Recycling centers in Rochester, Minnesota

Automotive Recyclers is a used and new auto parts dealer located just off Highway 52 South in Rochester. The yard buys junk and wrecked cars and trucks and carries foreign and domestic parts with a 30-day warranty on all used parts. On-site installation is available for parts purchased at the location.

305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906 is home to the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility, open Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., offering services for residents and businesses in Southeast Minnesota. The facility accepts various hazardous waste items like aerosols, automotive batteries, household cleaners, pesticides, paints, and more, emphasizing proper disposal methods to protect human health and the environment. Visitors can use the Hazardous Waste Reuse Center for usable materials, with a limit of ten items per day. Businesses generating less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste monthly can participate in the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program, requiring pre-approval. Additionally, the facility hosts Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collections and provides guidelines for pharmaceutical waste disposal and sharps management.

The Recycling Center Plus in Olmsted County, Minnesota accepts a variety of items free of charge, including aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars (clear and colored), cardboard, paper, plastic containers, tin cans, and various scrap metals. However, certain items are accepted for a fee, such as appliances, bikes, carpeting, construction materials, furniture, mattresses, TVs, and automotive tires. Visitors are advised to pre-sort their items before dropping them off. The center also hosts an open house tour at the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility on specific dates. For large loads of tires (9 or more), visitors can bring them to the Kalmar Landfill for a fee of $35 per ton, with prior arrangement by phone. Residents are encouraged to check the facility's operating hours and holiday closings for planning their visit.

The Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF) in Olmsted County, Minnesota has burned municipal garbage to produce steam and electricity since 1987, powering more than 20 buildings in the area and cutting waste volume by roughly 90%. Remaining ash goes to an ash monofill at the Kalmar Landfill. The plant uses modern pollution controls that keep emissions well below permitted state and federal limits, and a negative-air-pressure design keeps the site clean and largely odor-free. It is one part of Olmsted County's integrated system, which prioritizes waste reduction, recycling, and composting, with disposal as a last resort.