|
June 2019
An environmental health newsletter from Ramsey County.
Jerry’s Foods Diverts 1.3 Million Pounds of Trash Annually
 Jerry’s Foods owns and operates five grocery stores within Ramsey and Washington counties. In 2017, they set ambitious waste reduction goals and chose to implement comprehensive recycling programs at all five locations.
To get started, they received a BizRecycling grant to purchase color coded bins and signage, and they made infrastructure improvements to collect organic recycling and general recycling for their back-of-the-house operations. The stores also added organics recycling containers for paper towels in the restrooms, and general recycling containers for cans, bottles and paper at store entrances and near checkout lines. “The program is going really well overall,” said store director, Tony Peterson, who noted that all stores combined, Jerry’s Foods diverts nearly 1.3 million pounds of material from the trash every year!
BizRecycling works with businesses in Ramsey and Washington counties to improve their recycling or organics collection. Learn more at BizRecycling.com or call 651-266-1199.
Upcoming Native Plant Sale
 Purchase Minnesota native plants from a variety of local growers at the ninth annual Landscape Revival Native Plant Expo & Market. Staff from Ramsey County Parks & Recreation will be available to provide guidance on selecting plants that support pollinators and other wildlife. The market will take place in Oakdale on June 8.
Free Backyard Composting Classes!
 Want to do backyard composting but not sure how to get started? Attend a free class by the Ramsey County Master Gardeners program. Learn the basics and benefits of home composting, including how to recycle kitchen waste, grow healthier plants and create a more sustainable garden.
This class is offered:
Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. So sign up today! If you have questions, please call 651-704-2053.
What to do with Unwanted Furniture
 Updating your home decor or planning to move soon? If you are looking to get rid of furniture that’s in good condition, find donation options on our A to Z Recycling and Disposal Guide or consider selling it on an online classified site. Or find a furniture consignment store. If it cannot be reused, contact your trash hauler about a special pickup or haul it yourself to a local disposal company.
Keep Food Safety in Mind with Delivery Meal Kits
 Do you often find yourself short on time to grocery shop and opt instead for delivered meal kits? These kits certainly make busy lives easier, but you need to be concerned about food safety. Follow these steps to safeguard you and your family:
Step 1: Before ordering, check the safety standards used. Maintaining the temperature of the food is critical to reducing the chance of contamination. Containers for food should be capable of holding cold food at 45 degrees or lower for a maximum of 2 hours.
Step 2: If possible, arrange for delivery to arrive when someone is at home or have a safe and temperature suitable place for the food delivery.
Step 3: Unpack and then refrigerate or freeze the food as soon as possible. Invest in a digital food thermometer to check the temperature of the food.
Step 4: Notify the company if the food arrives at a temperature higher than 45 degrees.
If you have any questions about the safety of your food, call one of the Federal Food Safety hotlines.
Did you know?
Recycling & Energy Center Update
 Did you know that all trash from residents and businesses in Ramsey and Washington counties goes to the Recycling & Energy Center (R&E Center) in Newport, where it is processed into fuel to make electricity? In 2018, that fuel generated enough electricity to power 40,000 homes for a year. The counties have historically provided a rebate (subsidy) to trash haulers to encourage them to bring trash to the R&E Center instead of landfills. Starting in 2020, the counties will no longer subsidize trash management, and residents and businesses will pay the full cost of trash disposal. This could increase your trash bill by $1-$1.25 per month. Learn more.
County Staff have Performed Almost 2,000 Pre-Demolition Inspections!
Ramsey County has performed almost 2,000 pre-demolition inspections since 2008 with the goal of getting the right waste to the right place for reuse, recycling and disposal. The focus of these inspections includes assuring that asbestos is identified and removed along with other regulated items such as mercury thermostats, mercury lighting, chemicals, paints, solvents, electronics and appliances.
Historically most demolitions were required to address tax forfeit or foreclosure properties, or properties were condemned because of significant code violations. During the economic downturn, the lot usually sat vacant after demolition. Now with the stronger economy, they are making way for new single-family housing, apartments and commercial buildings.
Ramsey County continues to promote building material reuse, salvage and recycling, as well as encourage residents to consider buying used building materials to close the loop on recycling and reuse. If you are remodeling your home and a material is in good condition, see our A to Z Recycling and Disposal Guide for reuse options.
|
