large items — unmarked items may not be collected
- Using a regular plastic bag for yard waste — illegal under Minnesota state law; use paper or BPI-certified bags only
Contact Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Solid Waste & Recycling Office | 📞 Call 311 within Minneapolis or (612) 673-3000 — missed pickups, cart requests, vouchers, organics sign-up • Report missed pickup the next business day (within 2 business days) |
| 311 Online & App | minneapolismn.gov/report-an-issue • Minneapolis 311 app (iOS & Android) — report issues, service requests |
| Collection Day Lookup | minneapolismn.gov/collection-day-lookup — Enter your address for your day, recycling week (ABE/CD), monthly calendar, and email reminder signup |
| Minneapolis Solid Waste Website | minneapolismn.gov/garbage-recycling-cleanup — Holiday schedule, organics signup, yard waste info, large items guide, disposal guide |
| Organics Recycling Sign-Up | minneapolismn.gov/organics — Free green cart • Sign up online • 20 drop-off sites also available |
| Hennepin County HHW & Recycling | 📞 (612) 348-3777 • Bloomington: 1400 W. 96th St • Brooklyn Park: 8100 Jefferson Hwy • Tue–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m. • hennepin.us/drop-off-facilities |
| Hennepin County Green Disposal Guide | hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide — Searchable guide to properly dispose of hundreds of specific items |
| TTY / Language Access | TTY: (612) 673-2157 or (612) 673-2626 • Spanish: (612) 673-2700 • Hmong: (612) 637-2800 • Somali: (612) 673-3500 |
Frequently Asked Questions — Minneapolis Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder above hasn’t resolved your question, use the official City of Minneapolis resources below. The Collection Day Lookup tool is the most accurate source for your address-specific schedule, recycling week, and holiday updates.
🔍 Official Minneapolis Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule, recycling group, and collection type:
🔍 Open Collection Day Lookup 📞 Call 311| Collection Day Lookup | minneapolismn.gov/collection-day-lookup — Enter your address for your day, recycling week (ABE/CD), monthly calendar, and email reminder signup |
| Call 311 | Within Minneapolis • Or (612) 673-3000 from outside the city • Missed pickups (report next business day, within 2 days), cart requests, vouchers, organics sign-up |
| Minneapolis Garbage & Recycling Website | minneapolismn.gov/garbage-recycling-cleanup — Holiday schedule, organics, yard waste, large items, South Transfer Station vouchers |
| Hennepin County HHW Drop-Off | hennepin.us/drop-off-facilities • (612) 348-3777 • Bloomington & Brooklyn Park • Tue–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Hennepin County Green Disposal Guide | hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide — Look up any item to find the best way to recycle, reuse, or dispose of it |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The City of Minneapolis Collection Day Lookup is the most accurate source for address-based schedule information.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides: