New gift recycling rules, tips for Minnesotans this holiday season

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Hoping to reduce packaging waste that ends up in Minnesota’s landfills, leaders with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) are highlighting a new program that aims to make all packaging "refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable" by 2032.

Reducing waste

What we know: During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that household waste in America increases by 25%.

However, questions about product packaging and recycling are common during the holidays, leaving people to navigate how to properly dispose of wrapping materials and packaging.

What they’re saying: The new state program is designed to "simplify the recycling process" while making shopping decisions easier.

State leaders are expected to share tips that reduce the amount of packaging waste going to landfills.

Crushing containers

Dig deeper: In an effort to increase recycling efficiency, trash haulers in the Twin Cities previously have warned residents of the proper way to dispose containers before recycling them, saying crushing or flattening containers can make it difficult for workers using modern equipment to make sure the recycled item ends up in the right spot.

Increased investment

By the numbers: In December 2024, the MPCA announced it would provide $5.3 million across 11 grant recipients for projects that support recycling in Minnesota.

Grant recipients include:

• Cosmic Recycling – $850,000
• GypCycle – $850,000
• LEI Packaging – $850,000
• Polk County – $850,000
• True North Goodwill Industries – $350,000
• Prime Extrusion – $200,000
• FoamCraft Packaging – $149,519
• Slagle’s Demolition Landfill and Rolloff – $131,607
• Employment Enterprises – $119,579
• Atlas Games – $99,359

The Minnesota Legislature has dedicated $800,000 each biennium since 2019 to support MPCA’s grant-funded initiatives.

As a result of the 2023 legislative session surplus, the MPCA recycling market development program received an additional one-time funding increase for the 2024 round of grants.