Zero Waste

Overview

Minneapolis is widely recognized as a regional and national leader in waste reduction and recycling. We can still do more. Our goal to to reduce — and someday end— what we throw out in landfills or waste-to-energy facilities.

Our timeline

50% recycling and organics recycling (composting) by 2020
80% recycling and organics recycling by 2030

By achieving zero waste, we:

Serve as better stewards of our environment
Can grow our economy and advance our work in environmental justice

Zero Waste Plan

garbage, recycling, organics carts and yard waste bags outside of someone's home

In December 2017, the City Council adopted a Zero Waste Plan. The plan's goals are to:

Educate residents and businesses about available programs.
Create new opportunities to reduce waste and recycle more.

By increasing awareness and opportunity, we can divert more material from the trash.

Read the Zero Waste Plan 2017

Generator types (groups that make waste)

Residential
Commercial, industrial and multifamily
Institutional
City operations
Public spaces
Construction and demolition debris

Zero waste activities for all generators

Audit waste to learn what can be reduced, reused, recycled or composted
Encourage waste reduction and promote reuse
Increase funding for outreach and education
Identify which City department handles each strategy
Identify ongoing funding for zero waste activities

Strategy evaluations (potential results and barriers)

Increased diversion potential
Difficulty and cost to roll out
Timeline to roll out
Ongoing costs to the City

Zero Waste Action Plan 2020-2022

Adopted by City Council on November 22, 2019, the 2020-2022 Zero Waste Action plan seeks to:

Get data to determine the starting point and measure progress.
Understand current waste diversion behaviors for all sectors.
Promote the benefits of reducing and diverting waste and available resources.

Action items for all sectors:

Educate about waste reduction, reuse, repair, recycling and organics management.
Promote Hennepin County assistance, resources and grants.
Encourage use of Hennepin County signage on collection containers.

Read the Zero Waste Action Plan 2020-2022

Stakeholder engagement

The City values feedback on Zero Waste from residents, businesses, haulers and other stakeholders:

We will ask for feedback from appropriate stakeholders before rolling out each part of the 2020-2022 action plan.
If you have comments or questions, see the Contact us section at the bottom of this page to send us an email. You can also contact your elected official.

Bring your own Bag Ordinance

Due to Covid-19, the City delayed putting the Bring Your Own Bag ordinance into action. Enforcement of the ordinance will resume on October 1, 2021.

Ordinance timeline

2016: The City Council originally adopted a Bring your own Bag ordinance on April 1, 2016, with an effective date of June 1, 2017. The ordinance included a ban on single-use plastic bags and a $.05 fee on paper bags.

2017: On May 30, 2017, the State of Minnesota preempted the City's ban on plastic bags. The Bring your own Bag ordinance went back to City Council to put a fee on both paper and plastic bags. The council did not pass the amendments and requested the following:
- More input from low-income community members and small businesses
- A revenue source for litter cleanup and environmental education

2018: The State introduced bills to ban the City's ability to put a fee on bags. The bills did not pass. The City received public input on paper and plastic bag fees.
2019: City Council adopted amendments to the ordinance on November 22, 2019 with an effective date of January 1, 2020.
2020: Ordinance effective January 1, 2020. Enforcement of ordinance paused in March 2020 due to global coronavirus pandemic.
2021: Governor's peacetime emergency ended on July 1, 2021. Enforcement of the Bring your Own Bag ordinance resumed on October 1, 2021.

Learn more about the Bring Your Own Bag ordinance

Recycling requirements in the City