Earth Day Presentation - Trash Talk: Finding the Proper Place for Your Waste in Olmsted County
Do you have questions about what you can put in your recycling cart? Are you wondering what to do with that pile of junk taking up space in your garage? Whether it’s household garbage, an old washing machine, or a can of paint, Olmsted County’s Integrated Solid Waste Management System provides a proper place for your waste.
Join us for a special Earth Day presentation Thursday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. You will learn about the unique services provided by the:
- Recycling Center Plus
- Hazardous Waste Facility
- Yard Waste Compost Site
- Waste-to-Energy Facility
- Kalmar Landfill
Time will be set aside to discuss items that should and should NOT be placed in your curbside garbage & recycling containers, as well as what happens to the materials after they are collected.
This presentation is part of a month-long lineup of EarthFest virtual events. Proper waste management helps us all to become better stewards of our environment!
Register here!
Virtually Tour the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility
Those who can’t wait for the “Trash Talk” presentation are encouraged to take a virtual tour of the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility. For over twenty years, the Environmental Resources Department has partnered with staff from Quarry Hill Nature Center (QHNC) to provide facility tours to local students. And while the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shut-down of in-person tours, staff from QHNC found an innovative way to continue providing tours virtually.
Online tourists can stop at “Hot Spots” located throughout the Waste-to-Energy Facility Control Room. When selected, each “Hot Spot” plays a brief informational video. Visitors will get a close-up look at the OWEF Tipping Floor, Pit, Combustion Chambers and much more.
The virtual tour will be available through the end of April.
Help Wanted: Recycling Materials Handler - $20.00 Hourly
The Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus currently has two openings for a Materials Handler (as of 04/16/2021). A full listing of the position can be found here.
Salary: $20.00 Hourly
Job Type: Provisional Full-Time
Job Number: SW C04-06-2021 RP
Closing: Continuous
Hours of Work: Tuesday - Saturday, Varied Hours
Union: Non-Contract
Department: Environmental Resources
Nature of Work
Under supervision of the Recycling Specialist, the Materials Handler:
- Performs work in the acceptance, processing and disposal of self-hauled garbage, recyclable materials and special wastes that are delivered to the Recycling Center Plus
- Collects and transports recyclable materials from various public buildings using county-owned vehicles
- Performs routine preventative maintenance and repairs within the Recycling Center and recycling truck, baler and other stationary and mobile equipment
- Performs daily cleaning activities within the Recycling Center complex
- Assists as back-up personnel for other waste abatement areas (hazardous waste and composting)
 The Recycling Center Plus; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
Examples of Work:
- Operates baler, forklift, and skid loader in waste abatement areas to move and process materials
- Accurately assesses self-haul customer waste loads and determines the price needed for disposal of the waste
- Interacts effectively with self-haul customers and is skilled at providing good customer service throughout their experience at the facility
- Performs modern computerized cashiering functions (for cash, check, credit card) in serving self-haul customer payment
- Loads and unloads semi-trucks that are docked using a forklift
- Collects recyclable materials from various public buildings using County-owned recycling trucks and transports to the County Recycling Center
- Assists customers in disposing of their garbage, recycling materials and special wastes in the right location and containers
- Performs routine preventative maintenance and repairs on recycling vehicle and recycling equipment
- Provides technical assistance to the public using all available media
- Performs daily cleaning of facility
- Places reusable items in a product reuse area
- Picks up and delivers supplies for waste abatement area using county owned vehicles
- Performs other waste management duties as assigned, including hazardous waste and composting areas
- Performs related duties as assigned
Visit Olmsted County's Job Opportunities page for more information and to apply.
Litter Bit Better Returns
(text via Stephanie Hatzenbihler - Rochester Public Works)
Registration has opened for the annual Litter Bit Better collection in Rochester. This year's event will run May 1st through May 9th. Volunteers are encouraged to collect litter anytime during that week while following COVID safety measures. Trash and recycling bags are provided, all you need to do is pick a location, pick a date, and pick it up! Registration information, maps and more can be found at www.RNeighbors.org/litterbitbetter.
Over 140 tons of litter have been collected since the event's first year in 2007! This year, volunteers should cleanup on their own or with groups that they already regularly gather with, such as their household, family, or workplaces. More tips for volunteers are available on the RNeighbors website and will be emailed to volunteers that register.
 In addition to this annual collection, residents are encouraged to consider the following options:
Litter Walks
Bring a small trash bag on any walks you take and pick up any litter along the way. If your dog tags along, be sure to clean up their waste too.
Adopt-a-Drain
Register for www.adopt-a-drain.org and clean up debris on storm drains in your neighborhood.
Adopt-a-Park with the City of Rochester
Visit the City of Rochester Parks and Recreation website to see what parks are available for adoption.
Prevent litter at home
Place all trash in a plastic bag and tie the bag shut before throwing it away. Do not overload your garbage and recycling containers and make sure each container cover closes completely. This helps prevent windblown trash from entering your neighborhood.
Recycle
Visit olmstedwaste.com to learn what can be recycled with your curbside hauler or at the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus.
Self-Serve Compost Available at Compost Site
Grab your buckets and shovel! It's easy to get finished compost at the Olmsted County Compost Site. Great for enhancing growth and retaining water in your flower beds and gardens, compost can be self-loaded any day of the week during daylight hours.
There is no fee for the compost, however, donation boxes are available on-site for residents who wish to support the Compost Site's daily operations. The Compost Site is located across the street from the Recycling Center Plus— 305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906.
Suggested Donation Rates
$0.50 / 5-gallon bucket
$5.00 / car load
$20.00 / pickup or trailer load
Bulk Loads
April - November: An Olmsted County employee is available to load vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lbs. (or greater) for a fee of $15.00 per ton or $12.00 per cubic yard from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
December - March: Bulk loading is available by request only; residents should call 507-328-7070 to schedule an appointment.
 A resident loads compost into their bucket at the Compost Site; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
Disposal Discussion: Paperboard Egg Cartons and Drink Holders
Residents are often surprised to learn that paperboard egg cartons and drink containers should be thrown in the garbage. The reason comes down to the tiny plant fibers that comprise these items.
Fibers derived from virgin wood pulp are longer and stronger than the fibers found in recycled paper products. Each time a piece of paper or cardboard gets recycled, the fibers get shorter and weaker. In most cases, the fibers that comprise paperboard egg cartons and drink containers have reached the "end of the line." In other words, their short/weak fibers are not desirable for making new paper products.
Throw paperboard egg cartons and drink containers in the garbage.
 Paperboard egg carton and drink holder; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
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