The Minnesota Zoo is committed to recycling and using recycled products.

• Minnesota Zoo participates in the Minnesota State Government Resource Recovery Program and has a 75% recycling recovery rate. Recycled items include paper, beverage cans, glass, plastic, metal, batteries, fluorescents, solvent, oil, tires, compost, construction materials, wood waste, aluminum, antifreeze, and paint.
• Recycling bins are standard in public areas, offices, and other staff areas throughout the Zoo.  By purchasing new recycling containers and drilling a hole in the lid of the containers, the amount aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles we recycled went from 4 tons in 2007 to 12.75 tons in the first 10 months of 2008.
• All construction and demolition waste from the Zoo’s Russia’s Grizzly Coast exhibit was sent to a local company that sorted it and recycled as much as possible. All concrete and steel materials were recycled and 55% of the remaining materials were recycled.
• FSC-certified or post consumer waste recycled materials are used for all print and marketing materials, as well as membership mailing materials.
• Lancer Food Service, the food vendor for Minnesota Zoo, recycles all cardboard, plastic bottles, and canned goods. Cooking oils used in food service are organically recycled and recycling of organic waste produced in food service kitchens will begin in 2009.
• Lancer Food Service uses post consumer recycled oval platters in the Call of the Wild Food Court, Tiger Treats, The Farm House, and the Grizzly Coast Café. Biodegradable utensils (made of potato) are used at all outlets throughout the Zoo