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Boxes

(Dry Food Packaging, Boxboard, Corrugated Boxes, Cardboard, Cereal Boxes)

Rethink & Reduce Tips

• Over 20% of household garbage is recyclable paper. 
• You can fit more recycling in your curbside recycling cart by flattening your cardboard.

Reuse Tips

• Save gift or shoe boxes and reuse throughout the year. 
• Ship gifts and items in used cardboard boxes; many boxes will last more than one mailing.
• Moving? Reuse old cardboard boxes.
• U-Haul has a drop location in every store where customers can drop-off their reusable moving boxes for others to use. You can also trade, sell or buy boxes through their U-Haul online messageboard.

More Get Rid Of It Tips

• Boxboard: Most haulers collect boxboard with curbside recycling. Check with your waste hauler or City Recycling Coordinator for more information on curbside recycling collection.

• Cardboard: is collected curbside for recycling in all Hennepin County communities. Call your waste hauler or City Recycling Coordinator for specific preparation instructions.

Additional Resources

• Choose To Reuse Directory
• Twin Cities Free Market
• It's In the Bag - Plastic Bag Recycling
• Reduce.org

Accepted At These Hennepin County Facilities. Proof of residency required (MN drivers license or current utility bill).

• Bloomington Drop Off Facility
• Brooklyn Park Drop Off Facility

Item Accepted As: Recycling Trash

Bloomington Drop Off Facility Only: Corrugated Cardboard has a limit of one pickup truck load or less per visit. Must be flattened. Preferred size of cardboard pieces is 3'x3'.

BOXBOARD
Boxboard is a container that is thicker than paper, yet not a stiff container - it will bend.

YES  -  RECYCLE

• Cereal boxes, cracker boxes, pasta boxes, cake mix boxes
• Shoe boxes, gift boxes & electronics boxes
• Boxes from toothpaste, medications and other toiletries

NO - DON'T RECYCLE

• Pizza boxes, egg cartons or boxes soiled with food
• Boxes from refrigerated or frozen foods
• Milk cartons and juice boxes (select communities in Minnesota do have recycling available for this item) 

CARDBOARD
This heavier cardboard box is used to transport large appliances or small bulk items. It is distinguished from boxboard by the wavy lines in between the cardboard layers and is a stiff container that will not bend.

YES  -  RECYCLE

• Clean, uncoated cardboard 

Must be flattened and not contaminated with other paper products.

NO - DON'T RECYCLE

• Boxes contaminated with food or liquid.
• Pizza or plastic/wax-lined boxes

CONTAMINATED CARDBOARD/BOXBOARD
Place unusable or contaminated boxboard and cardboard in the trash.

You can recycle more kinds of paper than you think! 
Check out Boxes, Phone Books, Catalogs and Magazines, Newspaper and Ad Supplements and Books.