Otter Tail County Challenges Residents to “Resolve to Recycle Right” in 2025

Recycling rejects or Items pulled from recycling bins that are not recyclable. (Otter Tail County)

Otter Tail County, MN – Otter Tail County is encouraging residents to “Resolve to Recycle Right.”

By recycling correctly, residents can ensure that their efforts contribute to cleaner products that become new products like pizza boxes and decking materials. Improper recycling can cause significant issues. Materials, such as foam packaging placed in corrugated cardboard bins, can damage equipment and reduce the value of recyclable items.

Simple Steps to Recycle Right

Know what to recycle: Check Otter Tail County’s recycling guidelines so you’re placing the correct items in recycling bins. Commonly accepted items include clean paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans and plastics #1, #2 and #5.
Avoid contamination: Make sure all recyclable items are mostly free of food. For example, rinse glass jars and bottles and throw away the caps before recycling the container.
Keep plastic bags out of recycling bins: Plastic bags are not recycled and must be opened by recycling staff. Please throw dirty plastic bags in the trash and take clean plastic bags to designated drop-off locations like grocery stores.
When in doubt, throw It out: If you’re unsure whether an item is recyclable, it’s better to place it in the trash to avoid contaminating the recycling stream. Search the Waste Wizard to find out what and where to recycle.

New Year, New Goals

“As we enter 2025, we’re asking residents to make recycling a habit,” said Clancy Oliphant, Public Information and Education Officer at Otter Tail County. “By resolving to recycle right, we can protect our environment, reduce waste, and support recycling products from the county into other usable materials.”

To help residents stay informed, Otter Tail County provides resources such as: