Signs directing traffic to the Compost Site's new entrance; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
The Olmsted County Compost Site has been redesigned. Residents can now drop off yard waste and pick up finished compost in one convenient location. This means no more waiting in line at the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility Scale House to purchase compost.
In addition, one-way traffic through the site prevents backups along Silver Creek Road – allowing residents heading to the Recycling Center Plus, Hazardous Waste Facility, and Compost Site to drop off waste faster and safer than before. Visitors should look for signs directing traffic to the new entrance on the south side of the site.
Aerial photo of the Compost Site; photo credit Zachary Wood
Donation boxes have been placed on-site for residents who wish to support the Compost Site's daily operations. The following donation rates are suggested:
Yard Waste Drop-Off: $5.00
Finished Compost:
- $0.50/ 5-gallon bucket
- $5.00/ car load
- $20.00/ pickup or trailer load
An Olmsted County employee is available to load 10,000# (or greater) GVW vehicles for a fee of $15.00 per ton or $12.00 per cubic yard. The Compost Site is open seven days a week during daylight hours. For more information, visit our Compost Site webpage.
Loader makes room for more leaves at the Compost Site; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
Storing feedstock in plastic wrap has become a common practice for Midwestern farmers. This storage method is relatively inexpensive, prevents losses due to spoilage, and can reduce risk to employees.
Historically, the plastic film used in silage wrap presented a disposal challenge as few recycling markets were available to accept the material. Much of the plastic ended up buried in the ground or burned on site.
Bales wrapped in Ag plastic; photo crediit John Silver
Last December, Revolution Plastics distributed the first collection dumpsters to Minnesota farms. Participation has skyrocketed. Over 4,400 dumpsters are currently serving farms across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. According to Price Murphy, Director of Operations at Revolution Plastics, "the program is going strong and we are keeping over 3,000,000 lbs. of Ag plastics out of our landfills, or from being burned on the farm, every month." Once collected, the Ag wrap can be recycled into trash bags, construction film, and additional Ag plastics.
To participate in this FREE program, farmers must generate 2,000 lbs. of Ag plastic annually. Farmers can partner with one another if they do not meet the minimum tonnage individually; they can also deliver Ag plastic directly to a regional facility.
More information about the program can be found at revolutionplastics.com or by calling 844-490-7873.
In September of this year, sewer workers under the streets of London discovered a 130 ton congealed mass of sanitary wipes and cooking fat. Weighing approximately the same as a blue whale, high-pressure hoses were needed to break apart this rock-solid blockage (read the full story at the BBC's website).
This holiday season, do yourself and your community a favor by keeping grease from family dinners out of sinks and other drains. Sewer workers everywhere dread this time of year when the problem of “fatbergs” – clogs of fats, oils, grease (aka FOG), and wipes – worsens, leading to backups and costly repairs. Other sources of pipe-clogging FOG include:
- Cooking oil
- Fats/grease from turkey and ham (and other meats)
- Shortening
- Butter
- Baked goods
- Sauces
- Mayonnaise
Here’s how you can help. Do not pour grease down sink drains, floor drains, or into toilets. Dispose of fats, oils, and grease by pouring them onto paper items in the trash, or into a non-recyclable container and then into the trash.
Another option is to soak up grease with pieces of crusty bread. The bread can be placed in bird feeders for wild critters.
Wipe greasy pans, pots and other dishes out with a paper towel before washing. Furthermore, wipes clog pipes, so throw sanitary wipes in the trash even if their packaging says "flushable."
"Fatberg" lodged in wastewater pipe at Austin, MN Wastewater Treatment Facility; photo credit Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "the volume of household waste in the United States increases 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. The following tips can help you bring that percentage down in your household.
1. Americans buy approximately 1.5 billion greeting cards during the holiday season. Try sending your Christmas card electronically instead of on paper.
2. Try any one of these 15 alternatives to holiday gift wrap – via huffingtonpost.com.
3. Gift an experience. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has compiled a list of gift-giving alternatives.
- Lessons - Museum passes or membership to a community center or park - Tickets to a play - Teach someone the secrets behind your special talents - Cook or clean for them
More tips on a zero-waste holiday can be found at the MPCA's website.
4. After those large family meals, save water by scraping plates into the garbage instead of rinsing them at the sink. As an additional resource, the City of Tampa, FL has created a list of easy ways to save water during the holidays.
5. The holidays wouldn't be the same without the variety of foods that come with them. Unfortunately, a good portion of these seasonal favorites is tossed in the trash. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that 30-40 percent of our food supply is wasted each year. Websites like www.stilltasty.com can help you determine how long to keep food before you throw it out. For more information, check out this list of tips to reduce food waste at home - via Minnesota Public Radio - News.
They're the type of gifts usually "saved for last." Whether it's a big screen TV, laptop computer, or the latest cell phone, tech gifts are sought after by the young and old alike. But once that new flat screen is unwrapped, recipients are left with the question of what to do with the old one.
In 2016, Olmsted County residents recycled over 250 tons of electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste contains valuable metals like aluminum, copper, gold, and silver. It also contains hazardous materials like mercury, lead, and cadmium so it's important that e-waste is recycled properly.
Residents can recycle electronics by bringing them to the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus. A fee of $0.25 per lb. is charged to offset the cost of processing. Cell phones can be brought to the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility for free.
More information can be found by entering items into the Waste Wizard at olmstedwaste.com.
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