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For along time now I have thought that Sioux Falls was falling really behind in recycling efforts compared to other parts of the country.  There are city mandates that say we must recycle paper, plastic and aluminum.  However, this is rarely enforced.

The reason Sioux Falls gets a bad rep for recycling is because it is just so dam hard to do it.  Even the large waste management companies that service Sioux Falls often times fail to provide the appropriate receptacles for recyclables.

Most restaurants just throw all their glass bottles into the trash because that is the only place they have to put them.  Restaurants only have 2 bins, one for trash and the other for cardboard.  Just imagine how much glass a busy restaurant or bar throws away in 1 day of service, it’s crazy. 

The City of Sioux Falls has really bad information about how you can recycle more, only information about what the City wants you to recycle.  The commercial waste management companies probably prefer not to deal with multiple containers for recycling because it would increase their costs, and ours. 

In some parts of the country people even have to recycle their food scraps.

The City of Sioux Falls has realized its shortcomings in the area of recycling.  The City has recently sponsored a new initiative called The Sioux Falls Green Project. They have a very helpful web site for anyone wanting to learn more about how to recycle in Sioux Falls. 

Here are the residential recycling requirements for Sioux Falls

These are general guidelines. Please contact your garbage/recycling hauler for additional requirements they may have.

These materials must be left out of your regular garbage and placed into separate recycling containers (your garbage hauler will pick up these items at least once a month):

• Newspapers (including inserts) and magazines 
• Office paper, computer paper, and bulk mail 
• Plastics (#1 & #2), tin cans, steel cans, and aluminum cans (together in one container)
• Corrugated cardboard (look for wavy corrugations between layers)

Preparing Recyclables

• Recyclables must be clean (rinsed out).
• Remove lids from bottles (labels are okay).
• Newspapers must be kept dry.
• Pinch the tops of food cans or flatten so other cans or items can’t get inside.
• Items that may be recycled (but are not included on this list) may be taken to a recycling facility.
• When recycling corrugated cardboard boxes, remove packing material. Flatten cardboard boxes. Cardboard must be clean. Throw away paper board boxes such as juice boxes, milk cartons, egg cartons, cereal, cake mix, tissue, and shoe boxes. Throw away wax-coated boxes, soda and beer cartons, and pizza boxes.

Yard Waste

• You must use paper yard waste bags or weather-proof containers.

• Yard waste bags need a sticker (call your hauler).

• Grass and leaves cannot be mixed with other waste (keep apart from sticks and branches).

• Yard waste bags and containers should remain house-side, clearly visible to the hauler from the street.

• Tree branches will be picked up on your garbage day and should be in four-foot bundles or shorter. For larger branches, consult your hauler.