Washington County, MN — disposal guide
Disposal guide for Washington County residents — eastern Twin Cities metro (~275,000 people). Covers Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Stillwater, Forest Lake, Lake Elmo, Hugo, Mahtomedi, Bayport, and the rest of the St Croix Valley. ClearPath sources rules from co.washington.mn.us + Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) + EPA Universal Waste — with a citation on every answer.
Looking up a specific item for Washington County?
Type the item + your ZIP at /check — verified local rule + nearest drop-off in seconds. Free.
Household hazardous waste (HHW)
Washington County operates the Environmental Center (4039 Cottage Grove Dr, Woodbury) as its permanent HHW facility. Free for Washington residents — bring photo ID. Accepts paint, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, lithium-ion batteries, and most household chemicals. Open Tuesday-Saturday year-round; appointments recommended for large drops.
Electronics & TVs
Minnesota bans all CRT and flat-panel TVs from landfill (Minn. Stat. § 115A.9301). The Environmental Center accepts e-waste — some types free, some with a small fee. Best Buy locations in Woodbury and Oakdale offer free recycling for laptops, phones, monitors.
Paint
Minnesota is a PaintCare state. Drop both latex and oil-based paint at any participating Washington retailer — Hirshfield's, Sherwin-Williams, and Kelly-Moore locations participate. Find your nearest at paintcare.org. Free, often faster than the trip to the Environmental Center.
Organics & yard waste
Washington County accepts residential food scraps for composting at the Environmental Center free of charge. Some Washington cities (Woodbury, Cottage Grove) have begun curbside organics pilots; most still require drop-off. Yard waste is picked up curbside seasonally (April-November) — check your city's schedule.
Bulky items & furniture
Each Washington city handles bulk pickup separately — most charge $15-40 per item for furniture, mattresses, appliances. Woodbury, Cottage Grove, and Stillwater have established programs; rural areas often arrange via private hauler. Working furniture can go to Bridging.org (free donation pickup) or Goodwill.
Recycling — curbside basics
Single-stream recycling (paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass, plastics #1, #2, #5) is curbside in every Washington city. Plastic bags and styrofoam are NEVER curbside — return plastic bags to grocery-store drop-bins, styrofoam to UPS Store or specialty centers.
Find your specific Washington 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 Washington County →Washington County disposal FAQ
Where is the Washington County HHW drop-off?
Washington County Environmental Center, 4039 Cottage Grove Dr, Woodbury. Open Tuesday-Saturday year-round. Free for Washington County residents — bring photo ID showing a Washington address. Accepts paint, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, lithium-ion batteries, and most household chemicals.
Does Washington County have curbside organics?
Some cities yes (Woodbury, Cottage Grove pilots), most no. All Washington residents can use the free organics drop-off at the Environmental Center. Check your individual city's organics program status.
How much does bulk pickup cost in Washington County?
Each city sets its own fees — most charge $15-40 per item for furniture, mattresses, appliances. Schedule via your city's public-works site or through your private hauler if your city contracts that way.
Where do I take paint in Washington County?
Any PaintCare-participating retailer — Hirshfield's, Sherwin-Williams, and Kelly-Moore locations in Washington participate. Free for both latex and oil-based. Find the nearest at paintcare.org. The Environmental Center also accepts paint.
Can I throw a TV in the trash in Washington County?
No. Minnesota bans all TVs (CRT and flat-panel) from landfill statewide (Minn. Stat. § 115A.9301). Take to the Environmental Center (some types free, some small fee), Best Buy, or Staples.
I live in Stillwater — what's different from the metro?
Stillwater's pickup schedules can differ from the inner Twin Cities (smaller population, less-frequent collection in some neighborhoods). HHW + electronics still go to the Environmental Center in Woodbury (~25 min drive). All paint + battery retailer take-back works the same as the rest of MN.