Lakeville, MN Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Section 4-2-6 of the Lakeville City Code, the antiscavenging provision, makes it unlawful for any person or business to scavenge, collect, or otherwise remove recyclable materials after they have been placed or deposited at the curb for collection, unless that person or business holds a City license and has an account relationship with the owner, lessee, or occupant of the premises. The rule protects the revenue and material stream that licensed haulers rely on under their collection licenses issued through Title 3, Chapter 8, and it backs up the antiscavenging goal by stopping third parties from cherry-picking valuable recyclables such as metals or electronics before the licensed hauler arrives.

Nonprofit organizations that collect recyclable material are specifically carved out and do not need a license to do so, which allows charity can and bottle drives or school recycling fundraisers to continue without running afoul of this section. Because the ban is tied to City licensing rather than a blanket prohibition on unlicensed pickup generally, it works together with the mixed municipal solid waste collection license requirement in Section 3-8-2 and the container ownership rules in Section 4-2-5(B), which state that City-supplied recycling containers remain City property and may only be used to store targeted recyclable material. Violating the antiscavenging provision is a misdemeanor under Section 4-2-9.