Healthy Rural Living
Use this resource for information and advice on recycling, waste reduction and conservation practices in Dakota County.
Take care of your septic system
Your septic system is part of your home, and care for the system is your responsibility. Here’s how to protect your investment and the environment.
• Have a professional pump and check your septic tank every three years.
• Don’t pour fats, grease, chemicals or additives down the drain or toilet.
• Fix leaks and use water efficiently. Too much water use can overload a system.
• Don’t flush wipes even if the package says they are flushable.
For more information, contact your city or township’s septic inspector:
• Apple Valley: Midwest Sewer Services, 651-492-7550
• Burnsville, Castle Rock Township, Coates, Eagan, Empire, Eureka Township, Hampton, Marshan Township, Mendota Heights, Miesville, Nininger Township, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, Vermillion, or West St. Paul: Inspectron, 651-322-6626
• Douglas Township: MNSpect, 651-442-7520
• Farmington: 651-280-2600
• Greenvale Township, Hampton Township, Lakeville, or Vermillion Township: Mark Ceminsky, 612-819-6626
• Hastings, New Trier, Randolph, Randolph Township, or
Waterford Township: Dakota County, 952-891-7008
• Inver Grove Heights: 651-450-2577
• Northfield: 507-645-3004
• Ravenna Township: Rum River Consultants, 763-331-7722
• Rosemount: 651-322-4411
• Sciota Township: Sheldon Volkert, 507-581-2224
Recycle right
Recycling saves energy, protects natural resources and supports the economy. Put recyclables loose in your home recycling cart. Do not use plastic bags. Before recycling, make sure bottles, jars, and containers are empty and dry. They don’t have to be perfect — just free of most residue like food and liquids. Remember to leave caps on containers and flatten boxes.
Recycle these items:
Paper
• Newspaper and inserts
• Magazines and catalogs
• Mail and office papers
Cardboard
• Corrugated cardboard
• Paperboard (e.g., cracker boxes)
Cartons
• Milk and juice cartons
Metal cans
Aluminum, tin and steel cans
Glass bottles & jars
• Soup, broth and wine cartons
• Juice boxes
Plastic bottles, containers & jugs
• Containers numbered 1, 2 or 5
• Soda, juice and water bottles
• Milk and juice jugs
• Margarine, cottage cheese and other tubs and lids
• Laundry detergent bottles and jugs
• Clear berry and produce containers
Keep these OUT of the recycling:
If you’re wondering about the disposal of a specific item, use the Recycling Guide at www.dakotacounty.us search recycling guide
The The
Take what can’t go into your curbside carts to The Recycling Zone in Eagan. The Recycling Zone accepts paints, household electronics, pesticides and more. There is a $10 fee for TV and computer monitors and a fee for tires based on size. Before your visit, review the drop-off guidelines and email recyclingzone@co.dakota.mn.us with questions about unknown chemicals or large quantities of household hazardous wastes.
3365 Dodd Road, Eagan Hours — open weekly:
• Wednesday 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Thursday noon–8 p.m.
The
• Friday....................... 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
For the full list of accepted items, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search recycling zone.
Before your visit, review the drop-off guidelines and email recyclingzone@co.dakota.mn.us with questions about unknown chemicals or large quantities of household hazardous wastes.
Proposed second drop-off facility
Dakota County purchased land in Lakeville and anticipates building a second household hazardous waste and recycling drop-off facility with a goal to open in 2026. The Recycling Zone Plus, a partnership with Scott County, will provide services to residents in both counties.
The Recycling Zone in Eagan, operating for more than 20 years, has reached capacity. Resident participation has increased by 33 percent in the last 10 years. Adding a second facility will increase access for many residents and offer more services.
Dakota County is securing additional state funds before starting construction on the new facility. The Recycling Zone in Eagan will remain open after the new facility is operational.
Troubled tires
Storing unwanted tires incorrectly can lead to environmental issues like tire fires and mosquito breeding habitats. Tire fires release toxic air pollutants and contaminate the ground and water. It is illegal to burn tires or put them in your trash or recycling cart. Here’s how to properly recycle old tires:
Drop-Off
Call ahead for fees and hours.
• The Recycling Zone 3365 Dodd Rd., Eagan 952-891-7800
• Certified Recycling 14305 Ewing Ave., Burnsville 952-894-1448
• Recycle Minnesota 8812 215th St. W., Lakeville 952-469-9806
• J.R.’s Advanced Recyclers 10619 Briggs Dr., Inver Grove Heights 651-454-9215
• Lloyd’s Construction Service 4180 160th St. E., Rosemount 952-746-5832
• Tire retail stores
Pick-Up
-Call for fees.
For more information about recycling tires or other things, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search recycling guide.
Pesticide and herbicide disposal
Burning or burying pesticides and other chemicals is illegal because they pollute our air, water and land. The Minnesota Waste Pesticide Collection Program enables residents to safely dispose of unwanted pesticides and herbicides.
• Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, 651-645-9149
• Junk Genius, 612-444-5865
• The Junkluggers 763-200-6711
• 1-800-Got-Junk, 1-800-468-5865
• Ask your hauler if they provide special collection options
Farmers and rural businesses can get free disposal for up to 300 pounds of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and avicides at The Recycling Zone in Eagan. Complete the VSQG Program Application and staff will contact you to schedule an appointment. To find the VSQG application, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search VSQG. For questions, email vsqg@co.dakota.mn.us.
Bring your broken items to a
Fix-It Clinic for free repair help
Dakota County residents can get help repairing household items, clothes, electronics and more at a Fix-It Clinic. These monthly events keep items out of landfills and help people to repair things on their own.
Helpful volunteers will guide you through each step, from troubleshooting to completed repair. Bring up to three items that need fixing or mending such as lamps, vacuum cleaners and clothes. You must be able to carry items into the clinic, so no overly large items.
Easy
steps to composting at home
Composting at home is a great way to cut the amount of food you throw away, and it is easier than you think.
Start composting right in your backyard with three easy steps:
1 Make or buy a compost bin
2 Add yard waste (grass clippings and leaves) and food scraps (fruit and vegetable scraps)
3 Occasionally mix it up with a shovel or pitchfork
Microbes will break down food scraps, grass clippings and
The events are free, and you do not need to register to participate. For future dates and more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search fix-it clinic.
leaves into a soil-like material called compost. Compost is rich in plant food, holds more water than regular soil, and lessens the need for fertilizers and weed killers. Using finished compost can improve your soil health.
For more tips and details on composting, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search composting at home.
Burning trash is illegal
including cardboard boxes and treated wood. Violators can face fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.
What can you do to manage your waste properly:
• Recycle right
• Use a trash removal service
Today’s trash has plastics, metals, dyes and chemicals. When trash is burned in lowtemperature fires such as in a burn barrel, wood stove or fire pit, it releases toxins that pollute our air, land and water. That is why it is illegal to burn trash,
• Take bulky items to a local drop-off sites. Find drop-off sites at www.dakotacounty.us, search recycling guide or call 952-891-7557.
If you suspect illegal burning, call 911 to leave an anonymous tip.
Agricultural film plastic recycling
Bulky plastic film like silage and grain bags, bunker covers and greenhouse film cannot go into your curbside recycling cart. This is because standard recycling facilities are not able to process these materials. To help keep this plastic out of the landfill, local farmers and greenhouses can get their bulky plastic film recycled for free.
Revolution Plastics, one of the largest recyclers of soiled plastics in the U.S., has recycled
over 1.5 billion pounds of plastic into reusable bags, trash can liners and stretch wrap since 1998. Over the past 10 years, this program has collected and recycled more than 116 tons of agricultural film plastic from Dakota County farms and greenhouses.
To participate in this special recycling program, contact John Exner at john.exner@ co.dakota.mn.us or 952-891-7112.
Which watershed do you live in?
Everyone lives in a watershed, which is an area of land that drains into a river, lake or other body of water. If a raindrop lands anywhere within the watershed, it will ultimately make its way to the main water body. Rural Dakota County is split between the Vermillion River and Cannon River watersheds.
View the map on the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District website to see which watershed you live in. To find your watershed visit www.dakotaswcd.org/watersheds, choose FIND YOUR WATERSHED and search your address, then scroll down to parcel information.
Watershed management organizations help bring partners together to protect and improve natural resources in their watersheds.
• Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization www.vermillionriverwatershed.org
• North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization www.northcannonriverwmo.org
Protecting land for future generations, improving groundwater for
all
Agricultural landowners and farmers can preserve their land by using financial incentives and technical resources to help future generations.
Farmers and landowners can qualify for yearly payments by using good land practices. They can get up to $80 per acre of cropland by adopting land management and conservation methods.
By using these practices, landowners and farmers can grow better crops and keep water clean for their families and neighbors. In Dakota County, about 90% of residents rely on groundwater for their drinking water.
For more information, contact the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District at 651-480-7777 or email swcd@co.dakota.mn.us.
Test your well water
Protect your health. Test your well water for:
Coliform Bacteria
Every year
Nitrate
Every year
Arsenic
At least once
Lead
At least once
Manganese
At least once
Call 952-891-7000 or visit www.dakotacounty.us, search water test kit.
Financial assistance for private well users
Dakota County received Clean Water Funds from the Minnesota Department of Health to help ensure safe drinking water for private well users. Private well users who meet low-income criteria may be eligible for financial assistance to address drinking water quality concerns.
The grant provides funding to eligible homeowners or renters to:
• Repair or replace a well contaminated with nitrate or bacteria
• Buy or install a water treatment system for wells contaminated with °Arsenic °Nitrate °Coliform bacteria °Lead
For more information or to apply for a grant, go to www.dakotacounty.us, search Safe Drinking Water Grant Opportunity.
Agricultural Chemical Reduction
Effort (ACRE)
Monitoring Well Network Dashboard
Dakota County installed 15 groundwater monitoring wells in rural parts of the county in 2022. Wells are sampled three times a year (spring, summer and fall). The samples help evaluate changes in nitrate, chloride, water level and other measurements.
View the results of past sampling events with an interactive web-based dashboard. This online tool allows residents to choose specific monitoring wells and dates to view the results of each measurement at the time of sampling and observe changes in groundwater conditions over time.
To view the ACRE Monitoring Well Dashboard, go to www.dakotacounty.us, search ACRE.
Explore land management practices that protect groundwater
Explore the Land Management Practices for Improving Groundwater story map to learn water conservation measures throughout Dakota County.
The map guides landowners to resources for financial and technical assistance from local, state and federal programs. It also showcases the experiences of local farmers with each of six practices aimed at protecting groundwater.
To view the Land Management Practices for Improving Groundwater Story Map visit www.dakotacounty.us, search ACRE
Virtual Conservation Project Tour
The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District offers technical and financial support for many projects across Dakota County. This includes, raingardens, water and sediment management basins, cover crops and more.
A virtual tour of projects is created yearly to highlight conservation efforts. View the virtual tour and learn more about conservation projects by visiting www.dakotaswcd.org, search virtual tour.
5
2025 tree sale
Dakota County residents can buy high-quality bare root seedlings at a low cost from the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Residents use trees for urban and rural conservation purposes. Examples include windbreaks, living fences, reforestation, erosion control and food and cover for wildlife.
The tree species are native to Minnesota including conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs. Preview the 2025 tree species by visiting www.dakotaswcd.org, search tree sale or contact
SWCD@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-480-7777.
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Partnering in soil and water conservation
Funded by Dakota County and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Printed on paper that contains fiber from responsibly harvested and managed forests. Paper containing 100% recycled content and 100% post-consumer waste. Processed chlorine-free. 101-2-01-2023
Environmental Resources Western Service Center 14955 Galaxie Avenue Apple Valley, MN 55124
Soil and water conservation districts formed in the 1940s in response to national concerns about floods, erosion and the dust storms of the 1930s. Local farmers established the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District in 1944. The district installed practices to conserve soil and enhance land productivity. Over the past 80 years, the district’s goals and practices have adjusted to meet concerns of the times. This has been accomplished through partnership and funding support from local, state and federal agencies. Visit www.dakotaswcd.org to learn how to partner with the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District. Contact SWCD@co.dakota. mn.us or call 651-480-7777.