ICY CHAOS LEAVES ANOKA RESIDENTS WAITING: SATURDAY MAKEUP RECYCLING SERVICE SET AFTER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

ANOKA, MN,

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the City of Anoka issued a clear, urgent advisory to residents after severe winter weather disrupted regular municipal recycling services earlier in the week. The city, relaying official notice from ACE Solid Waste, confirmed that recycling collection scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, went uncompleted in portions of the service area due to treacherous road conditions, and that crews will return on Saturday, February 28 to fulfill the missed routes.

The interruption, officials said, was not a result of mechanical failure or staffing shortages but of meteorological force: a brief but potent burst of freezing rain glazed roads across the Twin Cities metro, transforming ordinary pavement into slick, unpredictable surfaces and forcing public works and service providers to weigh worker and resident safety against operational necessity.

Winter’s Subtle Menace

What may have seemed a modest winter precipitation event belied its impact. A “light glaze” of ice, barely visible to the untrained eye, was enough to turn highways into hazards. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the Twin Cities region early Tuesday, warning that even minimal freezing rain could produce dangerously slippery travel conditions.

By mid-morning, that warning proved prescient. Roadway sensors, Department of Transportation imagery, and emergency reports traced a cascade of consequences: dozens of crashes, numerous vehicle spinouts, and at least one jackknifed semi-trailer that closed part of Interstate 94 near Maple Grove, snarling commuter and commercial traffic alike and underlining just how quickly ordinary travel can degrade in a cold-weather environment.

While regions enduring blizzard conditions make national headlines, as in the ongoing winter storm systems affecting much of the United States, the danger of a freezing rain “glaze” is different but no less disruptive. It can strike with little warning, coating pavement in an almost invisible layer of ice that defies tire grip and overturns even experienced motorists’ expectations.

City and Contractor Respond

In its advisory, the City of Anoka, citing information from ACE Solid Waste, the contractor responsible for curbside recycling collection, confirmed that crews abandoned portions of Tuesday’s routes because the ice made roadways unsafe for collection vehicles and personnel. ACE Solid Waste, the city noted, is committed to both the safety of its staff and the reliability of its service.

Under the rescheduling plan:

• If your recycling was not collected on Tuesday, it will now be serviced on Saturday, February 28, provided that your recycling container is at the curb by 6:00 a.m..
• If your recycling was collected on Tuesday, do not expect a second pickup this weekend.
• Residents with questions or route concerns can contact ACE Solid Waste at 763-427-3110 or visit the company’s official website for additional clarifications.

Officials urged residents to take the simple precaution of early placement and clear access for carts, noting that in winter conditions even small obstructions can delay service.

Looking Ahead

The broader Twin Cities forecast shows temperatures dropping after the Tuesday mix, with colder air lingering into the weekend, a stark contrast to the slightly above-freezing conditions that briefly melted the ice mid-week. While cold, the anticipated Saturday conditions are expected to be more predictable and stable, affording collection crews safer travel and operation.

For many Anoka residents, the delayed pickup is a reminder that even routine municipal services are inextricably tied to the rhythms of the seasons and to the capricious nature of Midwestern winter weather. In a community that prizes reliability, the city’s transparent communication and the planned makeup date offer both reassurance and an acknowledgment of shared responsibility when nature intervenes.

MinneapoliMedia