Planning & Zoning Administration

Solid Waste - Disposal & Recycling Guide - Household Items

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Batteries

Some household batteries can be harmful to our health and the environment when disposed of improperly. Check the label on the battery to identify the battery type and follow the disposal methods below.

Trash Can

Place non-rechargeable alkaline and carbon zinc (heavy-duty) batteries in the garbage. Common sizes for these batteries are: A, AA, AAA, C, D, N, 9-volt and lantern.

Recycle

Lithium, button and rechargeable nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries may be brought to battery drop locations in Sherburne County. It is illegal to place these batteries in the garbage. These batteries are used in items such as flashlights, radios, calculators, watches, hearing aids, phones, power tools, cell phones, pagers,

Batteries may also be brought to the following businesses:

B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-7211

Becker True Value
13350 1st St
Becker, MN 55308
763-261-4464

Central Appliance Recyclers
3107 Hwy. 10 SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-252-3221

Green Lights Recycling
10040 Davenport St NE
Blaine, Mn 55449
763-785-0456

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Cans

Place metal food and beverage cans with curbside recycling. Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts may have aluminum beverage can cages in some communities in the County. Cans may also be brought to the following businesses:

B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-7211

BNG Services
31521 125 1/2 Street
Princeton, MN 55371

Python's Recycling Center
550 4½ ST NE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-253-2054

Trash Can

Place empty paint cans, aerosol cans and cans that held other chemicals, such as paint thinner and automotive fluids in the garbage.

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Christmas Trees & Wreaths

Place artificial trees and wreaths no longer in good condition in the garbage. Real Christmas trees and wreaths are banned from household garbage and can be brought to any Yard Waste Compost Site located in Sherburne County.

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Cleaning Products

Hazardous Wastes

Many home cleaning products including toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner, de-greasers and tub and tile cleaners contain chemicals that can be harmful to health and the environment. Bring leftover cleaners labeled danger, warning or poison to the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility or to Sherburne County Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. Do not place in the garbage unless containers are completely empty.

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Electronics

Hazardous Wastes

These include: TVs, CRTs (picture tubes), VCRs, tape players, stereos, radios, camcorders, computers systems (including monitors, scanners, printers, keyboards, mouse pads, CPUs, home networking devices, speakers, add ons, etc.), telephones, calculators, type writers, and electronic games. They contain lead, cadmium, and mercury, which may be harmful to human health and the environment if not disposed of properly.

If still usable, sell at a garage sale, give to a friend or look for donation opportunities. Call the organization first to make sure they will accept your electronic item. If donating or recycling a computer, be sure to have all your information wiped from the hard drive. This usually requires buying special software.

Bring electronics to your City or Township Clean-up Event or to the following businesses:

B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-7211

BNG Services
31521 125 1/2 Street
Princeton, MN 55371

Central Appliance Recyclers
3107 Hwy. 10 SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-252-3221

Elk River Landfill
22460 Hwy. 169 NW
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-2464

Elk River Resource Processing Plant
10700 165th Ave NW
Elk River, MN 55330

Green Lights Recycling
10040 Davenport St NE
Blaine, Mn 55449
763-785-0456

Metro Appliance Recycling
16403 60th St NE
Otsego, MN 55330
763-241-8787

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Fire Extinguishers

You may contact St. Cloud Fire Equipment at 320-252-5562 or call your local fire department.

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Fluorescent Bulbs

Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury which can harm health and the environment if not disposed of properly. Bring fluorescent bulbs to the Sherburne County Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events (Limit of 10 bulbs per person per collection event). Do not place in the garbage. Fluorescent bulbs may also be brought to the following businesses:

B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-7211

Becker True Value
13350 1st St
Becker, MN 55308
763-261-4464

Central Appliance Recyclers
3107 Hwy. 10 SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-252-3221

Green Lights Recycling
10040 Davenport St NE
Blaine, Mn 55449
763-785-0456

Johnson Hardware Hank
12860 Fremont Avenue
Zimmerman, MN 55398
763.856.2661

Metro Appliance Recycling
16403 60th St NE
Otsego, MN 55330
763-241-8787

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Lead

Hazardous Wastes

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead is commonly found in items such as:

  • Bullets
  • Fishing sinkers & Tackle
  • Shotgun Shells

Bring items containing lead to the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility or to Sherburne County Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. Do not place in the garbage.

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Major Appliances

Major appliances no longer in good condition must be recycled. It is illegal to place major appliances in household garbage because they have components that are harmful to health and the environment. Some retailers will recycle old appliances when you purchase a new one. Bring appliances to your City or Township Clean-up Event or to the following businesses:

B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-7211

BNG Services
31521 125 1/2 Street
Princeton, MN 55371

Central Appliance Recyclers
3107 Hwy. 10 SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-252-3221

Elk River Landfill
22460 Hwy. 169 NW
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-2464

Elk River Resource Processing Plant
10700 165th Ave NW
Elk River, MN

Metro Appliance Recycling
16403 60th St NE
Otsego, MN 55330
763-241-8787

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Mattresses/Box-springs

Ask the retailer that delivers your new mattress if they will take your old one. If they don't, bring mattresses and box springs to your City or Township Clean-up Event. You may also call your garbage hauler to schedule a pick-up or bring it to a landfill that accepts mattresses and box springs.

Green Lights Recycling
10040 Davenport St NE
Blaine, Mn 55449
763-785-0456

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Medicine/Prescription Drugs

Place medications in the garbage and follow the precautions below to prevent accidental or intentional ingestion. Over-the-counter medications and prescriptions can pollute our waters and be harmful to humans, fish, and other wildlife when disposed of improperly – do not flush medications down the toilet.

Medication Disposal Instructions:

  • Keep medicine in its original container.
  • Modify contents to discourage future use - partially dissolve pills with water, add salt or flour to liquids and wrap blister packs in opaque tape.
  • Tape container shut, place in a bag or container and tape shut.

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Mercury

Hazardous Wastes

Mercury is found in common household items such as:

  • Fever and cooking thermometers
  • Thermostats
  • Fluorescent light bubs
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Steam irons with automatic shut-off
  • Neon lamps
  • "Silent" wall switches
  • High pressure sodium and metal-halide lamps

Bring intact mercury-containing items to the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility or Sherburne County Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. It is illegal to place mercury-containing products in the garbage.

If mercury is spilled in your home, do not vacuum it up. Call the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at 651-649-5451 or read their guidelines for proper mercury spill cleanup. Or, you can visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency page on mercury spills.

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Needles/Syringes

Check with your clinic or pharmacy to see if they have a take-back program for needles and syringes. Follow the preparation requirements below:

  • Place sharps into a container such as a liter soda bottle, plastic laundry detergent bottle, or coffee can with the lid taped shut. Loose sharps are not accepted.
  • Label the container "Do not recycle: household sharps."
  • Put sharps in point-first.
  • Dispose of containers when they are half-full.

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Scrap Metal

Almost all metals can be recycled. You may bring scrap metal to your City or Township Clean-up Event or one of the following businesses.

Alter Metal Recycling
2905 North Ferry St
Anoka, MN 55303
763-421-1187

B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-441-7211

BNG Services
31521 125 1/2 Street
Princeton, MN 55371

Elk River Resource Processing Plant
10700 165th Ave NW
Elk River, MN

Midway Iron
648 Lincoln Ave SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-252-4002

Phillips Recycling Systems
119 6th Ave NE
St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-251-5980

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Thermometers/Thermostats

Bring mercury thermometers and thermostats to the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility or to Sherburne County Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. Do not place in the garbage. Place digital and outdoor thermometers in the garbage.

If mercury is spilled in your home, do not vacuum it up. Call the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at 651-649-5451 or read their guidelines for proper mercury spill cleanup. Or, you can visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency page on mercury spills.

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