R&E Center Hauler Newsletter - Summer 2026

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy sent this bulletin at 07/20/2026 09:44 AM CDT

R&E Center Hauler Newsletter

Summer 2026 | July 20, 2026

⚠️Traffic control change at the R&E Center through October

Xcel Energy is completing gas pipeline construction near the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E) Center, which will impact traffic flow through October.

During construction:

All incoming traffic must enter through the waste delivery entrance.

All outgoing traffic must exit through the employee/visitor entrance. This entrance is for outbound traffic only.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this work is completed.

Updated hours

The R&E Center has updated hours, see below for current hours:

Monday-Thursday – 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday – 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday – Closed

Safety reminder

Help maintain safety at the R&E Center by following all posted safety requirements. When on the tipping floor, always wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and adhere to posted speed limits throughout the facility. Stay alert to equipment and pedestrians and follow directions from staff at all times.

Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe.

Hauler appreciation picnic – you're invited!

We’re excited to host another hauler appreciation picnic this summer! Join us for a BBQ lunch, connect with R&E staff and fellow haulers, and take a family-friendly tour* of the R&E Center throughout the day. You are welcome to bring your family and get a behind-the-scenes look at how we process waste and recover resources.

August 27 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | R&E Center
100 Red Rock Rd, Newport, MN 55055

*30-minute facility tours at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours are for ages 10 and older. Youth ages 10–18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Closed-toe, flat heel shoes required to participate in tours.

Food Scraps Pickup Program expansion

On July 6, 2026, the Food Scraps Pickup Program expanded to 15 additional municipalities in Ramsey and Washington counties. With this expansion, all Washington County residents are now eligible to enroll in the program.

View program availability.

The collection process remains the same. Haulers servicing residential neighborhoods, multi-unit residential buildings and senior living communities where the Food Scraps Pickup Program is available in Ramsey and Washington county service areas should deliver residential trash to either the Walter's Recycling & Refuse Transfer Station or the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Center.

Both facilities have designated tipping floors where compostable food scraps bags are separated from the trash.

Walter's Recycling & Refuse questions: 763-780-8464
Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy questions: 651-768-6670

Haulers play an important role in the success of the Food Scraps Pickup Program and are often the first point of contact for resident questions. If residents have questions about enrollment or participation, please direct them to the program website or customer service line: 651-661-9393. If you would like program talking points for your customer service staff, please reach out to Annalee Garletz, R&E Food Scraps Pickup Program Supervisor, agarletz@recyclingandenergy.org.

Information for your customers: Help encourage safe disposal of propane tanks

Help your customers safely dispose of propane tanks this summer by encouraging them to bring propane tanks to exchange locations or county environmental centers and reminding them to never place them in the trash. R&E offers ready-to-use communications resources to make it easy to share this important message.