August Green Ramsey

Ramsey County, Minnesota sent this bulletin at 08/03/2020 10:37 AM CDT

August 2020

Food saving tips: making the most of Minnesota’s fresh summer produce

As the summer heat settles in, locally grown produce begins hitting grocery shelves, farmers’ markets and roadside stands. Visit MinnesotaGrown.com to learn when and where to access locally grown produce. Then visit SaveTheFood.com to learn how to properly store, refresh and use up produce.

The internet is full of guidance for fresh produce use and storage. Here are some food saving tips to get you started:

Local engineering firm reduces trash, saves $2,400 a year

Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH) is a large engineering and architecture firm headquartered in Vadnais Heights. The firm received a BizRecycling grant in 2018 to improve their recycling and start food scraps collection at its headquarters.

SEH used the grant money to purchase color coded waste stations and a six-month supply of certified-compostable bags. They also ordered a supply of plastic garbage liners made from recycled materials.

Inspecting food, pools and lodging establishments during COVID-19

Ramsey County has been working closely with management and employees of food, pools and hotel establishments on COVID-19 prevention. Licensed food establishments include restaurants, grocery stores, and day care and school kitchens. There are also many apartment, hotel and community and fitness center pools licensed by the county.

COVID-19 prevention efforts at licensed establishments include:

Be responsible with backyard fires

Do you enjoy your evenings sitting around a backyard fire, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows? If you are burning wood, follow these tips to protect your health and the health of others:

Do not have backyard fires when air pollution health advisories have been issued in your area. Wood smoke can make bad air days worse.
Be considerate of your neighbors. Backyard fires may cause health issues for them. Let your neighbors know you are going to have a fire so they can close their windows.
Never burn wet wood. It creates more smoke.
Do not burn any garbage. It can create more smoke and produce toxic fumes.
When cleaning out the ashes, let them completely cool, then double-bag the ashes and place them in the trash. Ashes are not accepted at Ramsey County yard waste collection sites.

Visit the American Lung Association’s website to learn more.

Check your cabinets for toxic hand sanitizers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has discovered that several hand sanitizers contain methanol, which can be toxic if absorbed by your skin. If you have any one of these products, do not use it. Dispose of them for free at a Ramsey County household hazardous waste collection site. Do not flush or pour these products down the drain or mix them with other liquids.

Learn more.

Some retailers resume plastic bag collection

After suspending their plastic bag and plastic wrap recycling programs due to safety concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, some retailers have resumed collection again.

As of early July, these retailers include:

Kohl’s.
Lowe’s.
Lunds & Byerlys.
Target.

Although we confirmed with the above retailors, we still recommend calling your local store to verify, as their status may change.

Learn more about plastic bag and plastic wrap recycling at PlasticFilmRecycling.org.

Free yard and garden advice

The Ramsey County Master Gardeners host an online consultation session every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can get advice for yard and garden problems, help identifying plants and insects, and information about gardening best-practices. This service is free and open to the public. Residents are strongly encouraged to download and complete the plant or insect diagnostic form found on the Ramsey County Master Gardener website.

These online events are held via Zoom. Join online by computer, smartphone or tablet using this link https://umn.zoom.us/s/97696903081 or by phone by calling 651-372-8299 and entering meeting ID 976 9690 3081.

Multi-unit residential properties now eligible for recycling grants

BizRecycling has expanded its program to include apartments, condos and other multi-unit residential properties. This means that multi-unit residential property owners and managers can now take advantage of the great resources available through BizRecycling. Those include free consultations with recycling experts, free resources, and grants to help reduce waste and expand or improve recycling and food scraps collection. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for properties with 5-20 units, and grants of up to $20,000 are available for properties with over 20 units. Learn more at BizRecycling.com.

Free pollution prevention assistance for businesses

Attention dry cleaners, auto body shops, industrial painters, printers and similar industries. Make your business healthier for your employees, your neighbors, your community and your bottom line. The Business Pollution Prevention Program helps businesses reduce the use of chemicals that contain or produce perchloroethylene (PERC) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These can be harmful to the environment and lead to costly disposal and regulatory fees. Receive free technical assistance and financial support of up to $50,000 to help your business transition to safer, more sustainable chemicals and modern, high-efficiency equipment.

Learn more.