$50K grant, disposal records, infectious waste

Winter 2023

Get up to $50K to help your business protect employee and environmental health

Sponsored by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy in partnership with Minnesota Waste Wise, the Business Pollution Prevention Program helps businesses reduce the use of harmful chemicals, transition to safer, more sustainable chemicals, and install high-efficiency equipment.

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License fees coming soon

Fees for 2023-2024 hazardous waste generator licenses will be emailed in March. Payments are due by April 30. You’ll receive your new license automatically via email shortly after paying your fee. Remember to post your license in a public area.

Know the difference: Hazardous, infectious and dual waste Hazardous wastes have a chemical risk. They have hazardous waste characteristics (ignitable, oxidizing, corrosive, reactive, toxic or lethal) and/or are listed on the F, K, P or U lists. Learn more Note: pharmaceutical waste is assumed to be hazardous waste unless evaluated as non-hazardous by the generator or is listed as exempt. Infectious wastes (including pathological wastes) have a biological risk. Infectious wastes include blood or certain body fluids, wastes that will release blood or certain body fluids when compressed, contaminated sharps from human or animal use, live or attenuated vaccines, and infectious cultures and equipment used to manipulate those cultures. Learn more Dual wastes are infectious and hazardous. An example is a needle and syringe (infectious waste) containing an unusable portion of a vaccine (hazardous waste). Containers with both sharps and pharmaceuticals are also dual wastes. Follow infectious and hazardous waste requirements when managing dual wastes.

Tips for organizing disposal records Hazardous waste generators must keep disposal documentation for at least three years. Here are some tips to keep records organized, accurate and readily available. Track manifests. Make sure you receive the three-signature copy of each manifest, indicating your waste arrived at its appropriate destination. You are responsible for contacting the vendor if you don’t receive this copy. Staple two- and three-signature copies of the same manifest together. This is an easy way to track which manifests still need a three-signature copy. Organize disposal documentation by year. Consider using a different paper or digital folder for each year. Paper or digital formats are okay. Make sure they are readily available. Tell others. Make sure multiple people at your business know where records are kept.

Did you know?

All trash generated in Ramsey and Washington counties is brought to the Recycling & Energy Center, where it is processed using high-tech equipment to recover valuable materials and divert waste from landfills. Go behind the scenes (video, 9 minutes).

News Flash

• The Solid & Hazardous Waste Team is hiring an intern. Consider applying by Feb. 17 to be part of a positive, fun and inquisitive team.
  
  
• Consider joining the Business Advisory Council to provide feedback on Ramsey County’s hazardous waste licensing program.
  
  
• The Recycling Association of Minnesota and Solid Waste Association of North America are hosting their annual conference on April 25 and 26. Those who work or are interested in the waste and recycling industries are welcome to join.
  
  
• Let your hazardous waste inspector know if your business closes, moves or changes ownership. Your inspector will help you with changes in your license.

Hazardous waste portal
Update contact information, see your hazardous waste management plan and more with our online portal.

Hazardous waste fact sheets
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency publishes fact sheets covering a variety of hazardous waste topics.

Hazardous waste management vendor list
This list (PDF) provides information on businesses that dispose of or recycle hazardous waste.

Online hazardous waste training
Ramsey County’s free, on demand hazardous waste training available in English and Spanish.

Report a spill or release
Learn who to contact if your business has a hazardous material spill.

Grant Roundup

BizRecycling
BizRecycling helps businesses, non-profits, schools, apartment buildings and institutions in Ramsey and Washington counties reduce waste and recycle better.

BizRecycling Waste Reduction & Innovation Grant
Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy offers funding to support businesses, non-profits, schools and colleges to implement projects that prevent waste.

Business Pollution Prevention Program
This program offers technical and financial assistance to help businesses reduce the use of harmful chemicals, transition to safer, more sustainable chemicals, and install modern, high-efficiency equipment.

Deconstruction Grant
Commercial properties in Ramsey County can receive up to $10,000 for projects that use deconstruction/salvage techniques.

MPCA Grants & Loans
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency offers grants and financial assistance for environmental projects in Minnesota.

Inspector Territories

Elsie Lundquist: 55103, 55104, 55106, 55130, 55155, 55414, 55421
Erin Wetzstein: 55101, 55102, 55105, 55107, 55114, 55116, 55118
Paul Gelbmann: 55110, 55119, 55126,55127, 55144 and Facilities
Ahmet Baysal: 55112, 55113, 55432
Molly Flynn: 55109, 55117
Terese Bordeau: 55108, 55449

Self-audits are distributed according to ZIP code.

Do you have feedback or ideas for the Haz Waste Quarterly? Let us know at RamseyHazWaste@ramseycounty.us.

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