Sioux Falls Sustainability

Not sure what to do with your waste? The City has a disposal guide online that lists how to dispose of hundreds of items. Find out if what you have goes to recycling, household hazardous waste facility, or garbage.

Disposal Guide What belongs in your home garbage — and what doesn't? This extensive list tells you where to take common household items.

Finding yourself frequently throwing away expired food? Awkwardly face-to-face with that untouched impulse purchase in the pantry? Here are some tips to avoid food waste when shopping. waste

Do you need some help with recycling? City of Sioux Falls Environmental staff are available to provide education and training to your group or at your apartment complex or business. Give us a call at (605) 367-8280 to schedule a visit!

Attention students! Friends of the Big Sioux River has a great internship opportunity for this summer. Details below.

📣 We Are Hiring! 📣

Friends of the Big Sioux River is currently accepting applications for our Summer 2024 Water Testing and Events Intern. Learn more and apply at fbsr.org/employment.

If you know a current college student or recent graduate who may be interested in applying, please share this one-of-a-kind conservation internship opportunity with them today! Applications are due Friday, March 8, 2024.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Check out Millennium Recycling’s Valentine’s Day Recycling Guide to see what can be recycled and what can’t be.

Millennium Recycling Valentine’s Day Recycling Guide Serving Sioux Falls and the upper Midwest since 1999, we recycle a wide variety of materials from residential and commercial generators. Our goal is to continue driving the recycling rate up through education and innovation!

Did you know that recycling ONE aluminum can save enough energy to power a TV for two hours? While that’s not long enough to watch the entire Super Bowl game, it sure helps. Plus, aluminum can be recycled endlessly with no decrease in quality. Make sure to toss your empty aluminum cans into a recycling bin while you watch the game today!

Each Valentine’s Day over one billion cards are given, which are often laminated in plastic, covered in glitter, or otherwise made to be unrecyclable. Here are a few sustainable gift swaps to celebrate your loved ones.

Have you seen what happens to your recyclables once they leave your home? Check out this video from Millennium Recycling to see the process in action.

Millennium Recycling How Does Mixed Recycling Work Serving Sioux Falls and the upper Midwest since 1999, we recycle a wide variety of materials from residential and commercial generators. Our goal is to continue driving the recycling rate up through education and innovation!

Your recycling efforts matter in Sioux Falls! Recycle the materials show here. They are sent to downstream processors to become new things. www.siouxfalls.gov/recycle

As you’re recycling at home and at work, remember to place recyclables loosely in the cart or dumpster. More info on recycling at siouxfalls.gov/recycle

Conserving energy in your home helps save you money. Here are a few simple tips on how to do conserve energy this winter.

Not only can glass bottles and jars be recycled, but they can be recycled endlessly without any loss in quality. How cool is that! Check out Millennium Recycling’s guide to glass to learn more and see what can and can’t be placed in the bin.

Millennium Recycling What Types of Glass Can Be Recycled? Serving Sioux Falls and the upper Midwest since 1999, we recycle a wide variety of materials from residential and commercial generators. Our goal is to continue driving the recycling rate up through education and innovation!

Your efforts matter. The recyclables get sent to processors who use the material to make new goods.

Remember, don’t bag recycling. And then recycle only the categories shown here.

More info at: siouxfalls.gov/recycle

In addition to reducing, reusing, and recycling, repairing and upcycling are important too. Repairing and upcycling can drastically extend the life and purpose of an object that would otherwise be thrown out, which conserves resources.

Plastic bags don't go in the recycle bin. Try using them up in other ways such as lining garbage cans, cleaning up on your dog’s walk, or taking them to a department store to recycle. Better yet, bring reuseable bags to the store to avoid the plastic altogether.

The City's Solid Waste Planning Board has a vacancy for a citizen representative position. If you are wanting to get involved in local government on a citizen board, this is a great opportunity! Qualifications are being a resident of Sioux Falls with no financial interest in the garbage/recycling industry, and having an interest in solid waste and recycling. Questions? Email [email protected]. More information and applications here:

Solid Waste Planning Board + Review the current waste stream of the users of the Sioux Falls landfill and investigate how the waste stream may vary in the future and analyze how current and future recycling efforts may impact on the waste stream.

Did you know that the average American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water inside their home every single day? Water takes a lot of energy to clean and distribute to your home, so the less you use, the more energy and money you save. Here are some easy tips to conserve water in your daily life. https://bit.ly/48hSKq5

How to Save Water at Home: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Tips Save water around the house with these 15 tips.

Kick off the New Year sustainably by keeping your hot drinks in a reusable coffee mug. Reduce waste, save money, and stay warm.

Let’s make 2024 the year we recycle more and recycle right. Remember, do not bag recyclables. Those materials are sent to the landfill, putting your efforts to recycle to waste.

More info at siouxfalls.gov/recycle

The holiday season can leave your house a bit cluttered and unorganized. Here’s a guide to clean up your space while being environmentally friendly!

Great tips on post-holiday recycling. The annual drop-off sites for real trees, wreaths, and garland are open! 9 am – 5 pm through Jan. 7 at these sites:
• West of the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1015 E. Chambers St., just off North Cliff Avenue.
• North Lyon Boulevard, west of the fairgrounds. Access is available from West 12th Street to North Lyon Boulevard or from West Madison Street to North Lyon Boulevard.

From tree disposal to gift wrap recycling, here's your post-holiday guide - Pigeon605 Ready to think about disposing the tree, the gift wrap or even old lights and other decor? The city of Sioux Falls put together some holiday season cleanup tips.

Friendly reminder to keep plastic bags out of the recycling bin. Hold on to them for other purposes or place them in the trash. Even better, remember those reusable bags when grocery shopping to avoid plastic bags from the get-go.

When you take down your string lights for the end of the holiday season, they do not belong in the recycling bin. Store them for next year or, if they’re at the end of their life, bring them to the household hazardous waste facility for recycling.

Hazardous Waste and Electronics Hazardous waste, medicines, and electronics need special handling. See what qualifies as hazardous waste and find regulations — most are accepted free of charge.

Recycle your Christmas trees! Real trees can be brought to the city drop-off sites Dec. 26 – Jan. 7 @ 1015 E. Chambers Street or 100 North Lyon Boulevard. Fake trees can be donated, stored for next year, or sent to the landfill.

Not sure about if something is recyclable or not? When in doubt, throw it out--in the trash. "Wish-cycling" can contaminate recycling and cause more harm than good. If the material isn't metal cans, glass bottles and jars, paper, cardboard, or plastic tubs, jugs, or bottles, it belongs in the garbage. More info at siouxfalls.gov/recycle

Did you know that during the holidays, we increase our waste by more than 25%? Check out Millennium Recycling’s guide on holiday waste to find out what’s recyclable and what’s not.

Millennium Recycling Holiday Waste Guide Serving Sioux Falls and the upper Midwest since 1999, we recycle a wide variety of materials from residential and commercial generators. Our goal is to continue driving the recycling rate up through education and innovation!

Careful not to throw all of your gift wrap in the recycling or trash before checking where it goes! Here’s a quick guide to recycling gift wrap.

As you’re recycling this holiday season, remember to keep all recyclables loose in the bin or dumpster. Any bagged recyclables are sent to the landfill. Don’t let your hard work go to waste!
More info at siouxfalls.gov/recycle

Want to get your loved ones something meaningful for the holidays while also avoiding so much stuff? Here are some ideas for gifts based more on experience than stuff.

See you tomorrow at the Big Sioux River & Sustainability Summit. 7:45 am at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Join us to learn about the water and sustainability work happening in our region. Free to the public and snacks provided! More info at https://bit.ly/3G0q48A