Existing Recycling Opportunities in Public Buildings and Potential Enhancements

State Statute 115A.151 requires public entities, including municipalities, to provide recycling containers for the collection of at least three (3) different materials in all facilities in which mixed municipal solid waste is collected.  The recently approved EPB work plan included an action item to review the current recycling opportunities within the Municipal Center and other public facilities and look at ways to promote, enhance and expand on them.

Recycling of paper (newspaper/magazines/office paper), plastic, metal and glass food/beverage containers is presently offered wthin the Municipal Center.  However, the recycling containers for these materials are only found in the two larger conference rooms (Alexander Ramsey and Lake Itasca).  It would be beneficial to provide recycling containers in the smaller, public conference rooms as well as the general lobby area.

There is also currently the opportunity to recycle cell phones, rechargeable batteries and ink jet cartridges at the Municipal Center.  Again though, the collection boxes are not readily available and apparent to residents (they are kept in the work room next to the Planning Division).  As stated above, it would be more beneficial (greater visibility) to locate these collection boxes somewhere in the main lobby/corridor so that the public sees them whenever they may be in the building.

Other opportunities for recycling more unique materials exist as well.  Through the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM), there is a 'Recycle your Holidays' program in which people throughout the state can recycle their old holiday lights.  RAM coordinates this program and offers periodic pick up of the lights collected from designated drop-off locations.  Municipalities can participate in the program as a drop-off site and really the only cost would be staff time to promote the event and possibly calling to schedule pick-ups of the material.

Recycling opportunities also exist at other public facilities, such as the pavalion in Central Park, the skate park (Alpine Park) and the warming houses at Ramsey Elementary School and Central Park during the skating season.  The 'pop bottle' shaped recycling containers are used at these sites; however, even with their distinct shape, there is, at least at times, quite a bit of contamination (garbage) that is deposited in them.

Staff has coordinated with Building Maintenance to order some small recycling containers for the public conference rooms within the Municipal Center and is exploring possible options for locating the collection boxes for cell phones, rechargeable batteries and ink jet cartridges in a more visible, high traffic locale.  The Board may wish to consider an educational campaign (use of posters/graphics) that could help promote and 'clean up' the recycling in the public facitlities and as well as provide some direction about other potential recycling options that could be explored.

Based on discussion.