Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility

Recycling Center in Shakopee, Minnesota

📍 13161 Dem Con Dr, Shakopee, MN 55379
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📞 +1 952-224-7155 🌐 Visit Website 🗺 Get Directions

About This Location

The Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at 13161 Dem-Con Drive in Shakopee, Minnesota is a large-scale, single-stream recycling processing plant that handles 125,000 tons of commingled and source-separated recyclables per year from residential and commercial curbside programs throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. Critically, this facility is not open to the public for drop-off — it is a commercial operation that accepts inbound loads exclusively from licensed contractors and haulers; residents whose curbside recycling ends up here should contact their local hauler with questions. The MRF operates Monday through Friday with defined receiving and shipping windows, and also hosts an acclaimed educational program — the Green Grades initiative — offering facility tours and classroom visits for schools and community groups wanting to see single-stream recycling in action.

What Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility Accepts

✓ Cardboard (non-plastic lined) (Fiber stream; corrugated and paperboard accepted)
✓ Brown grocery bags (Fiber stream)
✓ Beer & soda cases (Fiber stream)
✓ Cake & snack boxes / cereal boxes (Fiber stream)
✓ Catalogs, magazines, junk mail (Fiber stream)
✓ Newspapers & inserts (Fiber stream)
✓ Office/school paper (all colors) (Fiber stream)
✓ Pizza delivery boxes (Fiber stream)
✓ Broth boxes, drink boxes, juice cartons, milk cartons (Fiber/carton stream)
✓ Plastic containers #1, #2, and #5 (Includes milk jugs, water bottles, berry containers, butter tubs, juice containers, yogurt tubs)
✓ Aluminum cans (Metal stream)
✓ Steel food cans (Metal stream)
✓ Glass bottles and containers (food or beverage) (Includes beer bottles and glass containers that held food or beverage product)

Related recycling guides: Glass · Plastic · Cardboard & Paper

What they do not accept

✕ Auto glass, mirror glass, window glass, glass bakeware/cookware (Pyrex)
✕ Batteries
✕ Ceramics, dishware, drinking glasses, porcelain
✕ Christmas lights, extension cords, garden hoses
✕ Clothing & textiles, coat hangers
✕ Compostable plastics (#7 PLA)
✕ Diapers
✕ Electronic waste (cell phones, computers, etc.)
✕ Food waste / organic material
✕ Hazardous chemical containers, motor oil, medical waste, needles/syringes
✕ Light bulbs (all types), microwave trays
✕ Packing peanuts, Styrofoam, bubble wrap
✕ Paper products with food residue
✕ Plastic bags and film, plastic-lined cardboard/paper, plastic tarps, plastic food wraps
✕ Shredded paper

This list applies to materials delivered via curbside single-stream programs. The MRF does not accept walk-in public drop-offs under any circumstances.

Fees

  • Inbound single-stream recyclables (hauler/contractor) — Not publicly listed; contact facility directly at 952-224-7155 for contractor rates

Access & restrictions

Not open to the public. Accepts inbound loads from licensed haulers and contractors only. Residential customers should contact their local curbside hauler. · Appointment required · Call 952-224-7155 for shipping and receiving hours and to arrange contracted hauling services. The MRF page states 'For Contractors and Haulers only. Residential customers, please contact your hauler with questions.'

Programs & events

  • Green Grades – Recycling Facility Tours — Tours of the MRF are 1–1.5 hours and include the Materials Recovery Facility floor, Dem-Con Metals, shingle and wood processing, MSW transfer station, and C&D recovery. Minimum group size required; ages 8 and up.
  • Green Grades – Classroom Visits — Dem-Con education staff visit schools for interactive sorting activities focused on reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting.
  • Green Grades – Virtual MRF Tour — Live interactive virtual tour through the Materials Recovery Facility for groups unable to visit in person.
  • Annual Recycling Poster & Video Contest — Student contest organized by Dem-Con's Education Coordinator; open to school-age children in the region.

Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drop off my recyclables directly at the Dem-Con MRF?

No. Dem-Con's official website states the MRF is not open to the public. It only accepts inbound loads from licensed haulers and contractors. If your curbside recycling is collected by a hauler that delivers to Dem-Con, your recyclables will be processed here automatically — you don't need to bring anything yourself. Contact your local hauler with questions.

What hours does the MRF operate for haulers?

Receiving hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Shipping hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The facility also opens on the Saturday immediately following a major holiday (7:00 AM to 3:00 PM). Call 952-224-7155 to confirm current hours before arriving.

Are plastic bags accepted in the single-stream recycling processed at this facility?

No. Plastic bags, film, and wraps are explicitly listed on Dem-Con's 'Materials We Don't Accept' list. They jam sorting equipment and become contaminants. Most grocery stores have plastic-bag drop-off bins as an alternative.

Does the MRF accept glass for recycling?

Yes — but only glass bottles and containers that held food or beverage products (e.g., beer bottles, glass food jars). Auto glass, window glass, mirror glass, Pyrex bakeware, drinking glasses, and ceramics are all explicitly not accepted.

Can my school or community group tour the Dem-Con MRF?

Yes. Dem-Con's Green Grades education program offers facility tours that are 1 to 1.5 hours long for groups ages 8 and up. Tours cover the MRF floor, metals facility, and other areas of the environmental campus. Virtual tours are also available. Visit dem-con.com/education/ or call the facility to schedule.

Last verified: November 2026. Sources: source · source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.

Other Recycling Centers in Shakopee

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Contact & Location

📍
Address
13161 Dem Con Dr, Shakopee, MN 55379
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🌐
Website
dem-con.com
🏙
City / State
Shakopee, Minnesota

Opening Hours

Monday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM (receiving); 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (shipping)
Tuesday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM (receiving); 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (shipping)
Wednesday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM (receiving); 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (shipping)
Thursday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM (receiving); 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (shipping)
Friday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM (receiving); 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (shipping)
Saturday Closed (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM on the Saturday following a holiday only)
Sunday Closed

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