Minneapolis residents whose recycling carts were removed due to contamination can now recover them through a new educational program offered by the city's Division of Solid Waste and Recycling.

The class, taught by division instructor Angelo, covers proper recycling practices and the sorting process at Eureka Recycling facility. Participants must achieve a minimum score of 14 out of 20 on a quiz to demonstrate their understanding and qualify for cart return.

The program addresses Minneapolis' contamination rate, which reached just below 12% in 2023, up from 9.12% in 2022 but still below the national average of over 15%. The city's recycling carts are removed after residents receive multiple contamination tags within a six-month period.

Residents can recover their carts through three options: paying a $15 fee for immediate return, waiting three months to request return, or completing the recycling education class and quiz. The educational approach aims to reduce future contamination while helping residents understand the complex sorting process at the material recovery facility.

The class emphasizes key recycling rules including accepting only plastics numbered 1, 2, and 5, avoiding plastic bags in carts, and ensuring items are larger than 3 inches to prevent interference with sorting equipment. Angelo noted that 95% of Minneapolis recycling stays in the Midwest, supporting over 77,000 jobs statewide according to NPCA estimates.