Communications

Social Media

Find Dakota Valley Recycling on the following social media websites:

• Twitter (@DVRecycling)
• Facebook (City of Burnsville) (City of Eagan) (City of Apple Valley)(City of Lakeville) 

Dakota Valley Recycling Publications

Check out these publications from Dakota Valley Recycling:

• E-Guide [2019]

• Dive Into Recycling: Home Recycling Guide

• Dive Into Decluttering

• Dive Into Reducing Wasted Food

 City Newsletters

 Check out your city's newsletter for information on current events within the city:

• Apple Valley City News
• Experience Eagan Newsletter
• Burnsville Bulletin
• Focus on Lakeville

City Websites

Your city website is a resource for residents, businesses and the community for information, events and services.

• Apple Valley
• Burnsville
• Eagan
• Lakeville 

Apple Valley Efforts

The City of Apple Valley has made efforts towards and received awards for becoming a more sustainable city. The following are some of these efforts and awards:

• In 2017, Apple Valley City Hall and the Apple Valley Police department established an organics recycling system to send their organic waste to a local composting facility
• The be. (Better Energy) Apple Valley Program
• Participating in the GreenStep Cities Program
• Two Green Globe Certified City buildings: Liquor Store #3 and Hayes Community and Senior Center

Apple Valley Ordinances

The City of Apple Valley has ordinances regarding waste and recycling.  Below is a list of some of the more commonly asked about ordinances from Chapter 50 of the City Code (unless otherwise noted). The City of Apple Valley's Code is electronically hosted online by American Legal Publishing. If you don't see what you're looking for in this list, access all of the City Code by visiting the American Legal Publishing web site.

Apple Valley Waste and Recycling City Ordinances

1) Every residential dwelling and commercial/industrial establishment in the city must be under a contract for the collection of garbage and refuse with a licensed collector. A multiple-dwelling is considered to be under a garbage collection contract if the owner, association or management entity has a contract with a licensed garbage collector. 

1A) Any residential or multiple dwelling and commercial/industrial establishment may be exempt from the requirements provided that a dwelling or commercial/industrial establishment hauls garbage or refuse from its own residence or business property and disposes of such in an environmentally sound manner by meeting the following conditions:
a) Items are hauled in a timely manner so they do not accumulate and become a nuisance;
b) Items are hauled in containers equipped with tight-fitting covers and are also watertight;
c) Items are hauled in a manner that prevents leakage or any loss of cargo; 
d) Items are dumped, disposed or otherwise unloaded only at a designated sanitary landfill, municipal solid waste composting facility, resource recovery facility or other facility authorized by Dakota County; 
e) Recyclables are dumped, disposed or otherwise unloaded only at a recycling facility, an organized recycling collection drive, or through licensed collectors; 
f) Yard waste is privately composted, or is only dumped, disposed or otherwise unloaded at a compost facility or through licensed collectors; and
g) All garbage and refuse is collected, processed and disposed of according to state, county and local laws.  Separate waste disposal methods must be utilized for items including but not limited to auto hulks, large auto parts, used appliances, ash, sludges, household hazardous wastes, tires, lead acid batteries, used oil, yard waste and tree and agricultural wastes.

2) Each licensed refuse, recyclable and yard waste collector shall provide its individual residential collection customers with weekly collection of garbage and other refuse, and yard waste and recyclables.

3) It is unlawful for any garbage, refuse, yard waste or recyclables collector to collect any of those items within any daily residential hauling zone on any day other than as permitted for the zones, except to collect a missed pickup, special pickup or when an observed holiday falls within that week.

4) Occupants of residential dwellings managed by associations or other management entities shall have the same opportunity to recycle as do occupants of other residential dwellings.  It is unlawful for any residential dwelling association or other residential dwelling management entity to negotiate, execute or maintain a contract for residential garbage or other refuse collection unless it includes, as a part of that contract or as a part of a separate contract, weekly collection of recyclables on the same day as its refuse collection.

5) Occupants of a multiple dwelling complex managed by an association or other management entity shall have the same opportunity to recycle as do occupants of other residential dwellings.  It is unlawful for any multiple dwelling association or management entity to negotiate, execute or maintain a contract for collection of garbage or other refuse unless it includes, as a part of the contract or as a part of a separate contract, a minimum of weekly collection of recyclables.

Daily Residential Hauling Zones:

6) A residential area in which garbage, other refuse, recyclables and yard waste are collected on the same day each week and for which the boundaries and day of collection are defined as follows:
a) Monday Residential Hauling Zone - bounded by the following roads: north of 160th Street W., south of the northern city limits, west of eastern city limits, and east of Pilot Knob Road; 
b)Tuesday Residential Hauling Zone - bounded by the following roads: north of 160th Street W., south of County Road 42, west of Pilot Knob Road, and east of the western city limits:
c) Wednesday Residential Hauling Zone - bounded by the following roads: north of County Road 38, south of the 35E and the northern city limits, west of Pilot Knob Road, and east of County Road 11 and the western city limits;
d) Thursday Residential Hauling Zone - bounded by the following roads: north of County Road 42, south of County Road 38, west of Galaxie Avenue, and east of the western city limits; and
e) Friday Residential Hauling Zone - bounded by the following roads: north of County Road 42, south of County Road 38, west of Pilot Knob Road, and east of Galaxie Avenue.

View the Daily Residential Hauling Zones Map (PDF)

7) No individual residential collection of refuse, recyclables or yard waste shall be made, except between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Individual residential collection operations during these hours may also be conducted on Saturdays, to accommodate recognized national holidays or a special pick-up. 

8) A licensed hauler may collect recyclables for individual residential collection customers on a bi-weekly basis provided the licensee complies with the following conditions:
a) The collection of recyclables shall comply with the daily residential hauling zone restrictions;
b) The hauler shall provide single-sort recycling whereby the customer may commingle all recyclables in a single container; and
c) The hauler shall provide a close fitting covered container of not less than 30 gallon capacity and, at a customer's request, the hauler shall provide a larger capacity container at no additional cost.

Storage:

9) Containers from single-family dwellings may be stored in the rear of the premises, may be stored in the side-yard setback if screened from the street and adjoining properties, or may be stored within any structure located on the premises. 

10) For residential and multiple dwellings having individual collection service, during days when collection is scheduled to occur, containers shall be placed at the curb or other location on the property for which collection is provided as agreed by the customer and the hauler.  The container should be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the night preceding collection day.

11) Any accumulation of refuse, recyclables or yard waste on any premises which has remind thereon for more than two weeks is considered a nuisance.

12) In all business, industrial and institutional zoning districts, all waste material, debris, refuse or garbage must be kept in an enclosed building or enclosed within a container.  The container must be completely screened by a wall or an equivalent visual screen.  The screen or enclosed building must be architecturally compatible with the principal building it serves.  (Chapter 155, Section 155.348)

Compost:

13) All compost material must be confined to a container.  Containers, used for the purpose of composting yard and compostable household waste, shall be located in the rear yard between the rear property line and the rear of the main structure and be no closer than five feet to any property line or 20 feet to a side lot line if adjacent to any public street right-of-way. 

Burnsville Efforts

The City of Burnsville has made efforts towards and received awards for becoming a more sustainable city. The following are some of these efforts and awards:

• In 2018, Burnsville City Hall and the Burnsville Police department established an organics recycling system to send their organic waste to a local composting facility
• In 2017, the Burnsville Ames Center became the first performing arts center in the County to recycling organic waste
• On June 15th, 107, Burnsville achieved a Step 5 in the GreenStep Cities Program. GreenStep Cities is a tiered environmental efforts recognition program organized by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• On June 10, 2012, Burnsville officially became a participant in the GreenStep Cities program and immediately achieved a Step 2 designation. 
• In 2011, the City of Burnsville and Emmons & Olivier Resources were finalists for the Minnesota Environmental Initiatives Award in the Sustainable Communities Category.  This recognizes a partnership that demonstrates a commitment to efficient and sustainable community development
• In 2010, Burnsville was nominated as a finalist for the U.S. Conference of Mayors Livability Award. The award recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America's cities, focusing on the leadership, creativity, and innovation demonstrated by the mayors
• A geothermal heating and cooling system was installed in the Burnsville Ice Center in 2010.
• In February of 2009, the Burnsville City Council adopted the Sustainability Guide Plan for the city

Burnsville Ordinances

The City of Burnsville has ordinances regarding waste and recycling. Below is a list of some of the more commonly asked about ordinances. The City of Burnsville's Code is electronically managed by Sterling Codifiers, Inc. If you don't see what you're looking for in this list, access the online site.

Burnsville Waste and Recycling City Ordinances

1) Every household and commercial/industrial establishment in the city must be under a contract for the collection of garbage and refuse with a licensed garbage hauler.  A household in a multidwelling property is considered to be under a garbage collection contract if the owner, association, or management entity has a contract with a licensed garbage hauler.

2) A household or commercial/industrial establishment may be exempt from the requirement to be under a garbage and refuse contract if the household or commercial/industrial establishment hauls garbage or refuse from their own residence or business property and complies with the following standards:
a) Garbage is hauled in a timely manner such that it does not accumulate and become a "nuisance"; 
b) Garbage is hauled in containers equipped with tightfitting covers and which are also watertight on all sides and the bottom;
c) Refuse and recyclables are hauled in a manner that prevents leakage or any possibility of a loss of cargo;
d) Garbage and refuse are only dumped or unloaded at designated sanitary landfills, municipal solid waste composting facility, resource recovery facility or other facilities authorized by Dakota County;
e) Recyclables are only dumped or unloaded at a recycling facility, an organized recycling drive, or through licensed collectors;
f) Yard waste is privately composted, or is only dumped or unloaded at a composting facility authorized by Dakota County, or through a licensed collector.

3) All residents of multiple dwelling properties must have an opportunity to recycle.  Owners, associations, or other management entities of any multiple/residential dwelling properties must provide the opportunity to recycle on the property.  The recycling opportunity must include the collection of all "targeted recyclables" (cans, bottles, paper, etc.).

4) Each licensed collector must provide all of its customers with the opportunity for the weekly collection of mixed municipal solid waste. 

5) Each licensed collector must provide its residential customers, including residents of multi-family dwellings, with an opportunity to recycle through collection of "targeted recyclables" in an adequately sized recycling container at least biweekly. 

Day Specific Residential Hauling Zones:

6) Individual residential collection shall be on the specific day of the week as identified on the day specific hauling map.  Commingled commercial/residential collection is exempt from the day specific hauling map.

View the Day Specific Residential Hauling Zones Map (PDF)

7) No collections of mixed municipal solid waste and/or recyclable materials shall be made except between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in residential use areas or areas adjoining or accross the street from residential use areas. 

Storage: 
(Title 4, Chapter 9, Section 4-8-3-5)

8) All exterior property and premises, and the interior of every structure, shall be free from any excessive accumulation of rubbish or garbage.

9) Every occupant of a structure shall dispose of all rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner by placing such rubbish in approved containers.

10) If allowed in the zoning district where the property is located, all exterior garbage and recycling containers must be screened by opaque screening.

11) Appliances, furniture and similar items must not be left outside for collection and disposal for more than 72 hours before they are collected.

Compost:

12) Every householder or owner, occupant, or tenant of any premises who composts shall do so in an environmentally sound manner and shall meet the following standards:
a) Compostable materials shall be placed within a container of durable material including, but not limited to, wire fencing, rot resistant wood, or brick, or a commercially manufactured container designed for composting.  Containers must be maintained in a sound condition and must be capable of securing all compostable material.
b) Compost containers must be located entirely on the owner's property.  The sturcture shall not be located within the front yard and must not be located wihtin 5 feet of a side or rear lot line, or within 20 feet of a pond, lake, river, swale, or ditch.
c) A compost container shall not exceed 30 square feet in area on lots less than 9000 square feet and must not exceed 50 square feet in area of 9000 feet or more.  Unless the composting structure is a commercial product particularly manufactured for composting purposes, the height of the container and the compostable material stored in the container shall not exceed 5 feet.
d) Compost containers and compostable materials must be maintained so as not to create odors, rodent harborage, or a fire hazard.  Compost must be turned over and mixed within the container in order to keep the material aerated, to minimize odor generation and promote effective decomposition of material whereby it will not create a public nuisance.
e) Only acceptable materials generated from the legal boundaries of the site of the containment shall be allowed into the containment structure.  "Acceptable materials" means plant materials consisting of grass clippings, leaves, weeds, small twigs, evergreen cones and needles, wood chips, herbaceous garden debris and commercial ingredients (mixed into the composting material) specifically designed to speed or enhance decomposition.  Kitchen wastes, such as eggshells, coffee grounds, chopped vegetables, and fruit remains are also acceptable.  
f) None of the following materials shall be placed in the compost container: meat, bones, fat, oil, dairy products, plastic, synthetic fibers, human or pet waste, and diseased plants or plants treated with pesticides. 

Eagan Efforts

The City of Eagan has made efforts towards and received awards for becoming a more sustainable city. The following are some of these efforts and awards:

1. In 2017, Eagan City Hall and the Eagan Police department established an organics recycling system to send their organic waste to a local composting facility 
2. In 2012, the Eagan Community Center established an organics recycling system to send their organic waste to a local composting facility. The facility has reduced its daily trash by 55%, diverting as much as 45,000 pounds of waste annually from the landfill. Because of this, the number of weekly trash pickups has been reduced by 50%. The facility now recycles three pounds of material for every one pound thrown in the dumpster
3. On June 10, 2012, Eagan officially achieved Step 3 in the GreenStep Cities program, a tiered environmental efforts recognition program organized by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
4. On September 6, 2011, the Eagan City Council formally adopted Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guidelines.  The guidelines, within the city's purchasing policy, can be found here
5. The city was a recipient of a $12,266 rebate from MN Energy Resources in 2011.  The rebates resulted from three energy-saving measures taken at the newly remodeled South Water Treatment Plant
6. In 2011, the city was a recipient of $657,000 through the Energy Block Grant program, which was used towards energy efficiency improvements in City facilities
7. Eagan was a recipient of $1.3 million Federal grant used towards the installation of geothermal heating and cooling at the Eagan Civic (Ice) Arena in 2010
8. The new Eagan Fire Safety Center is the first Green Globe Certified fire station in the nation
    

Eagan Ordinances

The City of Eagan has ordinances regarding waste and recycling. Below is a list of some of the more commonly asked about ordinances. The City of Eagan's Code is electronically managed by the independent company Municodes. If you don't see what you're looking for in this list, access all of the City Code by visiting the municodes.com site. 

Eagan Waste and Recycling City Ordinances

Every household in residential and multi-dwelling districts and all commercial establishments shall have garbage and refuse collection.  Such collection must be made by a garbage and refuse hauler that is license with the city, except commercial establishments and households in a residential district need not contract with a licensed hauler when it hauls its garbage and refuse from its own property and complies with the standards defined in section 6.37. (Chapter 10, Section 10.01)

Licensed haulers must make curbside recycling collection available to all single-family and multiple dwelling residences with individual household services.  (Chapter 6, Section 6.37, Subd. 4, A, 3)

Occupants of residential dwelling properties jointly managed by associations or others must have the same opportunity to recycle as occupants of other residential dwelling units.  It is unlawful for any association or other residential dwelling joint management entity to negotiate, execute or maintain a contract for residential garbage or other refuse collection unless it includes weekly collection of recyclables occurring on the same day as their refuse collection. (Chapter 10, Section 10.01)

Single family/multiple dwelling-individual household service hauling licensees shall make weekly collection of separated garbage and other refuse, yard waste and recyclables for all single family/multiple dwelling-individual household service hauling accounts subject to the daily residential hauling district restrictions.  Notwithstanding the weekly collection requirement set forth above, a single family/multiple dwelling-individual household hauler licensee may collect recyclables for single family/multiple dwelling-individual household hauling accounts on a bi-weekly basis provided the licensee complies with the following conditions:
a) The collection of recyclables shall comply with the daily residential hauling district restrictions
b) The hauler shall permit single-sort recycling whereby the customer can commingle all recyclables in a single container, and
c) The hauler shall provide a close fitting covered container of not less than 32 gallon capacity and, at the customer’s request, the hauler shall provide a larger capacity covered container at no additional cost. (Chapter 6, Section 6.37, Subd. 4, A, 4)

Commercial/multiple dwelling-commingled service haulers must, at a minimum, make weekly collections of separated garbage, other refuse and recyclables for all multiple residential dwelling accounts.

Daily Residential Hauling Districts and Schedule:

A residential area in which garbage, other refuse, recyclables and yard waste are collected on the same day, the boundaries and day of collection of which are defined as follow:
a) Monday Residential Hauling District – any area in the city north of Diffley Road and west of Lexington Avenue; 
b) Wednesday Residential Hauling District – any area in the city south of Diffley Road and west of Lexington Avenue; 
c) Friday Residential Hauling District – any area in the city east of Lexington Avenue.  (Chapter 6, Section 6.37, Subd. 1, J)

View the Weekly Garbage and Recycling Hauling Districts Map (PDF)
Garbage haulers are not permitted to operate in a residential district after 8:30 p.m. or before 6:30 a.m. of any day, and no hauler may operate in a residential area on Sunday. (Chapter 6, Section 6.37, Subd. 4, F)

Storage:

It is unlawful for any person to store garbage or refuse on residential dwelling premises for more than one week.  All such storage should be in watertight, metal or plastic containers of not less than five gallons with tightfitting covers; provided that yard waste may be stored in biodegradable bags.  (Chapter 10, Section 10.01, Subd. 2, A)

It is unlawful for any person to store garbage or refuse or recyclables on multiple dwelling premises for more than one week.  Such storage should be in containers as for residential dwelling premises, except that “dumpsters” with close fitting covers may be substituted. (Chapter 10, Section 10.01, Subd. 2, B)

It is unlawful for any person to store garbage or refuse or recyclables on commercial establishment premises for more than one week, or for a shorter period when collection must be made at more frequent intervals to protect the public health or at the direction of the city.  Such storage shall be in containers as for residential dwelling premises, except that dumpsters with closefitting covers may be substituted. (Chapter 10, Section 10.01, Subd. 2, C)

In residential dwelling areas, storage containers for garbage, refuse and recyclables shall be permitted at the curb or other collection point from 6:00 p.m. of the night preceding collection day until 6:00 a.m. on the day after designated collection day.  At all other times, such containers must be stored inside the dwelling unit or garage or at a point behind the front of the dwelling unit or garage. (Chapter 10, Section 10.01, Subd. 2, D)

12) In commercially zoned areas, all trash and recyclables containers must be stored within an enclosure subject to the following standards:
a) The enclosure must have an impermeable floor surface.
b) The enclosure must be attached to the principal building in the limited business (LB), neighborhood business (NB), general business (GB), community shopping center (CSC), and research and development (RD) zoning districts.
c) The enclosure may be detached from the principal building in the residential multiple (R-4), limited industrial (I-1), general industrial (I-2), business park (BP) and public facility (PF) zoning districts.
d)The enclosure shall satisfy principal structures setbacks required for the applicable zoning district.
e) The enclosure shall be constructed of materials to match the exterior of the principal structure, with gates or doors having at least 90 percent opacity.
f) The enclosure shall be of sufficient size to enclose all trash and recyclables containers and shall be not less than six feet and not more than ten feet in height.
g) The above provisions apply in addition to the provisions of Chapter 10 which regulate the storage, deposit, and disposal of refuse on all properties. (Chapter 11, Sec. 11.70, Subd. 21. D.7)

Compost:

13) No composting shall be permitted except in residential dwelling districts and agricultural districts upon compliance with the following:
a) Yard waste must be composted wihtin an enclosure with a minimum of three sides or cirucular, not to exceed a total of 100 cubic feet in volume for the residential lots of 12,000 square feet or less or 150 cubic feet for residential lots with an area of more than 12,000 square feet.  The containers shall be of durable material such as wood, plastic, fiberglass, or metal fencing material; 
b) Only yard waste, sawdust, wood ash, straw, kitchen wastes, whch have been placed initially in the center of the compost pile, and commerically available compost ingredients to accelrate composting may be placed in the compost enclosure;
c) No meat, bones, fat, oils, dairy products, food other than kitchen waste, synthetic fibers, human or ped waste, or diseased plants can be placed in the compost enclosure; 
d) Compost shall be properly maintained to minimize odor generation and to promote effective decomposition of the materials; and
e) The compost enclosure must be located behind the residential dwelling and shall not be within 30 feet of any habitable building, 30 feet of a public right-of-way, and five feet of any property line.  
f) The compost enclosure must be located above the 100-year high water level for the closest adjacent pond.

Lakeville Efforts

The City of Lakeville has made efforts towards and received awards for becoming a more sustainable city. The following are some of these efforts and awards:

1. In 2018, Lakeville City Hall established an organics collection systems to send their organic waste to a composting facility
2. In 2017, Lakeville achieved step 1 of the GreenStep Cities program, a tiered environmental efforts recognition program organized by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
3. In 2007, Lakeville Friends of the Environment was established to partner with the city on environmental initiatives

Lakeville Ordinances

The City of Lakeville has ordinances regarding waste and recycling. Below is a list of some of the more commonly asked about ordinances. 

The City of Lakeville's Code is electronically managed by the independent company. If you don't see what you're looking for in this list, access all of the City Code by visiting the sterlingcodifiers website. 

Lakeville Waste and Recycling City Ordinances

1. Collecting Recyclable Material Required:  It shall be the duty of each licensed mixed municipal solid waste collector to haul away, on the same day as mixed municipal solid waste service, to such places as designated in their license application the targeted recyclable materials from residences with individual curbside mixed municipal solid waste containers within the area in which they are authorized to collect mixed municipal solid waste or recyclable material. Each licensed mixed municipal solid waste or recyclable material collector shall do the same from residences who occupy multiple-family (apartment) dwellings. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a collector from offering residences recyclable collection or other recyclable materials.

2. Necessary City Approval: It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of collecting recyclable material to landfill or incinerate collected recyclable material without approval from the City.

3. Minimum Service: Residential mixed Municipal solid waste and recyclable material collector rates shall include a minimum of three (3) levels of regular service, priced on the basis of volume with a rate structure designed to encourage reduction, reusage, and recycling. The rate structure shall increase with the volume of the waste collected. Residential mixed Municipal solid waste and recyclable material collectors are prohibited from imposing a greater charge on residents who recycle than on residents who do not recycle. (Ord. 686, sec. 1, 6-18-2001)

Storage

1. Containers for mixed Municipal solid waste and recyclable materials shall be kept in rear or side yards.

2. For multiple-family residential, commercial, industrial and institutional uses, the containers shall be screened from neighboring properties and the public right-of-way or shall be kept indoors.

3. The containers shall be accessible at times of collection and if normally stored indoors shall be placed outside at designated collection times.

4. Such mixed Municipal solid waste cans shall not be used for incinerators. No mixed Municipal solid waste shall at any time be burned in any bonfire or other fire, whether in a container or in the open.

Compost

1. Compost structures and firewood neatly stacked shall be considered accessory uses, shall be limited to rear yards and shall be set back ten feet (10') from all property lines, but shall not be subject to limitations applicable to the number of allowed accessory structures or individual area and total area allowed for accessory structures by this section.