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An environmental health newsletter from Ramsey County. |
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2025 year in review
The Environmental Health division of Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health had a busy year opening and running the new Environmental Center, inspecting and licensing businesses, and providing programs, services and grants to help residents, businesses and schools reduce waste.
Join us as we look back on some of the work we accomplished in 2025 to serve Ramsey County residents.
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Environmental Center
- The Ramsey County Environmental Center opened April 1, 2025, expanding options for residents to safely dispose of household hazardous waste and recycle electronics, scrap metal, food scraps, household recycling and more.
- The Environmental Center distributed 123 compost bins, 120 rain barrels and 13 cubic yards of compost during the compost bin and rain barrel sale and Plate-to-Garden compost giveaway event.
- The Ramsey County School Supply Swap rehomed more than 2,551 pounds of school supplies to 145 swap participants and multiple community groups.
- Residents shredded and recycled 11,040 pounds of confidential paper at the September paper shredding event.
- Approximately 50,000 people visited the Environmental Center in 2025.
- Services continue to expand at the Environmental Center, including plastic yard sign and plastic film recycling.
 Waste reduction and reuse
- Ramsey, Hennepin and Washington counties offered two zero waste challenges to help residents reduce household waste. During the Stop Food Waste Challenge, 628 participants prevented 3,156 pounds of food waste. Nearly 1,690 residents participated in the Plastic-Free Challenge to learn how to reduce single-use plastics.
- More than 2,000 tons of commercial waste were diverted through Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy's waste reduction and recycling programs.
- The Food Scraps Pickup Program expanded sorting capacity and will be available to more communities in 2026.
- In 2025, 726 residents attended Fix-It Clinics to repair items for free and learn repair skills. Volunteers helped fix 896 items, keeping more than 4,563 pounds of materials out of the trash.
- Residents made about 450,000 visits to yard waste drop-off sites last year to drop of leaves, grass, food scraps and more for free.
- Ramsey County began developing a Wood Waste Management Plan and secured funding to purchase wood waste processing equipment.
 Recycling
- Ramsey County hosted two Recycling Ambassador trainings for residents to learn about recycling, waste reduction and sustainability programming. Over 40 new Recycling Ambassadors completed the training and started volunteering to advocate for healthier and more sustainable communities.
- Staff supported over 100 different events across the county, interacting with over 10,000 residents with the help of Recycling Ambassador volunteers.
- The Recycling Exists campaign explains what happens to recyclables after collection. In partnership with Washington, Hennepin, Dakota, Scott and Carver counties, the campaign was seen 24,703,764 times. Staff and Murphy, the Recycling Exists unicorn mascot, also promoted recycling to 1,853 people at five St. Paul Saints baseball games.
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BizRecycling supported 465 businesses and apartment buildings with technical assistance and resources to improve recycling and reduce waste.
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Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy staff led more than 120 tours of the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Center, welcoming nearly 2,000 people. Tours help visitors learn how their waste is managed and encourage them to reduce, reuse, recycle and responsibly manage their waste.
- In partnership with Second Chance Recycling, Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy recycled 16,516 mattresses, keeping them out of the trash.
 Hazardous waste and food/pool/lodging regulation
- The Community Environmental Health program conducted more than 1,700 inspections of establishments that serve food as well as public swimming pools, hotels and manufactured home parks.
- Staff issued hazardous waste generator licenses for more than 1,600 organizations, and conducted close to 800 hazardous waste inspections.
- The pre-demolition program followed up on 100 demolition projects, and conducted inspections to ensure major appliances, asbestos and hazardous materials were managed properly before demolition.
- Staff licensed 100 solid waste haulers, six transfer stations and 16 facilities, including the Environmental Center.
 Healthy Homes
- In 2025, the Lead Remediation Program enrolled 47 properties and helped residents replace original windows coated with lead-based paint. County assistance supported the removal of 900 windows from homes with young children.
- The Asthma Intervention Program provided home visits to 40 families to identify asthma triggers and provide resources and education.
- Residents purchased 477 $2 radon test kits to test radon levels in their home.
- Staff visited Murry Middle School to teach students about radon. Students from the school submitted creative posters to the Minnesota Department of Health's Radon Poster Contest. (Pictured below are Mrs. Crowley and some of her students at Murry Middle School.)
Thank you for supporting our programs. We look forward to continuing to serve Ramsey County in 2026!
Good to know
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Fix-It Clinic
Saturday, Jan. 24
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Last items accepted at 12:30 p.m.
Ramsey County Environmental Center
Learn more
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A to Z Green Guide
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.
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 reduce waste. Many cities and Saint Paul district councils lend out containers. Find a pick up 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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