Recycle More - What, Why, Where and How

Recycle More Minnesota is a joint effort between the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). It was designed to increase recycling in Minnesota through increased awareness about the benefits of recycling and opportunities available.

What can I recycle?

You probably already know you can recycle cans, bottles, and paper. But what about mattresses? Holiday lights? Carpet? Toilet paper tubes? Learn how unusual materials can avoid the landfill and benefit Minnesota's economy and environment through recycling by visiting Recycle More Minnesota’s “What can I recycle?” page. Once there, you can also learn about what happens to the stuff you put into your recycling bin.

Why do we recycle?

By choosing to recycle, we reduce consumption of fossil fuel, create jobs in Minnesota, conserve natural resources and create environmental benefits.

• Since it takes less energy to manufacture products from recycled materials than it does to manufacture the  same product from virgin (new) materials, recycling decreases demand for fossil fuels and increases our energy independence.

• Recycling contributes to our economy -- approximately 20,000 jobs in Minnesota are supported by the industry. These jobs pay an estimated $760 million in wages and add nearly $3 billion to Minnesota's economy.

• Recycling, and buying recycled products, helps keep Minnesota's lakes and rivers clean. Manufacturing products from recycled materials generates less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin (new) materials.

Your individual recycling efforts do make a difference! Learn more about why you should recycle and the affect your actions have by visiting Recycle More Minnesota’s “Why do we recycle?” page.

Where can I recycle? How can I tell others?

Recycling varies from county to county. For information on what you can recycle, and where you can recycle in your area, visit Recycle More Minnesota’s “Where can I recycle?” page.

Recycle More Minnesota also offers resources for you to help educate others in your office, your school or your neighborhood.

Do More!

Even if a product has a recycling symbol on the bottom, it’s not recyclable if your community doesn’t have a system in place to recycle the material. Purchase products made of materials that are collected for recycling in your community. Markets for recyclable materials vary periodically, and this sometimes affects which materials local haulers will collect. Advances in technology continue to reduce the amount of packaging and increase opportunities to recycle more materials. Pilot programs for new materials may be operating in your area. Visit Recycle More Minnesota or check with your city or county solid waste office for more detailed information and updates.

Buy products made out of recycled materials

Look for and purchase products with labels that say they contain post-consumer recycled content. For example, recycled paper products, now widely available, often have labels stating the percentage of recycled content. Find out more about the 100+ Minnesota companies manufacturing recycled content products by visiting the Minnesota Recycled Products Directory.