Show All Answers

1. Do I have to sort my recycling?

No. The Blue Earth County Recycling Center allows you to place all recycling in the same bin. It’s called “single stream recycling.”

2. What is accepted at the Recycling Center?

Items Accepted for Recycling:

• Glass- beverage containers without a cap
• Metal- cans and bottles
• Scrap Metal- there is a special scrap metal dumpster located on the outside of the back of the drive-thru. 
• Paper- mixed paper, paperboard, office paper, catalogs, magazines, newspaper, and books
• Plastic- #1,2,&5 
• Cardboard- cardboard and boxboard
• Other Items: electronics, tires, appliances (all for a fee)

For more information: Blue Earth County Recycling

3. Can you recycle your recyclables in plastic bags?

No! Please put your recyclables in your curbside bin or drop-off at the Recycling Center or Ponderosa Landfill in loose. You can put your recyclables in plastic or paper bags to transport, but empty out your bags into the bin and throw away your plastic bag. Plastic bags are considered a contaminate and can cause damage / harm to recycling machinery and/or workers. 

4. Do my recyclables get thrown away at the landfill?

No! In the State of Minnesota, once recyclables are separated from the rest of the solid waste stream it is illegal to dispose of them in the garbage or at the landfill. It is required that they are brought to a Materials Recovery Facility to be processed for recycling. 

Also, all recycling that gets brought to the Ponderosa Landfill's Customer Service Building is brought to the Blue Earth County Recycling Center to be brought to a Materials Recovery Facility. 

5. How is single stream recycling separated?

It is sorted mechanically at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). The methods employed include air currents, eddy currents, magnets, optical sorters, and other means. Once separated, it is sold off to manufacturers who use recycled material in their products.