Photo (right): Shorewood Recycling Committee members visit Republic Services Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where Shorewood's recyclables are sorted and processed.
Have you ever wondered, “Does recycling actually work?” Here in Shorewood, you can be assured the recycling you put in your cart is getting recycled as long as the materials are accepted and prepared properly. Minnesota state law requires this. There continues to be a demand for our recycled materials, and recyclers continue to invest in new technology to make recycling more advanced and efficient.
When you total up all the paper, plastic, aluminum and glass, Hennepin County recycles 580,000 tons each year. In 2024, 651 tons (1,303,212 pounds) of that total came from Shorewood residents’ recycling carts. All of that recycling makes a big difference. Recycling saves energy, conserves natural resources, creates jobs in Minnesota, and boosts our economy. Additionally, recycled materials are manufactured into a variety of products. Glass bottles and jars, for example, are sorted by color in Saint Paul, and the clear glass is sent to Shakopee to make bottles for drinks, pickles, and more.
Recycling in Shorewood
For several years, the City has contracted services for residential recycling. Each single-family home up to fourplex in Shorewood is covered under the service contract. The collection is every other week and each property is provided with a 65- or 95-gallon recycling cart depending on preference. Each property is charged $18 per quarter for the service, and it is billed on the quarterly utility bill. Each month $4.65 goes to service fees, $0.67 to processing fees, and $0.68 to program costs, which include City staff time, materials, and education and outreach activities.
On average, 96% of Shorewood households regularly set out recycling carts for collection. 87% of what is thrown in these carts is recycled, and 12.9% is residual garbage, or waste that cannot be recycled, and is sent to a landfill. The majority of this garbage includes plastic film (bread bags, ziplocks, bubble wrap, etc.), pizza boxes, and items that are bagged.
In accordance with Hennepin County’s Ordinance 13 requirements (regulates the separation of mixed recyclables and organic material), the City of Shorewood also contracts with Republic Services to offer three organics recycling drop-off sites at public parks, free of charge to residents. To participate, residents register online, separate compostable items from other waste, and dispose of these items at any of the locations, which are open 24/7. 151 households have registered for this program.
Recycling administration, education, and outreach
City of Shorewood’s Communications and Recycling Coordinator is responsible for conducting outreach and providing education on the City’s recycling and organics programs. They work in close partnership with other recycling coordinators across the 7-county metro and Shorewood residents who volunteer on the City’s Recycling Committee, which was formed in 2019 to help guide the City’s efforts related to waste reduction.
Photos: Shorewood Recycling Committee and residents visit SMSC Organics Recycling Facility to learn about organics recycling (left), pumpkin drop-off event in Nov 2024 (center), recycling committee members visit Hennepin Energy Recovery Center
There have been a wide variety of engagement activities throughout the years since the committee began. In 2024, some of these efforts have included field trips to local recycling sites, projects with Minnetonka High School’s VANTAGE program, yard sign and holiday light recycling drop-off at City Hall, a pumpkin drop-off event, and door knocking; in addition to, regularly published newsletter articles and emails.
Video: In Spring 2025, City of Shorewood's Recycling Committee partnered with Minnetonka High School VANTAGE students to create an organics recycling promotional video.
What’s next?
Recycling contract with Republic Services is set to expire on December 31, 2025. In the coming months, the City will publish a request for proposals (RFP) for contract recycling services. The City will continue to provide organics drop-off sites to comply with Hennepin County. Minn. Stat. § 473.149, a long-range policy plan for solid waste management, prepared by the MN Pollution Control Agency.
This solid waste plan has also introduced a future requirement for cities with populations over 5,000 to provide curbside organics services for all residents. While the effective date of this requirement is unknown, the City will include curbside organics services in the recycling RFP in order to begin to obtain pricing information and to explore as a possible service to offer to residents.
Shorewood Recycling Committee
Next meeting is Tuesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Shorewood Community and Event Center. This meeting is open to the public. If you are interested in learning more about or joining the committee, email Eric Wilson, Recycling Coordinator at ewilson@shorewoodmn.gov
Learning More
Community members are invited to attend city council work sessions, regular city council meetings, and recycling committee meetings. Details of these meetings can be found in newsletters, the City calendar on the website, and monthly email updates.
Visit shorewoodMN.gov/recycling
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