Recycling

Acceptable Items for Recycling

Place the following items together in your recycling cart, they do not have to be separated:

  • Aseptic packaging (milk cartons, juice boxes, etc.)
  • Cardboard
  • Colored and clear bottles and jars
  • Magazines
  • Newspaper
  • Plastics, Number 1 to 5 and Number 7 (Number 6 not recyclable) 
  • Steel and aluminum cans

Other Items to Recycle

  • Compact Florescent Bulbs (CFLs): River Falls Municipal Utility offers free recycling of all CFLs.
  • Plastic Grocery Bags: Family Fresh and Dicks IGA both offer plastic bag recycling bins between their sets of front doors.
  • Medications: The River Falls Police Department accepts prescription medications. Please remove the medication from bottles and place in a baggie. The following items ARE accepted:
    • Prescription and non-prescription pills
    • Patches
    • Vitamins
    • Ointments
    • Pet Medications
  • The following items ARE NOT accepted:
    • Medications from businesses or clinics
    • Lotions
    • Liquids
    • Sharps
    • Aerosol cans
    • Inhalers
    • Thermometers
    • IV bags
  • The Pierce County Sheriff's Department and the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department also accept prescription medications.
  • Tires: Most places that sell tires will also recycle them; otherwise, they can be brought to spring or fall cleanup for a fee.

Information about recycling cell phones, batteries, eyeglasses, and much more can be found on the St. Croix County Recycling Website.

Rules & Preparation Guidelines

  • Do not use plastic bags, items should be placed in the container "loose". 
  • Large cardboard should be flattened and folded or cut into pieces not larger that 2 by 2 feet in size and placed next to or underneath the recycling bin.
  • All recycling must be placed curbside for collection on the same day as your garbage service.
  • Labels do not need to be removed.
  • Rinse containers to produce less than 5% food debris.
  • Keep caps on bottles, jars, and other containers. 

Non-Recyclable Items

  • Aerosol cans
  • Bathroom wastepaper
  • Ceramics
  • Christmas wrapping paper
  • Dishes
  • Food-contaminated packaging
  • Gasoline containers
  • Hazardous waste containers
  • Mirrors
  • Packaging material
  • Paint cans
  • Paper and plastic cups
  • Plate or window glass
  • Pottery

Note: Food-contaminated packaging is defined as items that cannot be cleaned to 5% food debris, i.e., pizza boxes.