Success Stories:
Luci
Ancora Restaurant Takes the Next Step
Luci
Ancora restaurant in Saint Paul was already purchasing locally grown foods that
were sustainably raised. Owner, Maria Gans, wanted to take the next step and
look into recycling, so she contacted BizRecycling and their associates. It was
recommended to Maria that she update her collection signage and begin organics
and single-sort recycling.
With the new programs in place, Luci Ancora
increased their recycling by 75 percent or 33,000 pounds a year! By diverting
waste to recycling, the restaurant is also saving $2,300 a year in hauling
fees. Recycling not only helps the environment – but your pocketbook!
BizRecycling is a program of the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy
Board. To learn more, visit LessTrash.com.
News You Can Use:
Recycle Your Pumpkins
Now
that the trick-or-treaters have come and gone, what should you do with your
decaying jack-o-lanterns? You can put them in your backyard compost bin if you
have one or bring them to a Ramsey County yard waste site. There are seven
sites in the county, and they are free to Ramsey County residents. For
locations and other materials accepted, go to RamseyRecycles.com/yardwaste
or call 651-633-EASY (3279), which is answered 24/7.
Remember that leaves, grass clippings,
brush, and other plant material cannot
be mixed with your trash. Contact your
trash hauler about a separate yard waste pick-up service (for a fee) or bring
them to a Ramsey County yard waste site for free.
Where
to Recycle String Lights
Do
you have holiday lights that don’t light up anymore? They’re recyclable! Bring
them to Ramsey County’s year-round household hazardous waste site during hours
of operation. The site is located at 5 Empire Drive in Saint Paul. All types of cords are accepted. Do not
include lights with attached battery packs, electronics or appliances. For hours
and a list of other items accepted, go to RamseyRecycles.com/householdhazardouswaste or call
651-633-EASY (3279).
What
Paper Products are Compostable
If you participate in Ramsey County’s organics recycling
program, read on to find out what paper products are compostable. Shiny or waxy
paper cups, (cups from coffee shops and fast food restaurants), as well as decorative
paper plates are usually not compostable or recyclable. Shiny or waxy paper
products have a thin plastic (polyethylene) lining to prevent the product from
falling apart when it comes in contact with liquid. This is also true for ice
cream cartons and tubs. The plastic lining on these shiny or waxy paper
products makes them non-compostable and non-recyclable.
Coffee cups and cold cups that are
compostable are marked “compostable” and have the BPI or Cedar Grove
compostable logo on them. These items have been verified to fully and safely
break down in a commercial composting facility, leaving no unnatural byproducts.
Shiny or waxy paper food service products that are not clearly marked for
compostability should go in the garbage. To verify if an item is compostable,
visit www.bpiworld.org
and search the product catalog.
Plain
paper plates without a shiny coating do not need to be labeled “compostable”.
They are accepted in Ramsey County’s organics drop-off program. To learn more
about this program and find drop-off locations, visit RamseyRecycles.com/organicwaste or call
651-633-EASY (3279). Free starter kits are still available at the yard waste
sites.
 
Did you know?
Ramsey County Environmental Health has
a lead hazard control program that conducts environmental investigations on the
homes occupied by young children with elevated blood lead levels. In 2016, 82
homes with children with lead poisoning were assessed to determine
the source of the poisoning. In most cases, the source is deteriorated windows painted with
lead-based paint.
Ramsey County Environmental Health also
completes lead risk assessments on all homes under renovation by various
neighborhood rehab agencies throughout the County. In 2015, they completed
117 risk assessments, informing the
agency and the homeowner where the dangerous lead is in the home, as well as how to best minimize the lead risk.
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