Sioux Falls and Watertown apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: you’re operating in one of the Upper Midwest’s most tightly coordinated regional solid-waste markets. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is engineered to align with City of Sioux Falls Chapter 57 (Garbage & Recycling), Minnehaha & Lincoln County solid-waste ordinances, and Watertown’s regional landfill and collection rules so you can keep residents happy and stay ahead of enforcement actions.
Within the City of Sioux Falls, Chapter 57 requires licensed haulers and apartment owners to provide residents with a clear opportunity to recycle, including notice and education for single-stream recycling at every apartment property. In unincorporated Minnehaha County, commercial generators and apartments must separate recyclable materials from the waste stream before collection, while Lincoln County regulates county facilities, haulers, and transfer stations with penalties for violations. In Watertown and Codington County, the focus is on container rules, prohibited materials, and landfill bans, with fines and cleanup costs for loads that ignore the rules at the Watertown Regional Landfill.
- Protect NOI & Asset Value: Reduce risk of citations, fines, and repeat inspections by aligning your program with Sioux Falls Chapter 57 and county landfill bans.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service that keeps residents out of muddy or icy enclosures, reduces trips to dumpsters, and supports renewals and online reputation in cold-weather markets.
- Code-Smart Design: Collection points, labeling, and service frequencies designed around Sioux Falls apartment recycling requirements, Minnehaha County separation rules, and Watertown’s landfill restrictions.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We handle hauler coordination, resident education, and documentation so your property manager team can focus on leasing and operations.
At a Glance: City of Sioux Falls vs. Minnehaha & Lincoln Counties
City of Sioux Falls (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling opportunity & education for apartments and residents.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to all apartments served by licensed haulers; Chapter 57 requires apartment owners to provide recycling opportunities and notice to residents and requires haulers to offer recycling service.
- Owner Duties: Provide residents with access to single-stream recycling; communicate accepted materials; coordinate service with a licensed waste hauler that complies with Chapter 57 recycling requirements.
- Hauler Duties: Offer recycling collection service to customers; comply with city landfill bans on targeted recyclables; deliver separated recyclable materials as required.
- Key City Links: Sioux Falls Code – Chapter 57 (Garbage & Recycling) · Mandatory Recycling Requirements for Sioux Falls Apartments (PDF) · Sioux Falls Recycling – Official Site
Minnehaha & Lincoln Counties (Outside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: Separation & landfill bans for recyclables; no county-wide apartment-only mandate, but apartments are treated as commercial generators.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to all residential and commercial generators, including apartments in unincorporated areas served by licensed haulers.
- Minnehaha County: Commercial uses, including apartments, must separate recyclable materials before collection, and those recyclables may not be deposited at the sanitary landfill; all solid waste targeted for the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill must comply with city landfill bans.
- Lincoln County: Regulates transfer stations and county facilities; excluded materials (oils, hazardous waste, yard waste, tires, white goods, etc.) cannot be accepted at county facilities, with fines up to $200 and up to 30 days jail per violation after notice.
- Key County Links: Minnehaha County Solid Waste Ordinance (MC17-91) · Lincoln County Code – Solid Waste & Excluded Materials · Lincoln County – Penalty for Solid Waste Chapter
At a Glance: City of Watertown & Codington County / Regional Landfill
City of Watertown
- Mandate Type: Residential recycling program & landfill restrictions; no explicit apartment-only recycling mandate in code, but strong emphasis on recycling access and correct container use.
- Applicability Threshold: Solid-waste and container rules apply broadly to all users; prohibited materials and load requirements apply at the Watertown Regional Landfill regardless of customer type.
- Program Duties: Follow city collection calendars, container rules, and prohibited material list; ensure loads headed to the landfill are properly secured and free of banned materials (tires, liquids, waste oil, hazardous waste, lead-acid batteries, etc.).
- Risk Profile: Loads that contain prohibited materials may trigger fines, penalties, and required cleanup/removal costs for the generator or hauler.
- Key City Links: Watertown Solid Waste – Official Site · Watertown Refuse & Recycling Manual (PDF)
Codington County & State Framework
- Mandate Type: Landfill permitting & state solid-waste penalties; no county-wide apartment recycling ordinance, but activities are governed by SDCL Chapter 34A-6 and landfill permits.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to all generators and haulers using permitted solid-waste facilities in Codington County.
- Program Duties: Use permitted facilities, comply with state solid-waste laws, and avoid illegal dumping or disposal of prohibited materials. Failure can result in civil penalties under state law in addition to any local action.
- Key Regional Links: Watertown Landfill – SD DANR Listing · South Dakota Solid Waste & Recycling Statutes
Sioux Falls, Watertown & Regional Apartment Recycling Snapshot
The City of Sioux Falls is the only jurisdiction in this cluster with a clearly documented apartment-focused recycling requirement (owner duties plus hauler duties under Chapter 57 and the Mandatory Recycling Requirements for Sioux Falls Apartments letter). Surrounding counties and Watertown emphasize separation, landfill bans, and prohibited materials rather than a classic “apartment recycling mandate” with a unit threshold and fine grid.
| Jurisdiction | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners, Asset Managers & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| City of Sioux Falls | Yes – Apartment recycling requirements in Chapter 57 |
Chapter 57 requires licensed haulers and apartment owners to provide residents with a recycling opportunity, including single-stream recycling and education. Apartments must give residents information on what can be recycled and how to use the program; haulers must offer recycling service and respect landfill bans on recyclables. Non-compliance can be enforced through Chapter 57 and the city’s general penalty provisions (fines up to $500 per offense and/or up to 30 days in jail, with each day a separate offense). Key links: Sioux Falls Code – Chapter 57 |
| Unincorporated Minnehaha County | Yes – Mandatory separation & landfill ban for recyclables | Under the Minnehaha County Solid Waste Ordinance, commercial and business establishments, including apartments, must separate recyclable materials before collection. Recyclables may not be deposited at the sanitary landfill. All solid waste targeted for the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill must comply with any city landfill bans. Violations can lead to enforcement actions, permit issues for haulers, and potential penalties under county and state law. |
| Unincorporated Lincoln County | No stand-alone apartment recycling mandate | Lincoln County’s solid-waste chapter focuses on transfer stations, excluded materials, and hauler licensing. While there is no explicit apartment-only recycling threshold, facilities must not accept excluded materials and haulers/recyclers must be licensed. Violators who do not correct issues within 30 days after notice are subject to a fine up to $200 and up to 30 days imprisonment for each violation, which can apply to improper handling of solid waste or excluded materials. |
| City of Watertown | No codified apartment-only recycling mandate | Watertown runs a structured residential refuse and recycling program backed by a Refuse & Recycling Manual. The city emphasizes correct use of garbage, recycling, and yard-waste containers and strictly prohibits certain materials at the Watertown Regional Landfill. Individuals who dump prohibited materials are subject to fines, penalties, and removal/cleanup costs. Apartment properties are expected to work with haulers so their loads comply with the manual and landfill rules, even though there is no explicit apartment-only recycling ordinance. |
| Codington County (Outside Watertown) | No apartment-specific recycling mandate | Codington County relies on state solid-waste law (SDCL 34A-6), zoning ordinances, and landfill permits rather than a separate county apartment recycling ordinance. Illegal disposal, unpermitted disposal sites, and non-compliance with permit conditions can trigger civil penalties under South Dakota solid-waste law. Multifamily properties should align with permitted facilities’ rules and Watertown Regional Landfill requirements when that facility is used. |
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha / Lincoln, Watertown – Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Sioux Falls General Penalty: Unless a different penalty is specified, violations of city code (including Chapter 57 garbage and recycling provisions) can be prosecuted as misdemeanors with a fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both. Each day a violation continues may be treated as a separate offense.
- Minnehaha County Separation Requirement: Commercial uses, including apartments, must separate recyclables and keep them out of the sanitary landfill. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement through the County Solid Waste Ordinance, affecting hauler permits and potentially triggering separate penalties under state law.
- Lincoln County Solid Waste Chapter: Violators must be warned and given 30 days to correct issues. If not corrected, they are subject to a fine not to exceed $200 and imprisonment not to exceed 30 days for each violation of the solid-waste chapter, which can apply to handling of excluded materials, facility rules, and licensing.
- Watertown Regional Landfill: Loads containing prohibited materials (e.g., tires, liquids, waste oil, hazardous waste, lead-acid batteries) can result in fines, penalties, and required cleanup/removal costs for the customer or hauler delivering the load.
- Codington County & SDCL 34A-6: Violations of South Dakota solid-waste laws, including illegal dumping and failure to comply with landfill permit conditions, may result in civil penalties under state law in addition to any local enforcement action.
- Risk Management Tip: For both Sioux Falls and Watertown-area communities, property managers should maintain hauler contracts, service logs, contamination photos, and resident education materials as a ready-to-share compliance file.
Sioux Falls & Watertown Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Area | Verify whether your community is inside Sioux Falls city limits, in unincorporated Minnehaha or Lincoln County, or within Watertown / Codington County. Your exact location controls which recycling, separation, and landfill rules apply to your property and residents. | Sioux Falls – Chapter 57 · Minnehaha County Solid Waste · Lincoln County Solid Waste |
| ☑ Engage a Compliant Hauler | Confirm your hauler is licensed/approved for your jurisdiction and that your agreement includes recycling collection where required (Sioux Falls apartments and Minnehaha commercial/apartment separation). In Watertown/Codington County, ensure your hauler understands landfill prohibited materials so resident loads don’t cause surcharges or penalties. | Sioux Falls Recycling Info · Watertown Solid Waste |
| ☑ Design Capacity & Collection Points | For Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County properties, right-size your recycling container capacity so residents have a practical way to comply with separation rules and apartment recycling expectations. Place recycling in visible, convenient locations (or integrate with valet trash collection points) so residents are not forced into non-compliant disposal behavior. | Sioux Falls Recycling Guide · Apartment Recycling Requirements (PDF) |
| ☑ Resident Education & Onboarding | Provide clear move-in packets, door hangers, or digital guides that explain what residents can recycle, where to place bags/containers, and how valet trash interacts with your recycling program. In Sioux Falls, this helps you demonstrate that you are meeting the apartment owner education obligation in Chapter 57. In Watertown, it helps keep prohibited materials out of landfill-bound loads. | Watertown Refuse & Recycling Manual |
| ☑ Document Compliance & Inspections | Maintain a simple compliance file: hauler agreements, service calendars, photos of collection areas, contamination notices, and resident communications. This protects owners and property managers if an inspector questions separation, container conditions, or landfill loads tied to your community. | South Dakota Solid Waste / Recycling Statutes |
| ☑ Consider Valet Trash & Recycling | Use a structured doorstep collection program to move residents away from over-filled enclosures and inconsistent self-hauling. A well-designed valet program helps residents comply with separation and recycling rules while keeping your property inspection ready year-round. | Request a Free Compliance Audit |
Need to keep your Sioux Falls or Watertown-area property out of the penalty zone? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Sioux Falls / Watertown community. We’ll review your current hauler setup, right-size containers and service, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the inspector-ready documentation you need to show alignment with Sioux Falls Chapter 57, Minnehaha & Lincoln County ordinances, and Watertown Regional Landfill rules.
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