Recycling can get confusing, and we totally get it—rules change from place to place! Instead of getting frustrated, let’s get the facts straight.
We’re here to clear up what’s changed, what hasn’t, and why Sioux Falls has a strong and successful recycling program that more people should take advantage of.
WHAT HAS STAYED THE SAME?
Sioux Falls has required every home and business to recycle for many years, and that hasn’t changed. Since single-stream recycling began in 2007, the same four core material categories have always been accepted:
- Paper & Cardboard – Office paper, newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes
- Metal Cans – Aluminum, tin, and steel food & beverage cans
- Glass Bottles & Jars – Any color glass bottles and jars
- Plastic Bottles, Tubs & Jugs – Any number plastic, as long as it’s a bottle, tub, or jug
These materials continue to be recycled every day.
WHAT HAS BEEN ADDED?
Over the years, we’ve actually expanded the list of materials we accept:
- Paper Cups – Coffee cups and other paper-based cups
- Cartons – Milk, juice, soup, and other food & beverage cartons
- Pizza Boxes – Yes, as long as they are free of food and grease
Rather than removing items, we’ve increased the number of materials that can be recycled.
WHAT HAS BEEN REMOVED?
The only major change has been the removal of plastic bags from curbside recycling. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t recyclable—it just means they need to be recycled in a different way.
- No recycling facility like ours accepts plastic bags in the bin anymore. This isn’t just in Sioux Falls—no Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in the U.S. can properly sort plastic bags. Instead, they must be taken to store drop-off locations, such as retail and grocery stores.
- Plastic bags clog up sorting equipment. In single-stream recycling, everything moves quickly on conveyor belts. Plastic bags tangle in the machines, forcing us to stop operations so workers can climb in and cut them out.
- Bagged recyclables get thrown out. Recycling machines can’t open plastic bags, and staff can’t manually sort them. Since bags often contain trash, food, or hazardous materials, they are automatically removed—sending everything inside straight to the landfill.
While this may feel like a step backward, it actually improves the recycling system and keeps things running smoothly.
WHAT ELSE HAS CHANGED?
For years, Millennium offered a free public drop-off bin where anyone could bring extra recycling. Unfortunately, it was being misused.
- People dumped trash, furniture, and non-recyclable items.
- We had to pay to haul away garbage we weren’t supposed to take.
- We’re a private company, not a government service, and we can’t afford to cover these costs.
Because of this, we made the tough decision to close the public drop-off bin. Recycling is still required in Sioux Falls, and residents can continue using their curbside bins or take cardboard and single-stream materials to the landfill drop-off for free.
SIOUX FALLS VS. OTHER CITIES: HOW DO WE COMPARE?
Many assume that bigger cities recycle more, but Sioux Falls accepts just as much—if not more—than many large cities:
- Most large cities accept the same main materials as Sioux Falls. If you find one that accepts something we don’t, let us know! We’ll reach out to see how they handle those items and whether we can add them.
- Omaha, NE & Nashville, TN – Do not accept glass in curbside bins (we do!); residents must take it to drop-off sites.
- Portland, OR & Minneapolis, MN – Do not accept coffee cups or soiled pizza boxes in their bins (we do!).
- Most communities do not accept shredded paper in curbside recycling (we do!). You can bag shredded paper in a clear plastic bag and recycle it curbside—this is the only exception to our no-bag rule.
WHERE DOES SIOUX FALLS’ RECYCLING GO?
Recycling doesn’t go to a landfill or overseas—it stays in the region, supporting local businesses and manufacturers:
- Paper & Cardboard → Sent to mills that turn it into new paper products in the Midwest
- Metal Cans → Recycled into new cans and metal goods
- Glass Bottles & Jars → Used to make new bottles or even materials for road construction
- Plastic Bottles, Tubs & Jugs → Turned into new plastic containers, outdoor furniture, and other useful products
These materials stay in the economy, creating jobs and reducing waste.
WHY RECYCLING MATTERS FOR SIOUX FALLS
Recycling isn’t just about helping the environment—it’s good for business, too:
- Supports jobs – The recycling and manufacturing industries create thousands of jobs.
- Saves taxpayer money and land – The more we recycle, the longer our landfill lasts. Expanding a landfill costs millions of dollars and is not the best use of one of South Dakota’s most valuable resources: land.
- Supplies manufacturers – Many American companies rely on recycled materials to make new products. In fact, recycling provides over 40% of the raw materials used in U.S. manufacturing.
The more people recycle, the stronger our economy becomes.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
✔ Keep Recycling! The more people who participate, the better the system works.
✔ Encourage Businesses! If a store, restaurant, or public venue isn’t recycling, ask why.
✔ Recycle the Right Way! Stick to the accepted categories and never put plastic bags (except for shredded paper in clear bags) in your bin.
Need a refresher? Check out the full list of accepted materials.
FINAL THOUGHT: SIOUX FALLS HAS A STRONG PROGRAM—NOW WE JUST NEED MORE PEOPLE TO USE IT!
Sioux Falls has a stable, effective, and efficient recycling program that keeps millions of pounds of material out of the landfill every year.
The only thing missing? More people using it.
If everyone in Sioux Falls recycled the right way, we could keep even more materials in use, create more jobs, and reduce waste even further.
Recycling works when we all do our part—let’s keep Sioux Falls recycling strong!
