Historical Highlights
2005
- News & Events: Citywide Employee Graffiti Cleanup
2004
- January – Solid waste base fee is $22.25 per unit/month, recycling credit $7/unit/month, large cart disposal fee $4/cart/month, and small cart disposal fee $2/cart/month. Council Action: 12-15-03
- January – City Council Received and filed update on implementation of ordinance to provide service with respect to Townhouse Solid Waste Ordinance.
- April – City Council gave approval to enter into a contract with BFI for the processing and marketing of City recyclables. Council Action: 04-02-05
- July – Continue to have Waste Management, Inc. provide management services at the South Transfer Station on a month-to-month basis, under the terms of the existing contract, until 60 days notice is provided to Waste Management that the contract will end. Council Action: 07-02-04
- July – Amended Yard Waste Contract with City of Hutchinson to July 31, 2008, to comply with City Charter provisions. Council Action: 07-02-04
- July Proper City officers be directed to continue negotiations for the sale of the City of Minneapolis South Transfer Station, located 2850 20 th Ave S, with the Green Institute for the purpose of a proposed combined heat and power bio-mass plant. Council Action: 07-23-04
- News & Events: Solid Waste & Recycling found to have the highest rating of customer satisfaction with garbage collection and recycling service.
- News & Events: "Minneapolis’ Recycling Program Blazes a Trail Through the Marketplace," Feature story in MSW (Municipal Solid Waste Journal).
2003
- May – City Council gave approval to enter into contract with City of Hutchinson for composting/disposal of fall-street collected leaves & seasonal yard wastes, 5/03 through 12/07. Council Action: 05-02-03
- July – City Council gave approval to extended exiting contract with Waste Management, Inc. for the operation of the South Transfer Station for an additional six months to complete the strategic analysis of the facility. Council Action: 07-11-03
- October – Approval for Organic Collections from School Programs: Pilot program with Hennepin County to collect and compost materials from City Schools. Council Action: 10-24-03
- December – Recommends extend to existing contract with BFO Waste System for 4 months to process and market recyclables collected in the City’s recycling program. Council Action: 12-29-03
2002
- January – Solid waste base fee is $21.50 per unit/month, recycling credit $7/unit/month, large cart disposal fee $4/cart/month, and small cart disposal fee $2/cart/month. Council Action: 12-13-01
- April – Increase existing contract with NRG for leaf processing. Council Action: 04-05-02
- April – Extend existing contract with BFI for processing recyclables collected through 12-31-03. Council Action: 04-05-02
- April – Approval to issue RFP seeking proposals for replacement of the Solid Waste Division’s Information Systems. Council Action: 4-19-02
- June – Approval to negotiate and execute contract with Internet Exposure Inc. for consulting services to develop a Solid Waste Information System. Council Action: 06-07-02
- October – Authorize increase contract with NRG for an existing contract for yard waste and leaf processing through the remainder of the 2002 season. Council Action: 10-25-02
- October – Extend contract with Waste Management, Inc., for operation of the South Transfer Station until August 1, 2003. Council Action: 10-25-02
2001
- January – Solid waste base fee is $20.75 per unit/month, recycling credit $7/unit/month, large cart disposal fee $4/cart/month, and small cart disposal fee $2/cart/month. Council Action: 12-14-00
- April – Council approved extension of Yard Waste contract until 7-31-01 with NRG.
- April – Council approved a 2001 Litter Clean Up contract with Hennepin County Sentence to Service crews. Graffiti was not included in this contract.
- June – Council directed 281 litter containers to be placed and serviced 1.5 times per week, in the business/commercial area. 720 litter containers be serviced 2.5 times per week at bus shelters.
- June – Housing Ordinance changed to include Solid Waste Collection Point Cleanup frequency in determination of property rental dwelling license renewal.
- September – Extended Yard Waste contract with NRG until 11-30-01
- November – Council approved garbage carts and recycling bins to be cleared of snow prior to the next collection day, or within 48 hours after a snow event, whichever is later.
- December – Council approved another five-year contract with Minneapolis Refuse Inc., commencing on January 1, 2002, for residential garbage, recycling, yard waste and problem materials collection service.
- December – Council approved a 2002 Litter Clean Up contract with Hennepin County for Sentence to Service crews to provide litter pick-up.
2000
- January – Solid waste base fee is $19 per unit/month, recycling credit $7/unit/month, large cart disposal fee $4/cart/month, and small cart disposal fee $2/cart/month. Council Action: 12-14-99
- March – Council approved a contract with Hennepin County for Sentence to Service litter crew, for the City's 2000 Clean City Program.
- March – Council approved dirty collection point fee be established at $180/hr ($50 minimum) for the first required cleanup and $50 increments for each subsequent cleanup.
- March – Council approved that all municipal facilities be charged for solid waste management services effective 1-1-01.
- May – Solid waste base fee is $20 per unit/month, the charge for disposal of waste for multiple carts at $4.00 per cart, per month. Council Action on March 24, 2000
- July – Council approved new ordinance making it unlawful to possess graffiti materials, and making a parent or guardian of a person under the age of 18 liable for penalty.
- December – Council approved contract with Hennepin County (HERC) Effective 1-1-01 for the disposal of residential solid waste at tipping fee of $39 per ton thru 12-31-05
- December – Council approved ordinance-amending Title 11, Chapter 225. adding townhouses as a residential buildings.
1999
- January – Solid waste base fee is $19.00 per unit/month, recycling credit $7/unit/month, large cart disposal fee $4/cart/month, and small cart disposal fee $2/cart/month. Council Action: 12-11-98
- January – Contract with Hennepin County to provide Sentenced-To-Service crews to assist with 1999 Clean City Program.
- April – Contract extension with BFI Recycling of Minnesota Inc., for processing and marketing of recyclables collected in the City's recycling program.
- July – Contract with Waste Management of Minnesota, Inc. to operate the North and South Transfer Stations, including the City's voucher program for a three-year period with two one-year options.
1998
- December – Council amended Title 11, Chapter 225 - Noise Ordinance Title 15, Chapter 389 - Prohibits collection of garbage, recycling etc., between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- December – Contract with Hennepin County to provide Sentenced-To-Service crews to perform various work for Clean City activities in 1998.
1997
- January – Christmas trees now collected with the garbage. Residents who want their tree composted are asked to keep their Christmas tree in their backyard until yard waste collection begins in April.
- March – Council approved another five-year contract with Minneapolis Refuse Inc., commencing on January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2002, for residential garbage, recycling, yard waste and problem materials collection service.
- July – Council approved resolution that the City establish special garbage collection crews to remove debris created from flooding.
- August – Council approved contract with Hennepin Transfer Inc. to operate South Transfer Station until December 31, 1998.
- November – TVs, computers and computer monitors are now collected separate from the garbage. These items are delivered to Hennepin County for processing. Recycling collection of milk cartons and drink boxes ends due to lack of markets and the small volumes collected.
- December – Council approved Ordinance change Tile 11, Chapter 225 Prohibits placement of carts and bins, in a manner that blocks right-of-ways or garage access points.
1996
- March – Boxboard, mail, and office paper added to recycling collection. Because of poor markets, recycling collection is ended for plastic food jars, tubs and single-use microwave containers.
1995
- January – Variable Rate fees take effect. Residents pay a solid waste base fee plus a disposal fee based on the size and number of garbage carts registered at the property.
- Solid waste base fee $19 per unit/month, recycling credit $7/unit/month, large cart disposal fee $4/cart/month, and small cart disposal fee $2/cart/month. Before the end of the year, over 3800 customers switch to the new, small cart.
1994
- January – Phone books, milk/juice and drink boxes, added to recycling collection.
- Christmas tree collection reduced to a single week in January.
- City signs disposal contract with Hennepin County; garbage tipping fee reduced to $60/ton. Hennepin County adds a 9% Hennepin County Environmental Fee on solid waste bills.
1993
- January – Solid waste fee $21. Recycling credit $7.
- Vouchers available for residents to drop-off up to 2000 pounds of building and paving materials at no additional charge.
- February – Magazines added to recycling collection.
- June – Minneapolis cedar frame composter project begins. Over 250 composters built and delivered in during the summer.
1991
- January – Christmas trees collected for composting during a two-week period.
- July – Plastic jars, tubs and single-use microwave containers added to plastics collected for recycling.
1990
- January – Garbage tipping fees $95/ton. Solid waste fee raised to $17.50, and the recycling credit raised to $7.
- April – Three test projects begin collecting plastics for recycling.
- July – Collection of major appliances and large metal items for recycling begins.
- October – Household batteries added to materials collected with the recyclables. Drop-off locations also provided at fire stations and park board buildings.
- November – Plastic bottles are added to Citywide recycling collection.
1989
- January – Garbage tipping fee $42/ton. Solid waste fee $7.
- May – Recycling simplified: collection is now biweekly on the same day as garbage pickup. Residents no longer need to separate glass by color.
- June – City crews and Minneapolis Refuse, Inc. assume residential recycling collections. Garbage tipping fee $75/ton. Solid waste fee raised to $12/month/unit.
- A recycling discount of $5/month/unit is added to the utility bill. The recycling credit appears on utility bills only for buildings that are registered for recycling credit and participating in the Minneapolis recycling program.
- November – Recycling container placement begins.
1988
- January – Garbage tipping fee $38/ton. Solid waste fee of $5/month/unit added to utility bill.
- October – Separate collection of yard waste for composting begins. Resident participation is voluntary.
1987
- October – Recycling collection frequency increased to twice a month.
1986
- May – Motor oil and auto battery collection discontinued. City operated drop-off centers for motor oil are provided.
1983
- November – Citywide monthly recycling collection begins. Private contractors are utilized for collection. Materials collected include newspaper, food and beverage cans, glass bottles and jars, cardboard, used motor oil and auto batteries.
1982
June – Curbside recycling test project begins with 32,000 households.
Last updated Nov. 20, 2012