Now open! Northern Yard Waste Site

The Washington County Northern Yard Waste Site is open year-round, with limited hours during the winter. Leaves, grass, brush, and tree waste are accepted from residents at no charge. Food scraps are also accepted, but must be kept separate from yard waste. 

Learn more

American Recycles Day

On America Recycles Day, Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron and other Minnesota recycling leaders wrote an opinion piece for the Star Tribune offering some great tips on how to support recycling in our community. 

Read the article 

We Want to Hear from You

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy is seeking input from residents to help guide the development of a new program, and we'd love your feedback. The survey will close on December 31. 

Take a short survey

Holiday Tree Drop-off Locations

When the holiday season is over, recycle trees by dropping them off at one of the available locations in Washington County. Tree stands, plastic bags, tinsel, wire, lights, and all other decorations must be removed.

Find a drop-off location

Holiday Recycling Guide 

Batteries can contain toxic metals and pose a threat if improperly disposed. All types of batteries, including rechargeable, button, and alkaline batteries, are accepted at the Environmental Center for safe handling and recycling.

Boxes, such as cardboard boxes and gift boxes, can be placed in your recycling cart. Boxes must be emptied and flattened. Boxes are also accepted at the Environmental Center for recycling. 

Cards that have glitter or foil, or cards printed on photo paper, cannot be recycled. Any cards that make sounds or light up have a battery that should be removed and recycled – batteries are accepted at the Environmental Center. 

Gift wrap does not belong in your recycling cart, unless it is plain (no glitter, foil, bows, or ribbon) and flattened. Get creative with alternatives to wrapping paper, such as gift bags, cloth wrapping, and reusable boxes. 

String lights and cords do not belong in your recycling cart because they get tangled in the equipment at recycling sorting facilities. They are accepted for recycling at the Environmental Center.

Changes to Your Trash Bill

All residential trash in Washington County is delivered to the Recycling & Energy Center (R&E Center) in Newport, where it is processed to recover valuable materials (such as recyclable metals) and produce a fuel used to generate electricity. By processing waste at the R&E Center instead of landfilling it, Ramsey and Washington counties are among the leaders in the state in responsible waste management.

In 2020, the R&E Center will be ending a subsidy and adjusting its rates. For an average household, which produces about a ton of garbage per year, the cost increase may be about $1.00-1.25 per month in 2020. If your bill is increasing by more than $1.25 per month, other factors may be affecting the hauler rate.

Learn more