Close to 10% of materials Minneapolis residents tried to recycle in 2025 ended up in the landfill.
Why it matters: Throwing the wrong materials in the collection cart can undercut well-meaningefforts to be a good environmental steward.
Zoom in: Top contaminants include plastic bags and film, large plastic items like kids' toys and laundry baskets, and random metal items like pipes, coffee tumblers and pans, a city spokesperson told Axios.
Plus: Putting recyclables like cans or paper in a plastic bag can result in those items being tossed.
Be smart: Disposal guides published by the city and Hennepin Countybreak down what goes where.
Case in point: A greasy cardboard pizza box should go in the compost bin — not the recycling cart.
But those plastic pieces that keep the cheese from touching the top of the box need to go in the trash.
