Anoka County, MN Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Recycling surcharge
- Barred on residential bills (Sec. 6.11)
- Single-family charge
- $24.02 per dwelling unit (Sec. 4.2.1)
- Mobile home pad
- $19.22 per pad (Sec. 4.2.1)
- Apartment/condo unit
- $15.61 per unit (Sec. 4.2.1)
- Non-residential incentive
- 20% cut for 50%+ recycling (Sec. 3.e)
- Tax-exempt bonus
- Extra 20% cut via resolution (Sec. 2.d)
- Administering agency
- Recycling & Resource Solutions Dept (Sec. 3.1)
Summary
Anoka County bars licensed haulers from charging residential customers more for trash pickup just because they recycle, and gives non-residential and tax-exempt property owners a real discount on the county's separate solid waste management charge if they recycle at least half their waste by weight. The rules sit in two ordinances administered by the Recycling and Resource Solutions Department.
6.11 Charges for Recycling. The Hauler shall not impose a greater charge for the collection of mixed municipal solid waste on residential customers that recycle than on residential customers that do not recycle. ... [Ordinance #2022-4] 4.2.1 A Category I Residences. The solid waste management charge shall be $24.02 for each dwelling unit within single family homes, townhouses, duplexes, double bungalows, triplexes, quad homes, seasonal recreational property, and other residential property with one to three dwelling units. ... 3.e. After other adjustments, if any, the solid waste management charge shall be reduced by 20% if the property owner demonstrates to the County's satisfaction that the owner, occupant, or lessee recycles at least 50% by weight of the solid waste generated on the parcel.
Full Breakdown
11 of the Regional Mixed Municipal Solid Waste Hauler Licensing Ordinance, No. 2018-2, bars a licensed hauler from imposing a greater charge for collecting mixed municipal solid waste on residential customers who recycle than on residential customers who do not, so a homeowner who separates recyclables can't be billed a recycling penalty on the trash side of the bill. That protection sits alongside the county's separate Solid Waste Management Charge Ordinance, No. 2022-4, which funds the Anoka County Recycling and Resource Solutions Department's recycling and waste reduction programs (Secs.
61 per unit in a four-plus-unit apartment or condo building (Sec. 1). e cuts their charge by 20% if they show the county that the owner, occupant, or lessee recycles at least 50% by weight of the solid waste the parcel generates, verified with hauler certification of amounts generated and recycled over the prior 12 months (Sec. iii). Tax-exempt parcels owned by a city, township or school district can add a further 20% reduction, on top of a standard 40% cut, by board resolution filed with the county by July 1 committing to environmentally responsible procurement and a 50% recycling target (Sec.
d). Appeals of any solid waste management charge go through the Recycling and Resource Solutions Department using the county's online or paper appeal form (Exhibit 2, Step 1).
Violations & Fines
A hauler that charges a recycling residential customer more than a non-recycling one violates Section 6.11 and is subject to the Regional Hauler Licensing Ordinance's misdemeanor and license-suspension penalties. On the charge side, a property owner claiming the 50%-recycling reduction who can't back it up with hauler certification of generated and recycled tonnage loses the 20% reduction and owes the full solid waste management charge for the parcel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be charged more if I put out a recycling cart?
Does recycling lower my county solid waste management charge?
How do cities and school districts get a bigger discount?
Who administers these recycling and charge rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anoka County
Compare Anoka County to another location·View the Minnesota trash & recycling overview
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