Business, Event & School Recycling

Dakota County requires commercial entities, including businesses and schools, to collect and recycle designated materials following best practices. Some entities are also required to collect food scraps. Learn more about requirements.

Choose from any of the haulers licensed by the city to set up trash and recycling service.    

2023 Trash Haulers Licensed in Mendota Heights

Recycling Requirements for Businesses, Schools and Events

The city and Dakota County offer free assistance to help business, schools and events these meet requirements:

1. Have recycling service:

 Provide recycling service through a contract with a hauler or self-haul recyclables. Collected recyclables, food scraps (if collected), and trash must be delivered to a facility permitted to accept it. 

2. Recycle designated materials: 

Provide recycling containers in buildings and on grounds to collect Dakota County’s Designated Recyclables. 

3. Locate recycling containers with trash containers:

 Wherever there is a trash container, there must be a recycling container within 10 feet in all indoor and outdoor locations. Recycling containers must be large enough to collect all recyclables, and not overflowing.

4. Label containers: 

Label each indoor and outdoor containers according to County labeling requirements. Replace labels if they become damaged, unreadable or if text or images conflict with county label requirements.

5. Provide recycling education 

Provide standardized recycling education at least once a year to employees, volunteers and contractors who manage waste and recycling. Provide education within 30 days of a new hire and within 30 days of a substantial change to the waste and recycling program. Education must cover what and how to recycle in accordance with requirements listed on Dakota County’s website.  

Learn more about Business Recycling (PDF).