Hennepin County, MN — disposal guide
Verified disposal rules for Hennepin County residents — Minnesota's most populous county (~1.27 million people). Covers Minneapolis, Bloomington, Edina, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park, Richfield, Maple Grove, St Louis Park, and 36 other cities. ClearPath sources every rule from hennepin.us + Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) + EPA Universal Waste — with a citation on every answer.
Looking up a specific item for Hennepin County?
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Household hazardous waste (HHW)
Hennepin County operates two permanent HHW facilities: Brooklyn Park Transfer Station (8100 Jefferson Highway) and Bloomington (1400 W 96th St). Both accept paint, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, lithium-ion batteries, propane tanks, and almost any household chemical free of charge. No appointment required for small drops; appointments recommended for vehicle-loads.
Electronics & TVs
Minnesota bans all CRT and flat-panel TVs from landfill (Minn. Stat. § 115A.9301). Hennepin HHW facilities accept all electronics free. Best Buy and Staples are also free for laptops, phones, monitors, and small electronics — Best Buy has stores in Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, and Richfield.
Paint
Minnesota is a PaintCare state. Drop both latex and oil-based paint at any participating retailer — Hennepin has 60+ participating sites including most Hirshfield's, Sherwin-Williams, Kelly-Moore, and independent paint stores. Find your nearest at paintcare.org. Free and usually faster than the trip to HHW.
Organics & yard waste
Minneapolis offers free curbside organics for residents with city trash service — request a green cart at minneapolismn.gov. Hennepin County runs free organics drop-off sites in 30+ cities for residents whose city doesn't offer curbside. Yard waste is picked up curbside seasonally (April-November typically); compostable bags required in most cities.
Bulky items & furniture
Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling offers two free bulk-item pickups per year per household — schedule online at minneapolismn.gov. Suburban cities have their own programs (Edina, Bloomington, Plymouth charge per item). Mattresses must be bagged. Working furniture can also go to Bridging.org (free donation pickup).
Recycling — curbside basics
Single-stream recycling (paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass, plastics #1, #2, #5) is curbside in every Hennepin city. Plastic bags and styrofoam are NEVER curbside — return plastic bags to grocery-store drop-bins, styrofoam to UPS Store or a specialty center. Hennepin runs a public Recycling Guide search at hennepin.us covering 800+ items.
Find your specific Hennepin County rule
The categories above are the broad strokes. ClearPath returns the verified specific rule for your exact item + ZIP code — including the nearest drop-off address and hours. Free, no signup required.
Check disposal rules for Hennepin County →Hennepin County disposal FAQ
Where can I drop off household hazardous waste in Hennepin County?
Two free permanent facilities: Brooklyn Park Transfer Station (8100 Jefferson Highway) and Bloomington (1400 W 96th St). Both open Tuesday-Saturday year-round. No appointment for small drops; recommended for vehicle-loads. Free for any Hennepin resident with ID showing Hennepin address.
Does Minneapolis have curbside organics?
Yes, free with city trash service. Request a green organics cart at minneapolismn.gov; pickup is weekly on the same day as your garbage. Accepts food scraps (including meat + bones), food-soiled paper, and certified compostable bags.
How many bulk pickups does Minneapolis give per year?
Two free per household per year — schedule online at minneapolismn.gov. Used for furniture, mattresses, appliances, and large bulky items. Suburban Hennepin cities have their own bulk programs (often a small fee per item).
Where do I take paint in Hennepin County?
Any of the 60+ PaintCare-participating retailers — most Hirshfield's, Sherwin-Williams, Kelly-Moore, and many independent paint stores. Free for both latex and oil-based. Find your nearest at paintcare.org. The county HHW also accepts paint.
Can I throw a TV in the trash in Hennepin County?
No. Minnesota bans all TVs (CRT and flat-panel) from landfill statewide (Minn. Stat. § 115A.9301). Take to Hennepin HHW (free), Best Buy, or Staples. Hennepin HHW also accepts every other type of electronic free of charge.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or AC unit in Hennepin?
Refrigerators, AC units, and dehumidifiers contain refrigerant gases that must be recovered by a licensed technician before disposal — federal Clean Air Act rule. Schedule a bulk pickup with your city (or licensed appliance recycler) and they handle the freon recovery. Hennepin HHW does NOT accept appliances directly.
Where can I drop off organics if I'm not in Minneapolis?
Hennepin County operates 30+ free organics drop-off sites across the suburbs (Bloomington, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, and more). Drop hours and accepted-material lists vary by site — see hennepin.us for the current list.