Is it Legal to Throw These Items Away in Steele County Minnesota?

Do you have something that you have thrown away, but then get that gut feeling like “wait… can I actually just throw this in the garbage?” well you will be surprised at some of the mundane things that can actually be recycled or are illegal to throw away yourself.

As you know electronic devices and appliances need to be recycled because it is required by Minnesota State Law, but what about other random items in your house? which ones can be recycled and which ones can be thrown away.. or need to be taken to hazardous waste facilities?

Carpet and Carpet Padding

Before you throw away your carpet try cleaning it with equipment or hire a cleaning service. If you are wondering about throwing away carpet or carpet padding you can’t just put it in your garbage can.

Steelecountymn.gov shares that you should “talk with your garbage hauler about taking the carpet to a landfill or bring it to the Steele County Landfill yourself for disposal in the lined (Mixed Solid Waste) portion of the landfill.” Click here for hours, location, and disposal prices at the Steele County Landfill.

At this point, carpet and carpet padding cannot be recycled in Steele County, but there are some carpet recycling options in the metro area.

Christmas Lights

Because it is the Christmas season, I wanted to share some Christmas-themed item guidelines. Did you know that old Christmas or other holiday lights and cords are recyclable during the holiday season and through January 15 by bringing them to one of several locations in Owatonna and Blooming Prairie?

Steelecountymn.gov explains that the sites in Owatonna include Owatonna Public Library, Owatonna Public Utilities, Steele/Waseca Electrical Coop, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, and the Steele County/Waste Management Recycling Center. B to Z Hardware in Blooming Prairie also accepts these lights for recycling. In addition, all locations also accept electrical cords of any kind.

Christmas Trees

Minnesota law bans Christmas trees (real ones) from burial in a landfill! So do not throw your Christmas tree away. Steele County’s website however does share that “Owatonna’s Yard Waste Compost Site is open the first two weekends in January of each year and will accept trees, wreaths and other holiday or yard waste for a fee.” Click here for more information on the Owatonna Compost Site. If you live in another city in Steele County, click here for more information on tree disposal.

Aerosol Cans

Okay, I did not know this but apparently EMPTY aerosol cans may be recycled with metal cans. Click here for more information about Steele County’s Residential Recycling program.

When it comes to aerosol cans that are not empty, Steele County explains that these “may be taken to either the Steele or Rice County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility for free, proper disposal.” Click here for more information on the location and hours of these HHW facilities.

Nail Polish

You can NOT throw away nail polish! While this one shocked me, it makes sense, and I am shaming my younger self who threw away a whole nail polish collection. Steele County’s website exclaims that “unusable or unwanted nail polish and nail polish remover contains hazardous chemicals and should be brought to either the Steele or Rice County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facilities for free, proper disposal.” Click here for more information about these HHW facilities. Empty or dried bottles of nail polish may be thrown in the trash though!

All information is credited to the A-Z Disposable guide from steelecountymn.gov.