Good news Stillwater! Waste Management has expanded curbside recycling to include plastic and paper to-go cups, making it easier for residents to recycle everyday items and to better serve our community.

What is accepted:

• Hot and cold beverage paper cups (e.g. coffee cups with sleeves and soda cups)
• Plastic cups made from Polypropylene (e.g. cold drink cups for soda and iced coffee)

Not accepted:

• Foam cups (styrofoam)
• Rigid polystrene (#6)
• Lids, straws and stoppers

Recycle these Items in Your Cart

• Paper:  brown paper bags, corrugated carboard, egg cartons, newspapers, magazines, mixed mail, file folders, paperboard boxes and tubes (cereal, shoe, paper towel tube, etc).
• Aluminum cans, foil, foil bakeware and trays
• Metal cans and containers (tin and steel) - rinse clean, labels okay
• Cartons (dairy, juice, beverage and soup, broth boxes)
• Glass bottles and jars including - rinse clean and remove lids/caps
• Plastic bottles, jars and tubs marked #1, 2, 5 only including lids/caps

DO NOT RECYCLE:

• Shredded paper*
• Plastic bags
• Paper with food residue on it (place in TRASH cart)
• Laminated or coated paper (place in TRASH cart)
• Paper towels or napkins
• Coffee filters
• Toilet paper or facial tissues
• Wrapping paper and tissue paper
• Sugar and flour bags
• Paper with wax, plastic, or paint coating
• Pizza boxes 
• Aerosol cans*
• Clothes hangers*
• Scrap metal (metal pans, bakeware)
• Ceramic or porcelain items 
• Household glass (light bulbs, dishes, mirrors)*
• Holiday lights*
• Large toys
• Plastic signs
• Styrofoam

*Many of these are accepted at the Washington County Environment Center.  Contact them for more information.

Be A Battery Hero

Batteries can start fires if placed in the curbside trash or recycling. Additionally, some batteries are hazardous because they contain mercury, lead, cadmium, or silver.  These metals are toxic and hazardous to the environment. It is illegal to put vehicle batteries and rechargeable batteries in the trash.

Remember: Anything that makes sounds, lights up, or turns on without being plugged in contains a battery.

With so many different kinds of batteries, it can be confusing to know how to dispose of batteries correctly. Washington County Environmental Center accepts ALL batteries for free recycling, including rechargeable, button, and alkaline batteries.

Learn more about the Be a Battery Hero campaign here.

How to dispose of your batteries 

Do NOT put batteries of any kind into your trash or curbside recycling bin. Bring all batteries to the Environmental Center 

How to safely store and transport your household batteries for drop off at the Environmental Center: 

1. Place a small piece of clear packing tape over both the positive and negative ends of all rechargeable batteries. Using clear tape allows Environmental Center staff to identify the battery for proper sorting and recycling.
2. Place taped batteries in a plastic tub with a loose-fitting lid or in a clear plastic bag. Store the batteries in a cool, dry location that is out of reach of children until you are ready to recycle them. 
3. Bring batteries to the Environmental Center for no charge. 

If you cannot safely remove a battery from a device, bring the entire device to the Environmental Center.

Car Batteries

Non-hybrid vehicle batteries are accepted at the Environmental Center at no charge. Safely store and transport car batteries by placing them in a plastic tote or plastic lined box. Contact your retailer or car manufacturer for hybrid vehicle battery recycling instructions.

Electronics include televisions, computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals (mouse, keyboards, cables, printers, scanners. speakers. etc.), cell phones, hand-held devices. photocopiers. fax machines, stereos, VCRs, and DVD recorders and players.

Do not throw electronics away in your trash or recycling cart!  Give them away if they are in working condition or recycle them if they are broken. It's the law!

Limit of 4 consumer electronic items per residence per year is provided at no additional charge to be picked up curbside.  Additional electronic items are $25 per item.  You must contact Waste Management to arrange for pickup.   

Many electronic items are collected free of charge for Washington County residents at the Environmental Center.

Electronics that still work may have value to another person, family or group. You can sell usable electronics through a number of on-line sites. If it still works, it is valuable for more than it's recyclable parts.

Latex Paint - cans can be placed in trash with dried paint or empty

Oil-based paint should be brought to the Environmental Center

Car Batteries can be taken to local retailer for disposal.

Construction Debris - call Waste Management or check the Disposal Guide for business that will take this debris.

Asbestos - The first and most important thing to know about handling and disposing of asbestos is that you should not do it yourself. Asbestos is a deadly carcinogen that should only be handled by licensed asbestos abatement professionals.  While you can find information online about do-it-yourself asbestos abatement, it is highly recommended that you do not attempt to disturb asbestos-containing materials in any way.  If you don’t hire a professional, you are likely to break one of the many laws that regulate asbestos, and you run the risk of facing a serious fine or penalty.

Many of the products we use for cleaning and maintenance of our homes and yards contain potentially harmful or hazardous ingredients. They are called Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). These products require special handling to avoid harming you, your family, or the environment.

Please read the labels on all your household products to learn about their ingredients. The words CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER and POISON may appear on them. These key words appear on labels to alert you that the products may contain hazardous materials and can help you know where to dispose of them when you are finished using them. Proper handling of these products is important for your safety and that of others.

• Don't throw them in the garbage
• Don't pour them in the sewer
• Don't pour them on the ground

There is Household Hazardous Waste disposal available year-round at the Washington County Environmental Center. Disposal is free of charge to residents. There is even a room full of items to choose from for free in the Reuse Room, including paint, cleaners and other useful materials.  

How to Handle and Dispose of Asbestos

The first and most important thing to know about handling and disposing of asbestos is that you should not do it yourself. Asbestos is a deadly carcinogen that should only be handled by licensed asbestos abatement professionals.

While you can find information online about do-it-yourself asbestos abatement, it is highly recommended that you do not attempt to disturb asbestos-containing materials in any way.

If you find friable asbestos products in your home, you may carefully wet them to prevent them from releasing fibers until you can get a licensed professional to assess your home.

These professionals are highly trained and certified to follow all federal and state laws governing asbestos abatement and disposal. If you don’t hire a professional, you are likely to break one of the many laws that regulate asbestos, and you run the risk of facing a serious fine or penalty.

Old and unused medicines in your home can pose a risk for accidental poisoning, theft, and drug abuse. Medications disposed of in a sink, toilet, or landfill can eventually pollute surface and groundwater, and harm fish and wildlife. Instead of flushing or throwing them in the trash, drop the medication off for safe and free disposal.

Washington County residents can dispose of their unused and expired medications year-round at collection drop boxes throughout Washington County.

 
All drugs collected are secured at the the Washington County Sheriff's Office and then taken to a waste-to-energy facility that is licensed to burn this type of waste. The drug drop boxes are a joint project of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment.

Medications accepted include prescription, over-the-counter and pet medication. 

Not accepted items: Needles, used EpiPens, syringes, lancets, vaping devices/e-liquids, thermometers, no liquid chemotherapy drugs. Bring these items to the Washington County Environmental Center.

For more information on how to prepare medications for drop-off, visit the Environmental Center's medication disposal page. 

Compost is a valuable resource that improves soil, reduces erosion, and decreases the need for fertilizers. There are two great options residents can participate in.

1.  Order your free annual supply of food scrap bags. Visit foodscrapspick.com or call
    651-661-9393
   
   
2.  Collect your food scraps in the food scrap bags. Once a week or when the bag is full, tie a knot at the top to close the bag.
   
   
3.  Place your food scrap bag inside your trash car or dumpster for collection.
   
   
4.  Done! The food scraps will be composted.

Visit foodscrapspickup.com for more information and acceptable items. Free collection bins and trial kits available at Stillwater City Hall while supplies last.

Food Scraps Drop-Off Sites

An organics drop-off is available to residents at the Washington County Environmental Center or the City of Mahtomedi.

Get started in 3 easy steps!

1. Find a container to collect food scraps. Free compostable bags are available at Washington County food scraps drop-off sites. If using a bag not provided by county, check that is has the "compostable" logo from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) on the bag or box.

2. Start collecting food scraps at home. Line your container with a compostable bag and fill it with food scraps or other acceptable items. Check out this flyer on what is accepted and what is not accepted.

3. Bring bagged food scraps to a drop-off site. Bring your filled compostable bag to a free drop-off site.

City of Mahtomedi
In partnership with the City of Mahtomedi, Washington County has opened a food scraps drop-off site for use by all county residents. The self-serve drop-off site is located behind the Mahtomedi Fire Department building at 800 Stillwater Road and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For additional locations and hours of operation, click here.

In the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans make an extra million tons of trash per week. Much of the extra waste is from boxes, wrapping and tissue paper, ribbons and bows.

Facts About Holiday Trash

• Christmas trees can be picked up curbside the first two weeks in January for mulch or compost.  Flocking (fake spray snow) interrupts the ability to compost the tree.
• Holiday Lights are not recyclable nor safe to throw in the trash.  Drop them off at the Environmental Center 
• The amount of discarded ribbon would tie a bow around the Earth, only fabric ribbon can be recycled.  Tinsel and shiny or textured ribbons cannot be recycled.
• Wrapping paper must be either thrown in the trash or composted
  • Wrapping paper is usually blended or coated with materials like wax or plastic, the ink is mixed with clay to bring out the colors, or glitter may be used for enhancement. It is not recyclable!

10 Simple Strategies for a Lesser-Waste Holiday Season

1. Choose wrapping that can be recycled or reused. Try wrapping your gifts in pillowcases, colorful tablecloths or napkins, scarves, towels or drawstring bags.
2. Make your own and electronically send greeting cards, using sites like the ones below. They save money and trees.
3. Buy recycled-content cards and envelopes. Look on the package for the words, recycled or post-consumer content.
4. Consider making your own greeting cards. Last year's holiday cards will make beautiful recycled cards and /or numerous gift tags this year. An old tradition worth revisiting!
5. Search flea markets, thrift stores, consignment shops, garage sales and in your closets for decorative containers to pack your gifts in. They make unusual and functional gift wrapping.
6. Design your own wrapping paper using shopping bags, fabric, or "kraft" paper. Decorate with markers, crayons, paint or other finishes.
7. Make greeting cards and gift tags out of recycled materials.
8. Make a non-profit donation in the name of the person you're giving a gift to.
9. Shipping a gift? Reuse foam peanuts, shredded paper, or unbuttered popcorn for packing material.
10. Buy recycled whenever possible.

Other Ideas

Several specialty stores are scattered around the Twin Cities. Specialty retailers across the country carry artistic, original, reused or recycled-content products. Search keywords, such as "recycled gift ideas" or "recycled gifts".