Oct 12, 2026 | Community Recycling News
Batteries don’t belong in your recycling bin.
Think about how many things in your home use batteries. Phones, toys, power tools, electric toothbrushes, vapes, and even greeting cards. Batteries are everywhere, and it’s not always obvious which products contain them or how to get rid of them.
But one thing is clear: Batteries don’t belong in your recycling bin.
When batteries end up in the wrong place, they can put collection drivers, recycling workers, landfill employees, and even first responders at risk.
What’s the Danger?
Many batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, can spark or catch fire when they’re crushed, punctured, or damaged.
Think about what happens after you put something in your trash or recycling cart. A collection truck picks it up and compacts the material. From there, it may be unloaded, pushed around by heavy equipment, or moved through sorting machinery.
If a battery gets damaged along the way, it can overheat and ignite surrounding materials.
One misplaced battery can start a fire in a collection truck, recycling facility, or landfill.
That’s why keeping batteries out of the regular waste and recycling stream is so important. It’s not just about recycling correctly. It’s about protecting the people who handle our waste every day.
Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!
In September 2026, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) announced a national partnership to improve battery safety education.
Their message is simple: Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!
Instead of trying to figure out whether a battery is alkaline, lithium-ion, rechargeable, or something else, the goal is to make safe disposal easier to understand. Batteries should be taken to appropriate collection locations whenever available, rather than tossed into household recycling carts.
Where Can Sioux Falls Residents Take Batteries?
The good news is that Sioux Falls residents already have a place to take many types of household batteries and other hazardous materials.
The City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility provides a free drop-off option for eligible household hazardous waste, including many types of batteries.
Instead of putting batteries in your recycling or trash cart, set them aside and bring them to the facility for proper handling.
For accepted materials, hours, location, and drop-off requirements, visit the City of Sioux Falls Household Hazardous Waste webpage.
Not sure where something belongs? The free BINfluencer search tool can help you find local recycling and disposal options throughout the Sioux Falls area.
Know what to throw. Know where to go.
What About Vapes and Other Battery-Powered Products?
Some products are harder to figure out. Disposable vapes, rechargeable devices, and other electronics may contain batteries that can’t easily be removed. These items can be especially confusing because they combine batteries with other materials that may require different handling.
At Millennium, we’re working with City and State officials, along with battery processors, to explore better collection and disposal solutions for these harder-to-manage items.
We’re also looking at ways to expand public education so more residents know what to do with batteries before they end up in the wrong place.
As those efforts develop, we’ll continue sharing updates with the community.
A Small Step That Makes a Big Difference
Every day, collection drivers, recycling facility employees, and landfill workers handle the materials we throw away. Most of us don’t think much about what happens after our carts are emptied, but what we put in them matters.
The next time you have a dead battery or an old battery-powered device, don’t just toss it in the bin. Take a moment to find the right disposal location. That simple decision can help prevent fires, protect workers, and keep our waste and recycling systems running safely.
Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!
Sep 23, 2026 | Community Recycling News
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recently shared results from its second annual Recycling in Action Month, and the numbers show just how valuable it can be to see recycling firsthand! Throughout May, 41 recycling facilities, including Millennium Recycling, hosted more than 135 public tours for over 2,500 visitors.
After their tours, 78% of attendees said they believed recycling works better than they previously thought, while 78% expressed strong confidence that what they put in the recycling bin actually gets recycled. Even better, 89% said they were very likely to share what they learned with others.
The results reinforce something we see every day at Millennium: Opening the doors and showing people what actually happens to their recyclables can make a big difference in understanding and trust.
Read APR’s full Recycling in Action results here.
Jul 14, 2026 | Community Recycling News
If you’ve looked at the Sioux Falls recycling trends recently, you’ve probably noticed they’re moving in the wrong direction.
The City’s reported recycling rate has dropped from 22.8% in 2017 to 16.3% in 2025, while the amount of material going to the landfill continues to grow.
So what’s happening?
A new report from The Recycling Partnership offers some helpful perspective. While it looks at recycling across the country, it explains why improving recycling isn’t as simple as putting out more blue carts.
Recycling is changing
One of the report’s biggest findings helps explain something we’ve been talking about for years.
The makeup of the recycling stream has changed significantly. Paper, which once made up about 70% of residential recycling, now makes up closer to 52%, while single-use packaging has become a much larger part of the recycling stream. Here at Millennium, we’ve also seen cardboard become a larger share of the paper we process as shopping habits have changed.
Even with that shift, the report says overall residential recycling tonnage has remained relatively stable nationwide. That’s important because it tells us the recycling stream is evolving—not disappearing.
So why is Sioux Falls different?
This is where our local data tells a different story.
While the national report shows residential recycling has remained relatively stable overall, Sioux Falls’ recycling rate has continued to decline.
There isn’t one single reason for that, but we do know our community has more work to do.
Some residents don’t have convenient access to recycling. Many apartment communities still don’t offer the same recycling opportunities as single-family homes. Some businesses have strong recycling programs, while others don’t recycle at all. And even where recycling is available, confusion about what belongs in the cart and contamination continue to reduce the amount of material that can actually be recycled.
If we want to reverse the trend locally, we have to improve participation—not just hope the numbers change on their own.
The report says five things have to happen
According to the report, recycling only succeeds when all five parts of the system work together:
- Packaging needs to be designed so it can actually be recycled.
- People need access to recycling.
- Residents and businesses need to recycle correctly.
- Recycling facilities need modern equipment to sort materials.
- Manufacturers need to buy those materials and turn them into new products.
If any one of those five pieces falls behind, the whole system struggles. That’s why improving recycling isn’t just the responsibility of residents, haulers, recycling facilities, manufacturers, or local governments—it’s something we all have to work on together
What Millennium is doing
Improving recycling takes more than one organization—it takes the entire community working together.
At Millennium Recycling, we’re doing our part by investing in modern sorting technology, partnering with the City of Sioux Falls and the communities we serve, and working with haulers and other local partners to strengthen recycling across our region.
Education is another critical piece of the puzzle. That’s why we’re proud to support our nonprofit partner, BINfluencer, which provides free recycling education through school presentations, community events, a local search tool, business trainings, facility tours, and its mobile education trailer. Helping people understand what belongs in the recycling bin is one of the best ways to improve participation and reduce contamination.
Turning the trend around
Sioux Falls’ recycling rate doesn’t have to keep heading in the wrong direction.
The national report reminds us that improving recycling isn’t about one silver bullet—it’s about strengthening every part of the system. Packaging needs to be designed for recycling. Residents and businesses need convenient access and clear guidance. Recycling facilities need modern equipment. And manufacturers need strong markets for recycled materials. When those pieces work together, recycling works better.
That’s the approach we’re committed to at Millennium.
We’ll continue investing in technology, collaborating with our local partners, and supporting recycling education because turning Sioux Falls’ recycling trend around won’t happen overnight—but it’s something we can accomplish together, one improvement at a time.
Want to learn more? Schedule a free facility tour or invite BINfluencer to your school, business, or community group to help everyone recycle with confidence.
Jul 1, 2026 | Recycling Explained
Fireworks DO NOT belong in your Sioux Falls recycling bin. It’s important to dispose of fireworks in the safest way possible to prevent harm to yourself and others after you’ve disposed of them.
Check out this great video from the City of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue team showing what happens when you do it the wrong way!
How To Dispose Of Fireworks and Firecrackers (NOT in your recycling bin):
- Make sure all fireworks are completely extinguished and no longer warm before trying to collect them.
- Remove the fuse and soak them in a tub of water overnight.
- Fireproof containers are recommended but at the very least, double bag them before placing in the trash.
- You can bring unexploded fireworks or firecrackers to the Sioux Falls Household Hazardous Waste Facility to ensure they are properly disposed (See more information here).
Tips for Easier Cleanup:
- Use fireworks in one area so clean-up is isolated and not scattered around your property (preferably on a hard smooth surface).
- Use a broom to sweep all of the remains into a pile.
- Don’t let the mess sit out over night, chemical dust and ash can easily blow and scatter through your neighborhood.
DO NOT RECYCLE USED OR UNUSED FIREWORKS IN YOUR BIN
Although fireworks may be made from some recyclable materials, the danger and effort involved in separating that small part of paper or metal does NOT justify the risk. Please keep your waste hauler and our recycling employees safe and dispose of fireworks and firecrackers properly.
Happy 4th of July everyone! Be smart and be safe!
Jun 18, 2026 | Community Recycling News, Recycling Explained
If you’ve ever seen a Millennium Recycling presentation, social media post, been on a tour, or browsed our website…you’ve probably heard us talk about the “big recycling no-nos.”
No plastic bags, No food or liquids, and No batteries.
Recently, one of the nation’s largest waste and recycling companies updated its “Recycle Right” campaign to officially add batteries to its list of items that should stay out of both recycling and trash containers.
Their key recycling reminders now include:
- Recycle bottles, cans, and cardboard
- Keep recyclables empty and dry
- No plastic bags
- No food or liquids
- No batteries
Sound familiar?
Those are the same core recycling principles we’ve been promoting throughout our service area for years.
Every Recycling Program Is Different… But The Big Mistakes Are Usually The Same
Not every recycling program accepts the exact same materials.
For example, here in the Sioux Falls area, we accept glass bottles and jars. We also accept shredded paper when it’s placed in a clear plastic bag. Other communities may have different guidelines.
That’s why it’s always important to follow your local recycling program’s rules.
But while recycling programs may differ on some accepted materials, the major contamination and safety issues tend to be pretty universal:
- Plastic bags cause problems.
- Too much food or liquid contaminates recyclables.
- Batteries create serious safety risks.
Why The Industry Is Talking So Much About Batteries
Battery-related fires have become one of the biggest concerns facing recycling facilities, garbage trucks, transfer stations, and landfills across North America.
Many batteries, especially rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, can ignite when they’re crushed, punctured, damaged, or exposed to heat.
The challenge is that batteries aren’t just in phones anymore, they’re hidden inside all kinds of everyday items.
In many cases, people don’t even realize they’re throwing away a battery.
So What Should You Do With Batteries?
If you’re a Sioux Falls-area resident, batteries should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW).
That keeps them out of recycling carts, garbage trucks, and processing facilities where they can create safety hazards.
Businesses that generate larger quantities of batteries can work with SEAM, the region’s only fully certified electronics recycling and IT asset disposition provider, for battery recycling and management services.
The Good News
For years, one of the biggest challenges in recycling education has been mixed messages.
As more recycling organizations across the country align around the same core guidelines, it becomes easier for residents to know what’s right and what’s not.
And when it comes to batteries, the message is becoming louder and clearer: No batteries in the recycling bin.
A little extra effort to recycle batteries properly can help prevent fires, protect workers, and keep recycling programs running safely for everyone.
Image adapted from WM Recycle Right® educational materials.
Have a Recycling Question? Contact Us!