Problem Materials

By MN State Statute, certain items are banned from entering into the landfills (Sanitary and Demolition). To assist County residents, we have created programs to address problem materials at the Solid Waste Disposal site. For disposal costs for these and other items, please refer to our Fee Schedule

Battery disposal locations:

  • Crow Wing County Recycling Center - 15728 State Highway 210, Brainerd. 
  • Local retailer - visit www.rbrc.org to find the nearest location

Batteries safe to place in the trash:

  • Carbon Zinc
  • Alkaline- If alkaline batteries were purchased in or before 1993, take them to your HHW collection site.

Description: Mainly produces in A, AA, AAA, C, D, N, 9-volt, and lantern. These batteries are not rechargeable.

Found In: Calculators, cameras, portable stereos, radios, tape and compact disc players, most toys, flashlights, smoke detectors, clocks, other products.

Single-use batteries that need to be taken to retailers or HHW sites

  • Button- Place tape around each button battery
  • Lithium- Lithium batteries may be reactive. Place each battery in a separate plastic bag or place electrical tape around the battery terminals.

Description: Lithium batteries are cylindrical batteries that are produced in various sizes. Button batteries may be alkaline, lithium, mercuric oxide, nickel cadmium, silver oxide, or zinc air. 

Uses: Photographic and high-drain applications, medical devices, smoke detectors, handheld games, hearing aids, keyless remotes, watches, other products

Rechargeable batteries that need to be recycled at retailers or HHW sites

  • Nickel Cadmium (Mi-Cd)
  • Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
  • Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
  • Small Sealed Lead Acid (Pb)

Description: Mainly produced in the following sizes: D, C, AAA, AA, 9-volt, and battery packs of various shapes.

Uses: Cell phones, cordless phones, laptop computers, personal care products, power tools, video cameras, other cordless products

For more information, view or print this battery disposal guide.

Medication Disposal

The Crow Wing County community is serious about preventing medication misuse/abuse and serious about healthy, environmentally safe disposal of unneeded medications.  To ensure safe disposal of medications we have a "Take It To The Box" program at participating locations. Take It To The Box Sites Safe medication disposal helps reduce such risks. There are now free medication disposal boxes located at six sites in Crow Wing County. The “drop off” box at each site will accept unneeded over-the-counter medications, prescriptions and narcotic drugs from community members.  

Appliance Disposal SiteAppliances or white goods are large items defined by MN State Statute as refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, heat pumps, furnace garbage disposal, clothes washers and dryers, ranges, and stoves, hot water heaters, conventional and microwave ovens, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, trash compactors, and air conditioners.



Electronics (Used)

Minnesota State Legislation passed a State Statute banning cathode-ray tubes (CRT computer monitor and tv's) from disposing into any landfills. The Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners approved a ban on all electronics (computers and their components, copiers, fax machines, TV's VCR/DVD's stereos and telephones) from the Sanitary Landfill.


Waste Tires

Tire Disposal SiteMinnesota State Legislation passed a State Statute banning waste tires from any landfills. Crow Wing County Landfill is a drop-off location for Crow Wing County residents. The cost to dispose of a tire is dependent upon size and whether the tire has a rim or without a rim.  We do not accept tires from retailers. 


Scrap metal Field

Scrap Metal

Crow Wing County provides an opportunity for County Residents to dispose of their scrap metal at our landfill location. 


Mattresses

In 2006, Crow Wing County partnered with Goodwill Industries to recycle dry and clean mattresses arriving at our Solid Waste Disposal Site. These mattresses are shipped to Goodwill Industries to be recycled.

If mattresses are wet and dirty, they must be disposed into the Sanitary Landfill. Disposal fees for a mattress are different for dry, clean, recycled mattresses and dirty, wet mattresses that must go in the landfill.