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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Minneapolis, verified October 2026.
Checked against Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling
2 + 2
large items every week: 2 on garbage day, 2 recyclable items on recycling day
'For Solid Waste'
tag every large item with that note
6 + 2
cleanup vouchers and tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station
Every route for scrap metal in Minneapolis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Minneapolis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Minneapolis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Minneapolis weekly large item collection: scrap metal
FreeMetal items are recyclable large items for recycling day, or a scrap yard.
Who qualifies: Residential buildings with fewer than 4 units served by Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling. Larger buildings use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment. Each week you can set out 2 large non-recyclable items (furniture, carpet) on garbage day and 2 large recyclable items (appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal) on recycling day, next to your carts, each tagged with a note reading 'For Solid Waste'. Call 612-673-2917 with questions.
Limits: 2 non-recyclable items on garbage day plus 2 recyclable items on recycling day, every week. Customers also get 6 cleanup vouchers and 2 tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station.
Set-out: At your alley or curb collection point by 6 a.m. on the right day, tagged 'For Solid Waste'. Couches under 6 feet, no hide-a-beds on garbage day (those go on recycling day). Cover mattresses from rain.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Minneapolis: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering scrap metal, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Minneapolis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Minneapolis quietly runs one of the most generous bulk pickup systems of any major U.S. city: up to 2 large items per week, every week, free, with no annual cap. The catch is the “For Solid Waste” note rule, if you don’t attach a label, crews may not collect. Mattresses and appliances must go out on recycling week, while furniture goes on garbage week. Plus you get up to 6 free cleanup vouchers per year at the South Transfer Station for additional disposal. Minneapolis also has the unusual ABE/CD recycling rotation (not a simple A/B), and bagging yard waste in regular plastic bags is illegal under Minnesota state law. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Minneapolis rule for scrap metal: Metal items are recyclable large items for recycling day, or a scrap yard.
Program basics: 2 non-recyclable items on garbage day plus 2 recyclable items on recycling day, every week. Customers also get 6 cleanup vouchers and 2 tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station. At your alley or curb collection point by 6 a.m. on the right day, tagged 'For Solid Waste'. Couches under 6 feet, no hide-a-beds on garbage day (those go on recycling day). Cover mattresses from rain.
What the city will not take: Tires (voucher at the South Transfer Station), construction and demolition debris, paving materials, items that held hazardous waste, and anything from a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Minneapolis: South Transfer Station drop-off items and fees (vouchers), City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling fact sheet (large item collection), City of Minneapolis: Large items. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Minneapolis. Minneapolis residents can dispose of household hazardous waste at Hennepin County Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facilities (free for Hennepin County residents). Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications. Hennepin County’s Green Disposal Guide (use Hennepin County’s tool) shows the right place for nearly any unwanted item.
Why scrap metal are different from ordinary bulk. Most household scrap is mixed. An appliance is a steel shell around a copper motor and aluminum fins; a bike is a steel or aluminum frame with rubber and plastic. Yards accept mixed items at the steel rate, so sorting pays only if you have enough non-ferrous metal to make it worth the time. A magnet and ten minutes usually tells you.
Three mistakes that get scrap metal left at the curb:
Paid options barely exist for metal, except when the metal is attached to things that are not metal.
Mixed loads to a transfer station
$20 to $60If metal is mixed into a larger cleanout, transfer stations charge by weight for the whole load. Pull the metal out first and give it to a scrapper; it reduces the fee and keeps metal out of the landfill.
Most transfer stations have a free metal pile. Ask before you tip.
LoadUp paid scrap metal pickup
$80+For households who need same-day service, exceed both the 2-per-week curbside limit AND the 6 annual cleanup vouchers, or live in 5+ unit buildings (where city service doesn’t apply), LoadUp offers professional removal in Minneapolis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your scrap metal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book scrap metal pickup in Minneapolis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Minneapolis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Minneapolis junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national scrap metal disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Minneapolis: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Minneapolis pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes, on recycling day, tagged, or a scrap yard.
How much does paid scrap metal removal cost in Minneapolis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single scrap metal pickup in Minneapolis starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day service, exceed both the 2-per-week curbside limit AND the 6 annual cleanup vouchers, or live in 5+ unit buildings (where city service doesn’t apply), LoadUp offers professional removal in Minneapolis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Will someone pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes. Independent scrappers in every metro collect appliances, grills, frames, and other metal from the curb free, usually the same day you post it, because they sell it by weight. Many city bulk programs also collect metal.
How much does a scrap yard pay?
Steel pays a few cents per pound; a washer or water heater might bring a few dollars. Aluminum pays several times more, and copper and brass pay the most, often a few dollars per pound. Prices change weekly with commodity markets.
How do I tell what kind of metal I have?
Use a magnet. If it sticks, the metal is ferrous (steel or iron) and pays the base rate. If it does not, it is aluminum, copper, brass, or stainless and worth sorting out. Copper is reddish, brass is yellow, aluminum is light and silver, stainless is heavy and silver.
Can I scrap a refrigerator or air conditioner?
Yes, but the refrigerant must be recovered first by a certified technician or by the yard if it has recovery equipment. Do not cut the lines. Many yards accept sealed units and recover the gas themselves; call first.
Is this Minneapolis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Minneapolis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.