Contact: Jeff Schneider
Deputy Director of Solid Waste
Public Works
651.385.3672
Red Wing Rolls out New Single-Sort Recycling Program
(July 23 2019, Red Wing, Minn.) – The City of Red Wing has officially announced its upcoming switch to a “single-sort” recycling program.
With this new recycling program, sorting recyclable items is no longer necessary; instead, residents will be able to place all recyclable items directly into a new, larger recycling container. The 96-gallon carts will begin arriving at residents’ homes in late August through early September. The carts will replace the smaller bins currently used for residential recycling and come with wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep recyclables dry and secure.
The change to single-sort recycling is something Red Wing residents have specifically requested as part of the Red Wing 2040 Community Plan. The City applied for and received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit organization that works with city governments all across America to transform their recycling programs. The City of Red Wing was selected to receive grant support because of the City’s dedication to advancing recycling in the community. The grant from The Recycling Partnership helped pay for the new carts and includes funding for education and outreach about the new collection process.
“The Partnership is proud to partner with the City of Red Wing on curbside recycling carts in order to expand access to recycling for residents,” says Rob Taylor, Director of Grants and Community Development at The Recycling Partnership. “We are thrilled to offer our support to this exciting project and look forward to our measurement study to help Red Wing know more about how its residents recycle.”
The City asks that residents continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in their carts, including glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, paper products (including newspapers and flattened cardboard), and empty plastic bottles and containers. To help limit contamination, give food and drink containers a quick rinse and then place them directly into the recycling cart—no sorting needed.
Some items that cannot be recycled include plastic bags, paper towels, pizza boxes, electrical equipment, batteries, and clothing. These items often get mixed into recycling carts because of “wishcycling,” or the hope that they can be recycled. While well-intentioned, non-recyclable items cause serious issues.
For more information on what can and can’t go into the cart, visit www.red-wing.org/recycling.
Residents can begin using their new carts beginning September 16-27. Due to the increased capacity size of the new carts, recycling collection will now occur on a biweekly basis. Residents’ recycling day will stay the same, but collection dates will be every other week.
To find your recycling zone and collection dates, plus answers to other Frequently Asked Questions, visit www.red-wing.org/recycling or contact the Solid Waste Campus at 651.385.3658.
The City of Red Wing is dedicated to the ongoing health and well-being of its residents. With its tradition of growth, stability and innovation, city leadership continues to maintain a proactive approach and a firm commitment to businesses, history, natural resources and, most important, the Red Wing community.