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An environmental health newsletter from Ramsey County. |
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Get to know your fridge
Beat the heat this summer by spending some quality time with one of the coolest places in the house - the refrigerator. Getting to know your refrigerator can help you reduce food waste, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more.
When we think of climate change, we may not immediately think of mental health. Still, these two are strongly linked.
Read more.
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Become a Recycling Ambassador
Registration for the fall Recycling Ambassador Program training is now open. Recycling Ambassadors undergo a six-week training to learn more about environmental health. Using knowledge gained, Recycling Ambassadors volunteer 20 hours or more annually to encourage others to reduce, reuse and recycle. Topics covered in the training include:
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Waste systems in Ramsey County.
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Composting.
- Climate change.
- Environmental justice.
- Household hazardous waste.
- General recycling.
The trainings will take place virtually using Zoom from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday from Sept. 20 -- Oct. 25.
Volunteer activities include tabling at community events, participating in neighborhood clean-ups, assisting at monthly Fix-It Clinics and more!
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Improve your food-waste-fighting skills with the Stop Food Waste Challenge
Learning skills like creating a meal plan, buying just what you need at the grocery store, cooking creatively, and properly storing food can have a big impact on reducing the amount of food in your home that goes to waste.
The challenge goes throughout the month of August, but it’s not too late to join! The challenge has more than 60 actions to choose from to help you focus on what has the biggest impact for your household. You will get email updates with resources and tips for taking action, access to workshops and events hosted by Stop Food Waste Challenge partners, and opportunities to connect with others. Don’t miss out! Sign up for the challenge now.
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Community conversations: Environmental Service Center
Please join us at one of our community conversations to share your thoughts on designs for the new Environmental Service Center. Attendees can get a closer look at building and landscaping designs and learn more about the planned facility. County staff will be available to answer questions. All Ramsey County residents are encouraged to attend.
As a thank you for your time and ideas, participants can enter a drawing to win a $50 Visa gift card. Refreshments and interpreters (Spanish, Hmong and Somali) will be available at the in-person event. We hope to see you there!
Learn more.
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Ask EH: Can I recycle my plastic lawn chair?
Q: Can my old plastic lawn chair get recycled?
A: Bulky plastic items, including lawn chairs, children’s toys and laundry baskets are not recyclable. They must be placed in the trash.
If your lawn chair is still usable, consider donating it or offering it for free on your curb. If it is not usable, contact your trash hauler for a bulky items pick-up or bring it to a disposal company.
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Recycle your Mattel toys
Do you have any "weird" old Barbie® dolls that your kids played too hard with? Or broken Fisher-Price®, Matchbox® or MEGA® toys?
Don’t throw them in the trash! You can send them back to Mattel to be recycled through their free mail-in program. Materials will be made into new toys and other plastic products. Learn more.
If your toys are still in usable condition, find options to sell or donate them. More disposal options for toys can be found on the A to Z Recycling & Disposal Guide.
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Good to know
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Drop off household hazardous waste at the August mobile collection site. Bring paints, sealers and more to the Pleasant Arena parking lot in Saint Paul starting Aug. 4
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Follow these tips for a green start to school. Consider making the start of the school year more sustainable by following these five tips.
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A to Z Recycling & Disposal Guide
Use this guide to learn how to properly recycle or dispose of many items.
BizRecycling
BizRecycling helps businesses, non-profits, schools, apartment buildings and institutions in Ramsey and Washington counties reduce waste and recycle better.
Deconstruction Grants
Many building materials can be reused instead of being sent to a landfill. Residential properties can get up to $5,000 to support deconstruction projects. Learn more.
Gardening and landscaping
Learn more about eco-friendly gardening and landscaping from a Ramsey County Master Gardener.
Parks and Recreation
Explore what Ramsey County has to offer for parks, trails and recreational activities year round.
Radon
Radon is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas. Two in five homes in Minnesota have high radon levels that can impact health. Ramsey County offers $2 radon tests to residents. Learn more.
Recycling containers for events
Reserve free recycling and food scraps containers to help reduce waste at your next event. Containers are loaned to Ramsey County residents and organizations for any temporary event. Find a pickup location.
Soil and Water Conservation
The Soil & Water Conservation Division maintains and enhances natural resources in Ramsey County. Learn what programs are taking place in your neighborhood.
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