Success Stories:
St. Paul Meat Shop Gets Lean by Recycling More
When the St. Paul Meat Shop was preparing to open in
2015, they wanted to find
ways to reduce waste and
maximize their recycling. In addition
to recycling cans, glass, and plastic,
they also wanted to collect food scraps, butcher paper and other organics.
The St. Paul Meat Shop worked with the Minnesota Waste Wise
Foundation to apply for a BizRecycling grant. The grant money they
received was used to buy color-coded
bins and a supply of compostable bags for collecting organic materials.
BizRecycling works with interested businesses of all sizes in Ramsey and
Washington counties to start or improve their recycling or organics programs.
The results of
the St. Paul Meat Shop’s
recycling efforts were a huge success.
They are collecting more than 18,000 pounds
of organics a year, and recycling over 10,000 pounds of materials. Their single 96-gallon
trash cart sits next to two large 2-yard containers, one for organics and one
for recycling. “It’s
truly surprising how little trash you
generate when you’re diligent about sorting
out organics and recyclable
items,” shared St. Paul Meat Shop manager Nick Mangigian.
News You Can Use:
Yard
Waste Collection Site Signage Gets a Face Lift
If
you’ve been to a Ramsey County yard waste
site recently, you may have noticed that the entrance signs were replaced. The
signs were redesigned to make them easy to read and more eye-catching. If you
haven’t seen them yet, check them out this fall!
The ABCs of Batteries
There
is often confusion about what to do with unwanted, spent batteries. Not all
batteries have the same disposal requirements. Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C,
and D) no longer contain mercury and are safe to dispose of in the trash. Other
batteries like vehicle, rechargeable and button batteries are hazardous and
must be taken to a household hazardous waste site
for safe disposal. If you have questions, visit RamseyRecycles.com/hhw
or call 651-633-EASY (3279).
Update on the Solid Waste Management Master Plan
The Ramsey County Solid Waste
Management Master Plan (master plan) public input period has closed
and will go before the County Board on October 3 for a policy discussion. The master
plan is a strategy-based community “blueprint” for guiding recycling, reuse and
garbage policy that supports healthy people, a healthy economy and a healthy
environment. Several key themes in the 2016-2036 master plan include:
- Environmental justice.
- Resource, not waste.
- Product stewardship.
- Community engagement.
- Partnership with Washington County.
- Risk reduction.
- Alignment with Ramsey County’s vision and
goals.
A draft of the 2016-2036 master plan was open for
public input August 9 - September 1. Staff are now reviewing the input and the
final plan is expected to be released in October. Visit ramseycounty.us/masterplan
for more details.
Cardboard
Cans Now Recyclable
Did
you know? Those chip canisters and nut cans are now recyclable. That’s
right! You can put cardboard cans of any brand in your household
recycling! If you have questions, call your recycling
service provider or your city. You can also call Ramsey County’s hotline at
651-633-EASY (3279), answered 24/7.
Quick
and Convenient Resource for Getting Rid of over 400 Items
Ever wonder what to do with old lava lamps, egg cartons, arcade games, ear buds or hard drives? Ramsey County’s easy and convenient
A to Z Recycling and Disposal Guide
has disposal information for over 400 items. This online database features
everyday items, such as pizza boxes and toilet paper tubes as
well as provides direction on how to dispose of bulky items, like couches, mattresses and other
large furniture. It also has information on how to safely dispose of
appliances, such as refrigerators and microwaves, as well as electronics.
Next time you’re unsure how to dispose of an old or broken
item, be sure to check out the A to Z Recycling and Disposal Guide.
Questions or comments about the guide? Email AskEH@co.ramsey.mn.us
or call 651-266-1199.
Did you know?
The
Recycling & Energy Center, which is a trash processing facility owned by
Ramsey and Washington Counties, revamped its tour program this year. Tour
participants can now view real-time video feeds of trash being tipped, conveyed
and shredded into a fuel used to produce electricity. In addition, school-aged
participants can now play a hands-on game to learn about recycling. Find out
more at www.morevaluelesstrash.com/tours.
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