Summer 2009.indd - Sherburne County

Page 4 – Environmental Educator – Summer 2009
Cardboard & Paper Recycling Events
Calendar of Events
Princeton Girl Scouts Troop 578 and Becker Boy Scouts Troop 92 are again recycling paper and
cardboard for Sherburne County residents and businesses in 2009. The Scouts accept flattened
cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, copy paper, and magazines. Drop off your donations
or paper material in the labeled recycling bins.
No plastic bags or phone books please.
August 5 .........................................................................
The Princeton Girls Scouts will have bins available on the second Saturday & Sunday of each
month at the Pamida Store located in Princeton. Assistance will be available on Saturdays from
10am-1pm.
The Becker Boy Scouts will be available the first Saturday of each month to assist residents and
businesses wishing to recycle their paper products at Jubilee Foods in Becker. Free pick-up service
is available in the Becker area for those who are interested. Please contact Shawn Johnson of the
Becker Boy Scouts at 763-262-5566 for more information on pick-up service.
Unwanted Prescriptions &
Over-The-Counter Medication
Collection Event
Sheriff’s Office at Palmer Township Hall
September 2 ....................................................................
Unwanted Prescriptions &
Over-The-Counter Medication
Collection Event
Zimmerman Public Safety Building
City of Elk River
Fall Clean Up Week
– October 19th -23rd
September 10 ..................................................................
The City of Elk River will once
again be offering a Fall Clean Up
week October 19th-23rd at the
Elk River Landfill. City of Elk
River residents are encouraged to
dispose of their unwanted items
at a reduced rate. Items accepted
for a nominal fee include: tires,
appliances, furniture, mattresses/
box springs, electronics, and scrap
metal.
September 14-15 ............................................................
Please note, all City of Elk River
residents must pre-purchase a
voucher from the City of Elk River
beginning October 12th, however,
the items may not be delivered until
the actual week of the collection
event.
October 19-23 ................................................................
Please contact Nicki BlakeBradley with the City of Elk River
at 763-635-1073 for additional
information.
Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Event
Sherburne County Fairgrounds, Elk River
September 26 ..................................................................
Elk River Watershed Cleanup
– Pre-Registration Required – Contact Sherburne SWCD
Location Varies
County wide Mattress
Recycling Event & City of Elk
River Fall Clean Up Event
Elk River Landfill (Vouchers Required)
February 27 ...................................................................
4th Annual Energy Expo
Twin Lakes Elementary, Elk River
ST
PHONE
Becker True Value
140893 Bank St.
Becker
(763) 261-4464
Mon.-Fri. 8-7, Sat. 8-5, Sun. 10-3
Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, HID Bulbs, Household Batteries
Central Appliance Recyclers
3107 Hwy. 10 SE
St. Cloud
(320) 252-3221
9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F, 9 a.m.-noon Sat.
Appliances, Air Conditioners, Household Batteries & Electronics
City of Becker
Call for directions
Becker
(763) 261-4449
24 hours
Yard Waste, Branches and Trees less than 12” in diameter
City of Big Lake
Call for directions
Big Lake
(763) 263-2268
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day
Yard Waste, Christmas Trees, Branches less than 12” in diameter
City of Elk River
19000 Proctor Rd.
Elk River
(763) 635-1120
M-F 7 to 4:30
Used Oil, Filters, Antifreeze, Yard Waste
City of Zimmerman
25499 2nd St. E.
Zimmerman
(763) 856-4666
Fri. 3 to 7, Sat. 9 to 1
Used Oil, Filters, Yard Waste, Household Batteries
East Side Oil
621 SE Lincoln Ave.
St. Cloud
(320) 252-9711
24 Hours
Used Oil & Filters
Citywide
Elk River
(763) 441-2020
Call for recycling bin
Food & Beverage Cans, Glass & Plastic, Newspaper, Cardboard
22460 Hwy. 169 NW
EIk River
(763) 441-2464
7 a.m.-4 p.m. M-F, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat.
Appliances, Tires, Auto Batteries, Unbagged Compost, Electronics
Rite-Away Oil
522 Dodge Ave.
Elk River
(763) 241-1103
Mon.-Sat. 8-5
Used Oil & Filters (5 gallons or less)
Jerry’s Auto Salvage
20798 Hwy. 10
Big Lake
(763) 263-2600
M-F 8-5, Sat. 8-12
Complete or Parts of Autos, Batteries, Tires (at a cost),
Aluminum, Tin, Steel, Used Oil
11680 Hwy. 10 SE
Becker
(763) 261-2458
M, W, F, 8-4, Sat. 9 a.m. noon
Utility Poles and Trees
Python’s Recycling Center
550 4-1/2 St. NE
St. Cloud
(320) 253-2054
M-F 8:30-5, Sat. 8:30-2
Metals, Glass, Plastic, Cardboard, Magazines/Newsprint,
Books, Paper
B & E Recycling
16501 Hwy. 10
Elk River
(763) 441-7211
M-F 8:30-5, Sat. 8:30-1
Aluminum, Metals, Cardboard, Appliances, Fluorescent Bulbs,
Household Batteries, TVs, Computers, Electronics
Schmiege’s Salvage
25140 Hwy. 169
Zimmerman
(763) 856-2037
Mon.-Fri. 9-5, Sat. 8-noon
Complete or Parts of Autos, Batteries, Tires (at a cost),
Aluminum, Tin, Steel, Oils, Filters, Machinery
Tri County Household
Hazardous Waste Facility
601 N. 20th Ave.
St. Cloud
(800) 450-6140
Please call for info.
Paint, Solvents, Pesticides, Cleaning Chemicals
Vonco II
15000 140th Ave.
Becker Twp
(763) 262-8662
7 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
Tree Stumps, Grubbing and Root Balls, and Unbagged Composting
Product Recovery Inc.
This newsletter is printed on
recycled paper
Please recycle it again.
Special Thanks to these Contributors
Sherburne County SWCD, City of Elk River, Sherburne County Extension,
MPCA, Lorex, Inc. and ECM Publishers.
MATERIALS ACCEPTED
LIP & PO
CITY/TOWN
Elk River Landfill
A Sherburne County Publication • 13880 Business Center Drive, Elk River, MN 55330
Household Hazardous Waste Collection .. 1
Compost locations ................................... 2
4th Annual Energy Expo .......................... 2
Emerald Ash Borer disease ...................... 2
Prescription disposal................................ 3
Unwanted electronics .............................. 3
Watershed clean up scheduled................. 3
Mattress recycling event ........................... 3
The history of trash ................................. 3
Summer 2009
Cardboard & paper recycling .................. 4
Elk River fall clean up scheduled .............. 4
Calender of events .................................. 4
KJ’s Refuge Bar & Grille, Orrock
ADDRESS
Elk River Curbside Rec.
HOURS
Vol. 17, No. 3
Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Event
SHERBURNE COUNTY AREA RECYCLING DIRECTORY
C
RECYCLING SITE
PrsrtStd U.S. Postage PAID
Permit #11 Elk River, MN 55330
ECRWSS
RESIDENT
For additional information about this publication
please contact the Sherburne County Zoning
and Solid Waste office
at 763-241-2900 or 1-800-438-0578
2009 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
COLLECTION EVENTS
The final two Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
will be held this coming September. Household Hazardous Wastes
are products that can be an environmental or health hazard when
stored or disposed of improperly. A product or substance is
hazardous when it contains one or more of the following properties:
1) Flammable – Example: Gasoline
2) Toxic/Poisonous – Example: Pesticides
3) Corrosive/Caustic – Example: Drain Cleaner
4) Reactive – Example: Ether
Reading the labels on products can help identify some potentially harmful
substances. Check for words such as CAUTION, WARNING, or DANGER. These
words can indicate that a product is household hazardous waste.
September 10 from 3pm – 6pm –
KJ’s Refuge Bar & Grille, Orrock
(8 miles north of Big Lake on County Road 5)
September 14 & 15 from 2pm – 6pm –
Sherburne County Fairgrounds, Elk River
(1 mile east of Sherburne County Government Center)
Maps and driving directions are
posted at www.co.sherburne.mn.us/
zoning/sw/hhw.php
Contact John Exner of the Sherburne
County Zoning Department for
additional information – 763-241-2900
ACCEPTABLE PRODUCTS
Ant Poison
Mothballs
Antifreeze
Motor Oil
Battery Acid (Automotive Battery)
Nail Polish Remover
Bleach
Oven Cleaner
Bug Spray
Paint (Latex/Oil)
Cleaning Solvents
Paint Thinner
Degreaser
Pool Chemicals
Disinfectant
Putty, Grout, Caulk
Drain Cleaner
Roofing Tar
Driveway Sealer
Spot Remover
Fertilizer
Stain, Varnish, Lacquer
Floor Care Products
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Floor & Furniture Polish
Transmission Fluid
Fluorescent Bulbs (Limit 10 per house)
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Furniture Stripper
Turpentine
Gasoline – Fuel
Weed Killer
Insect Killer
Wood Preservative
Kerosene
Please note, business waste will not be accepted.
Lighter Fluid
Summer 2009 – Environmental Educator – Page 3
Page 2 – Environmental Educator – Summer 2009
Sherburne County Yard
Waste Compost Locations
Putting yard or tree waste in the garbage is illegal in Minnesota.
It is also a violation of State Law to place grass clipping, leaves,
& other brush in wetlands. But caring for your lawn and garden
doesn’t have to produce expensive waste. Sherburne County
residents are encouraged to bring their unwanted yard waste to
one of the four public compost sites located throughout Sherburne
County.
The four composting sites are open year round and may be used
by all county residents for no charge. In addition, finished compost
and wood chip (brush) mulch are available at no cost on a first
come-first serve basis (residential use only). Residents wishing
to use the finished products must provide their own method of
transportation and should plan on loading it themselves.
Sherburne County Public Compost Sites accept the following
materials at no cost: grass clippings, leaves, yard waste, Christmas
trees, and tree trimmings up to 4” in diameter (please place
materials in the appropriate pile).
City of Becker Compost Facility
Directions: From Hwy 10, take Sherburne Avenue north to
Central Avenue. Go east (right) to 150th Avenue (right turn). Go
south on 150th Avenue to 122nd. Turn east (left) on 122nd Street
to 153rd Avenue. Go south (right) on 153rd to the compost site on
the west side (right) side of the road.
Phone Number (for questions): 763-261-4449
Hours of Operation: 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
City of Big Lake Compost Facility
Directions: Take Hwy 10 to County Road 43. Go south on County
Road 43 to Humbolt Drive. Take a left onto Humbolt Drive (new
frontage road). Follow Humbolt Drive to the Public Works site.
The compost site is behind the Public Works buildings. There
should be a sign stating “Yard Waste Composting” to direct
residents to the site.
Phone Number (for questions): 763-263-2268
Hours of Operation: 9am-9pm, 7 days per week
City of Elk River Compost Facility
Directions: From Hwy 10, go north on Proctor Avenue (County
Road 1) to Proctor Road (County Road 77). Turn left into the City
of Elk River Street and Park Department site. Stay on the left.
Look for small signs.
Phone Number (for questions): 763-635-1120
Hours of Operation: Dawn to Dusk
City of Zimmerman Compost Facility
Directions: Go south on Main Street from Fremont Avenue
(County Road 4). Just past the City Park ball fields, a sign is
posted at the entrance that says “Leaf and Brush Site”. Go south
past the Park n’ Ride lot and continue about a ¼ mile (following
the signs).
Phone Number (for questions): 763-856-4666
Hours of Operation: 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
For more information about Sherburne County Compost
Facilities, please contact John Exner of the
Sherburne County Zoning Department at 763-241-2900.
Mark your calendars now for the 4th Annual Energy Expo!
The 4th Annual Energy Expo will be held Saturday, February
27, 2010 from 10am – 2pm at the Twin Lakes Elementary
School located in Elk River.
The Expo will feature Energy Savings Demonstrations,
Children’s Performances, Exhibitors, Give-A-Ways, and
keynote speaker, Will Steger. Check out the fall and winter
version of the Environmental Educator for further details on
what is sure to be a fun, exciting, and educational event for
the entire family!
For further information or if you would like to be a part of
the 4th Annual Energy Expo, please contact Rebecca Haug or
Nicki Blake-Bradley with the City of Elk River at 763-6351000.
We need your help to prevent the further spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
This non-native invasive insect poses a significant threat to our natural resources.
The borer strikes ALL ash trees (black, green and white ash), and as a result this
insect could easily spread throughout Minnesota. The mortality rate for infested
trees is 100%! The only certain treatment is cutting down and destroying infected
ash trees. It is critical to our ash trees that we contain the emerald ash borer as
we work toward its eradication.
Please help us get the word out to hunters, campers, and others that they should
not transport any firewood around or out of the State. Most outbreaks have been
linked to the introduction of firewood from an infected source. People can purchase
local firewood to ensure pests are not transported to a new site.
Symptoms of EAB to watch your ash trees for are shown below under “Signs
and Symptoms”. Don’t expect to easily see the insect (it’s only about ¼ to ½ inch
long) and the “D” shaped emergence holes are difficult to find. Information on the
dangers posed by the emerald ash borer is located at www.emeraldashborer.info. If
you suspect that your ash tree has an EAB infestation, please call either City Hall
(763) 635-1073 or the Sherburne County SWCD (763) 241-1170 x3 for assistance.
Prescription & Medication
Disposal Options
The Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA) recommends that
citizens avoid disposing of expired
or unwanted medications by sending
them down the drain. Instead, the
MPCA urges citizens to discard these
substances in the trash, after taking
steps to prevent children, animals
and others from coming into contact
with them.
Traditional disposal by sending
medications down the drain may
unintentionally harm fish and
wildlife. Recent studies have found
medications, or the materials that
make up drugs, in Minnesota waters.
Some medications, such as hormones
and
antidepressants,
include
endocrine disrupting compounds
(EDCs), which interfere with the
reproduction and normal growth of
many aquatic species, such as frogs
and fish.
Medications enter the wastewater
system either through excretion by
humans or through disposal of unused
or expired quantities down a toilet or
drain. From there the wastewater
flows to a treatment system, which
uses many processes to clean up the
water, though many are not designed
to remove manmade medications. In
Minnesota, the majority of treated
wastewater discharges to a lake, river
or stream.
Before placing medications in
the trash, citizens should take the
following steps to prevent accidental
or intentional ingestion of these
substances:
-- Keep the medication in its original
container. Leave content and safety
information clearly visible, but scratch
out the patient’s name or cover it with
permanent marker.
-- Modify the contents to discourage
consumption. Add a small amount of
water or vinegar to pills or capsules
to partially dissolve them. Add table
salt, flour or a powdered spice to
liquids.
-- Seal and conceal the medication
container. Tape the lid shut with duct
tape and place the container inside a
non-transparent piece of trash, such
as an empty margarine tub. Do not
conceal medications in food.
-- Discard the container in the
garbage, not in the recycle bin.
The MPCA Web site provides
additional disposal information at
www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hhw/
pharmaceuticals.html. Citizens may
also contact their county solid waste
officer or household hazardous waste
program for alternative disposal
methods.
The Sherburne County Sheriff’s
Department offers a monthly collection
of old and unwanted prescriptions
and over-the-counter medications for
free.
August 5th from 1pm – 5pm
Sheriff’s Office located at Palmer
Township Hall
September 2nd from 8am – 12pm
Zimmerman Public Safety Building
For additional
information,
please contact
John Exner of the
Sherburne County
Zoning Office,
763-241-2900
Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Event
The City of Elk River is proud to
announce that mattress and box
spring recycling will once again be
held this October for all Sherburne
County residents.
The mattress
recycling event will be held at the Elk
River Landfill October 19th – 23rd.
Please be advised that you will need
to pre-purchase a mattress recycling
voucher at either Elk River City
Hall or Sherburne County Zoning.
Vouchers will be available one week
prior to the mattress and box spring
recycling event. The cost to recycle
your unwanted mattress or box spring
is $7.00 per item.
All mattresses and box springs must
be dry in order to be recycled. Goodwill
Industries of Duluth dismantles the
mattresses/box springs and recycles
the materials within. Mattresses
and box springs are considered a
problem material for landfills due to
the fact that they do not compact like
other wastes and will often times get
caught up in the treads of the landfill
equipment.
For additional information, please
contact Nicki Blake-Bradley at 763635-1073 or John Exner at 763-2412947.
Unwanted Electronics
Are you looking to get rid of that old TV stored in the
garage or is there an old computer hiding in the basement?
If so, there are several convenient electronic disposal
locations right here in Sherburne County.
In Minnesota, a person may not place an electronic
product containing a cathode-ray tub (CRT) in their
garbage containers. CRTs are television monitors and
computer monitors. Please note, plasma and LCD screens
are not considered CRTs, however, it is encouraged that
B & E Recycling Station
16501 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-7211
they are delivered to licensed recycler. CRTs are considered
the largest single source of lead in Minnesota’s municipal
garbage, containing 5-8 pounds of lead per unit. Lead
makes up approximately 20% of each CRT. The ban of
CRTs keeps toxic lead out of landfills and increases the
amount of materials being recycled.
Along with Minnesota (2006), several other states have
a landfill ban on CRTs. Those states include California
(2002), Maine (2006), Massachusetts (2000), New
Hampshire (2007), and Rhode Island (2006).
Unwanted electronics can be disposed of at the following
businesses located in Sherburne County:
Central Appliance Recyclers
3107 Hwy. 10 SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
(320) 252-3221
Elk River Landfill
22460 Hwy. 169 NW
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-2464
Second Annual Elk River Watershed Clean Up Event - Volunteers Needed
On Saturday September 26th,
2009 the Second Annual Elk River
Watershed Cleanup is scheduled to
take place. The clean up will begin at
9a.m. and run until 11 a.m. Volunteers
will be assigned a meeting place
as well as an appropriate cleanup
location upon registration. Cleanup
sites will be located along the river
ranging from the northern portions
of the Elk River Watershed in Benton
County to the lower portions of the
Elk River in the City of Elk River. All
volunteers will meet at their assigned
location for a light breakfast and a
quick safety meeting. As a thank-you,
all volunteers will receive a reusable
grocery bag.
This event is open to everyone;
although children under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult.
Participants must pre-register for
this event by September 4th. Please
contact: Sherburne County Soil &
Water Conservation District at 763241-1170 ext. 3
THE HISTORY OF
Year
200
1657
TRASH
Event
Romans create the first trash collection crews
New Amsterdam (now New York) passes a law making it illegal to throw wastes into
streets
1860
American newspapers are no longer printed on paper made from old, used rags. Instead,
wood is being used to create the paper.
1898
1934
New York City establishes the first garbage sorting plant for recycling.
Dumping waste into the ocean is banned nationwide.
1942-45
Americans collect rubber, paper, scrap metal, fats, and tin cans to help the war effort
during World War II. These efforts capture about one-quarter of household trash.
1987
Mobro, a garbage barge holding New York City’s trash, travels the eastern seaboard.
The waste is rejected by six states and three countries. Mobro’s trip focuses attention
on waste handling and disposal, leading to renewed interest in recycling.
2000
2005
Waste generation in the United States hits 4.63 pounds per person per day, an all time
high.
The national recycling rate tops 32%.