Waste-to-Energy in the News: Tracking Our Trash & Critical Careers
Tracking Our Trash
This past summer, staff from the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF) worked with Steve Lange—Post Bulletin General Manager & Editor of Rochester Magazine—to track a bag of household garbage from curbside collection through processing at the OWEF and final disposal (in the form of ash) at the Kalmar Landfill.
Accompanying Steve was photographer Joe Ahlquist who captured some excellent behind-the-scenes images of the OWEF and Kalmar Landfill. Along the way, readers are introduced to employees who provide testimony of challenges and opportunities faced by those who work to manage our waste responsibly.
The article can be reached via Rochester Magazine and the Post Bulletin.
 Cover of Rochester Magazine's August Edition; Photo Credit: Joe Ahlquist
Midwest Access Critical Careers
In the October 21st edition of Midwest Access Critical Careers, host Jessie Alison learns about the various careers (operators, mechanics, instrument & controls, and regulatory compliance) required to run the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility.
This is a great episode for anyone interested in exploring a new career and for those who want to learn what happens to their garbage in Olmsted County. Watch here.
 OWEF General Manager Chris Stepp interviews with Critical Careers host, Jessie Alison, Photo Credit: Midwest Access Photography
"Big Blue" Turns 20, Surpasses $3 Million in Commodity Sales
"Is recycling worth it?" This question is occasionally asked during public presentations or tours of Olmsted County's solid waste facilities. Our answer is a resounding YES—both environmentally and financially.
Environmentally speaking, there are mountains of data to support this. If interested, check out the following links to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Recycled Materials Association, American Geosciences Institute, US Environmental Protection Agency. To a certain extent, it's also common sense. If you can use existing material to produce a product rather than extract virgin resources from the earth, you're almost always going to save energy. That's a bit of an oversimplification as transport distance, processing requirements, and market demand all impact resource conservation, but the assumption generally holds up.
And if money talks, the Recycling Center Plus baler—referred to by some as "Big "Blue"—shouts! Initially purchased in 2004 for approximately $137,000, Big Blue has processed over 26,800 tons of recyclables, including:
-
fiber (corrugated cardboard, paperboard, magazines, etc.)
-
metal (soup cans, pop cans, etc.)
-
plastic bottles and containers (#1, #2, and #5)
We should note that the baler is not used to process all forms of recyclables brought to the Recycling Center Plus. For instance, glass bottles/jars, scrap steel & aluminum, electronic waste, mattresses, and more require unique forms of storage/transport. Additionally, routine maintenance comes with costs. Over the years, the facility has replaced conveyor belts, hydraulics, and rebuilt the steel in the baling chamber.
Nevertheless, the tens of thousands of bales generated by Big Blue have yielded over $3,175,000 in commodity sales, paying for the baler roughly 23 times over! This revenue is vital to supporting recycling operations as no property taxes are used to fund any solid waste programs in Olmsted County. This would not have been possible without the operational expertise of the Recycling Center's dedicated staff. With proper maintenance, Big Blue will continue to churn out bales for years to come.
 Corrugated cardboard is baled at the Recycling Center Plus; Photo Credit: Anthony Wittmer
Know What to Throw in Your Recycling Cart
America Recycles Day is recognized annually on November 15. And while we hope residents practice proper recycling habits all year long, this day provides a helpful reminder to make sure we're recycling right!
The following list of acceptable and unacceptable items was created with input from representatives of commercial waste haulers, materials recovery facilities (where recyclables get sorted) and solid waste educators/administrators from across Minnesota. That means the information is accurate regardless of who your hauler is. This guide will be posted to the Environmental Resources Facebook page on Friday November, 15th. Please share if you know someone who could use a recycling reminder!
NOTE: Those who self-haul to the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus should review the facility's list of acceptable items online.
Join us for a Community Ed. Trash Talk on November 14th
When: Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Northrop Community Education Center
201 8th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Register Here (no charge): Rochester Community Education Registration
Details: 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 waste. Participants 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.
Participants will also learn about the items that should and should not be placed in curbside garbage bins & recycling carts.
What's in Our Garbage? 2024 Waste Composition Study
The composition of our waste is constantly changing. New products are introduced while others are phased out. This presents a challenge to the garbage and recycling industry as it can be difficult to process new materials with existing infrastructure. To better understand what's in our waste, the Olmsted County Environmental Resources Department conducts a "waste audit" every five years. The audit's findings allow our solid waste facilities to plan for and adapt to changes in the composition of our garbage. The results also provide insight for our outreach and educational campaigns.
 A load of garbage being categorized during the 2024 waste sort; Photo Credit: Anthony Wittmer
Sorting Process
Olmsted County contracted with GRG Analysis—a company that specializes in waste audits—to sort and classify the waste brought to the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF). Garbage was sorted into the following categories: paper, plastics, organics, metals, glass, and other (which could include electronics, appliances, medical waste, etc.). Over the course of a week, the group classified approximately 5.5 tons of waste!
2004 Breakdown
Organics - 35%
Paper - 36%
Plastics - 17%
Metal - 5%
Glass - 4%
Other - 3%
2024 Breakdown
Organics - 50%
Paper - 19%
Plastics - 21%
Metal - 3%
Glass - 1%
Other - 6%
 What's the weirdest thing you've found?
The GRG Analysis team has been conducting waste audits across the country for approximately 35 years! Needless to say, they've seen a thing or two. Judy Gilow, the owner and team lead, listed some of the team's more memorable finds:
- wedding dresses and tuxedos
- antiques
- brass knuckles and switchblades
- a display funeral vault
- miniature working cannon (approximately 12")
Leaves Pile High at the Olmsted County Compost Site
It's been another busy fall at the Olmsted County Compost Site! From early October through Thanksgiving weekend, the site can easily surpass 30,000 visits! Overall, residents do a great job of dropping off approved items. However, we would like to remind the community that the site cannot accept brush/branches. It's also important that residents keep plastic out of their yard waste loads. These items do not break down and end up as contamination in the finished compost. For a detailed list of items that can and cannot be accepted at the Compost Site, please visit our website.
 Residents drop off yard waste at the Olmsted County Compost Site: Photo Credit: Anthony Wittmer
Holiday Waste
Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)
"Fatbergs" form in community sewer pipes when fats, oils, and greases (FOG) are poured down the drain. To keep pipes clear, pour these items into a paper product or non-recyclable container, and then throw them in the garbage.
Sanitary wipes also clog pipes. Throw them in the trash even if their packaging says "flushable."
|
Aluminum Pie Pans
CLEAN aluminum pie pans and aluminum trays are acceptable in curbside recycling carts.
Additionally, the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus has added a recycling cart designated for aluminum foil and tins. These items should not be mixed in with the facility's aluminum beverage can (pop/beer cans) bin. The Recycling Center Plus markets aluminum pie pans as aluminum scrap, provided the aluminum tins and foil are EMPTY and CLEAN.
|
Light Strands
Don't let burnt-out light strands sit around gathering dust. Bring them to the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus to be recycled (year-round). There is no disposal fee. Please Do NOT place light strands in your curbside recycling cart. They tangle sorting equipment at materials recovery facilities (MRFs). |
|
 |
Cardboard Boxes
Break down cardboard boxes so they fit INSIDE your curbside recycling cart. Don't leave boxes next to your recycling cart. The "mechanical arms" on recycling trucks are designed to grasp carts, not boxes. Snow and rain can damage a box's recyclable fibers. Placing TV boxes inside your recycling cart prevents any would-be burglars from knowing that your house recently upgraded TVs.
Corrugated cardboard boxes can also be brought to the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus. Please remove all Styrofoam™ and packing materials―throw these items in the garbage.
|
Wrapping Paper
If it can't be reused, throw wrapping paper in your curbside garbage. The same goes for ribbons, bows, and tissue paper. The Recycling Center Plus also considers wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and tissue paper to be garbage.
|
Molded Plastic
Throw rigid plastic molds in the garbage. These types of containers are often too challenging to sort at materials recovery facilities.
The plastic molds in the adjacent photo were used to encase toys.
|
Electronics
TVs, tablets, laptops, cell phones, and other electronic devices are popular gifts this time of year. Unfortunately, a newer version is always on the horizon. If the devices still work, consider donating them to a thrift store that accepts electronics.
If reuse isn't an option, electronics can be recycled at the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus for a fee―prices will vary by the item's size. E-waste contains valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper. It also contains hazardous materials like mercury, lead, and cadmium so it's important that e-waste is recycled properly. For more information about the Recycling Center Plus, visit the facility's website.
It's worth noting that the rechargeable batteries used in laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices can remain inside the device when brought to the Recycling Center Plus for recycling. The same is true for cell phones which can be recycled for free at the Hazardous Waste Facility.
If you’re replacing an electronic device’s battery but not disposing of the device, bring the rechargeable battery to the Hazardous Waste Facility.
|
Rechargeable Batteries
Lithium and other rechargeable batteries can start fires in garbage & recycling trucks, at materials recovery facilities―where curbside recyclables get sorted―and other waste facilities. "Nationally, the recycling industry is losing one facility per month to battery fires," according to Bill Keegan, president of Dem Con Companies. This does not include smaller "thermal events" which must be mitigated with fire-prevention technology on a regular basis.
Lithium and rechargeable batteries should be brought to the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility (for free) or a retailer that accepts them. Never throw them in your curbside garbage or recycling cart.
Single-use alkaline batteries can go in the trash.
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to safety concerns, the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility will NOT accept lithium-based batteries that exceed 300 watt-hours (Wh). Please call 507-328-7070 with questions.
|
Christmas Trees
Through March, Christmas trees can be dropped off at the Olmsted County Compost Site any day of the week during daylight hours. There is no disposal fee. Stands, ornaments, and lights should be removed.
Wreaths, swags, boughs, and other evergreen decorations should be placed in a bag and thrown in your garbage to prevent the spread of an invasive species known as the Elongate Hemlock Scale—a pest that feeds on conifer trees. Do not compost.
|
Disposal Discussion: Sharps
Household generated "sharps" include items like syringes, needles, lancets, EpiPens and test strips. Considered hazardous, these materials should not be thrown in your curbside garbage bin or recycling cart. Given the steady increase of medical conditions requiring self-injection—along with a drastic increase in elective medications taken for weight loss—it's never been more important to ensure these items are disposed of properly.
There is no charge for residents to bring sharps to the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility. However, the following steps are required for drop-off.
1. Place sharps in a puncture-resistant container (no milk jugs/containers) with a screw-on cap and label the container "SHARPS."
2. Bring the “Sharps” container to the Hazardous Waste Facility (HWF). The facility is located at 305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906. It is open Tuesday - Saturday from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (except for holiday closings).
3. Your container will be rejected if it contains batteries, electronic devices, or other unacceptable materials.
4. Your "Sharps" container will be placed into a red "bio-infectious" waste bag and placed in the facility sharps collection container.
Residents with questions should call 507-328-7070 or email pwservice@olmstedcounty.gov.
|
