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February 2019
Local School Saves $2,400 a Year by Managing their Trash Better
 Academia Cesar Chavez (ACC), a Spanish-English charter school in Saint Paul, needed help managing their trash better. Food waste was thrown in the garbage and their recycling efforts were “hit or miss”. They also served school lunches on foam trays with plastic forks and spoons because they didn’t have a dishwasher.
With funding and technical assistance from Ramsey County, ACC started managing their waste better by:
- Collecting lunch food waste to become animal feed for hog farms.
- Recycling milk and juice cartons in the lunchroom.
- Using reusable lunch trays, forks and spoons and washing them with their new dishwasher.
- Recycling paper, cans and bottles in the classrooms.
- Labeling all of the collection containers in Spanish and English for easy and quick disposal.
Since implementing them, ACC’s trash volume has decreased by nearly 140 cubic yards a month or the volume of seven full-size sedans. Plus, their recycling volume has increased by over 50 cubic yards a month or the volume of two and a half full-size sedans. Overall, ACC is saving nearly $2,400 a year on trash expenses!
Macalester Students Help High School of Recording Arts Recycle More
 Each year, students from Macalester College’s Psychology of Sustainability class partner with a local organization to help them engage in an environmental behavior, which typically focuses on recycling. Ramsey County staff often assist in making these connections with the community.
This fall, one group of Macalester students partnered with the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) to help them recycle more, using psychological tools and theories. Their approach was to use HRSA student talent to produce a memorable song about recycling. The Macalester students provided two HSRA students with key recycling messages and gave them complete control over the writing, singing and production of a one-minute song, which was then played at school-wide gatherings. This song was catchy, creative and effective in increasing recycling at the school. Listen to it and be impressed!
New 24/7 Organics Recycling
Drop-Off Site
 Ramsey County has a new organics recycling drop-off site in Saint Anthony. It’s located on the south side of Saint Anthony City Hall and open 24/7. Just follow the signs.
If you live nearby, pick up a free organics recycling starter kit at Saint Anthony City Hall or a Ramsey County yard waste site, while supplies last.
Ramsey County has nine collection sites for organics recycling. Find one near you!
Pro Tip: Use Ramsey County’s
A to Z Guide for Household Recycling and Disposal.
 Ramsey County’s A to Z Recycling & Disposal Guide is your one-stop shop to learn how to properly dispose of hundreds of items. From aftershave to yoga mats, and everything in between (like helium tanks, nail polish and shower curtains), this online database will help you understand the best way to recycle or dispose of an item.
Can’t find an item on the guide? Let us know at AskEH@ramseycounty.us.
As the winter months pass by and you begin to think about spring cleaning, keep the A to Z Guide in mind to help you with all of your disposal needs!
Minimize Your Risk of Getting Norovirus
 Norovirus, often mistaken as the “stomach flu”, is a very contagious foodborne illness that is shared through food, person-to-person contact, contaminated surfaces and well water. Contrary to popular belief, it is not related to the influenza virus.
Protect yourself and others against this virus by washing your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and changing diapers, and before handling or eating any food. Persons who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for three days after they recover from their illness.
If someone in your home becomes ill with vomiting and diarrhea, thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces and objects immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
Visit the Minnesota Department of Health for more information.
Ramsey County has a goal to reduce its energy use by 30 percent by 2025 and its carbon use by 80 percent by 2050. In February 2018, Ramsey County created an Energy Governance Team (EGT) to oversee the work needed to meet these goals, focusing on departments with the greatest impact on energy use. The EGT is working on:
- Developing energy policy.
- Acquiring necessary resources.
- Providing staff training and technical assistance.
- Anticipating and responding to energy trends and issues.
- Tracking progress, evaluation and continuous improvement.
Watch for future updates in Green Ramsey.
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