Source Reduction

Get Ready, Here it Comes!

With Autumn and Winter approaching faster than we would probably like, our thinking turns to preparing for the long Winter months. Leaves will soon be falling and shrubs and trees will soon need pruning. The question is...once the pruning etc. is done, what does a person do with the yard debris? In one word "compost". Whether backyard or city/county provided composting, it is the best way to take care of your yard waste. Kandiyohi County provides a composting/brush site at the county landfill which is located on North Highway 71. The City of Willmar also provides a compost/brush site which is located just off of West Highway 40. Just follow the signs, they will guide you right to the site. A backyard compost area will work well until the temperatures get colder. So, composting your organic food waste will not work in the cold winter months. One option is Vermi-Composting. Vermi-Composting is using Red Wiggler Worms to do your composting. Yes, that means worms inside your house. A properly managed worm composting bin does not smell and does not take up much space. The advantage of Vermi-Composting is that it allows you to compost your organic food waste all year round. Plus you get the rich soil to use in your house plants etc.

If you have questions concerning composting, backyard composting or Vermi-Composting, you can contact Jay @ 320 231-3587

THINK SPRING

If you're like me, as spring approaches we start getting "antsy" to get outside to begin enjoying some warmer weather. After a long Winter, Spring gives us the feeling of renewal or rebirth. Emerging perennials, grass greening and trees awakening from their winter slumber. It's just a great time of the year!

With spring arriving we start to think about caring for our lawns, shrubs and plants in an environmentally friendly way. The way to do that is to use lawn and plant enhancement products that are less toxic or non-toxic. We can tell which products are less hazardous by simply reading the labels. It's not terribly exciting but, it can make a difference when choosing lawn and garden chemicals or fertilizers. The internet is also a great place to find lawn fertilizer and weed killers that are natural/organic. There are also some homemade recipes that can be quite useful in gardening and lawn care.

Why should we be so concerned about lawn and garden chemicals? I read an article the other day that reminded me why. The article stated that recent testing of rivers and creeks has revealed an increased pesticide content. That tells me we need to pay attention to what we are putting into our environment!

If we all do our part to minimize the use of toxic chemicals, we will lessen our exposure to substances that can adversely affect our health and the environment in which we live.

BURN BARREL BLUES

Residential garbage burning using a burn barrel or fire pit has been illegal in Minnesota since 1969. So, What's the big seal with burning garbage? In 2 words..."Toxic Pollutants". Burning garbage in a burn barrel or pit releases high concentrations of Dioxin. Dioxin is a "potent human carcinogen" that can have a significant impact on human development, immune systems and reproductive systems.

What's the best way to dispose of your garbage?

1) Recycle- Many items found in residential garbage is recyclable. A. #1 and #2 Plastic Bottles. B. Paper- Newspaper, Magazines, Office Paper, Junk Mail, Cereal Box type material and corrugated cardboard. C. Aluminum and Metal Cans D. Glass- Food and Beverage containers. Clear, Blue/Green or Brown glass is acceptable.

2) Compost- A large percentage of food scraps are compostable. Virtually any organic material is compostable. Avoid meats, Eggs and Dairy products.

3) Reduce- Reduce the amount of waste you generate by purchasing products in bulk or with less packaging. It's also a good idea to purchase products in containers that are recyclable.

4) Reuse- Donate (Goodwill etc.) or Sell (Garage sale etc) household items that are still in good useable condition.

5) Household Hazardous Waste- Any household products that are hazardous to Humans, Animals, or the Environment can be disposed of at the Kandiyohi County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, which is located at 1404 SW 22nd St In Willmar.

If we Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Compost and use our HHW Facility we can move toward totally eliminating the use of Burn Barrels which in turn will greatly reduce the amount of toxic pollutants which go into the air we breathe.

If you have questions call: Jay @ 231-3587 or email at jay_b@co.kandiyohi.mn.us

CRT's

As of June 1st,2005 CRT's (cathode ray tubes) are banned from being landfilled at the Kandiyohi County Landfill.

Examples of CRT's are television sets and computer monitors. Prior to July 1st 2005 landfills in Minnesota were able to landfill CRT's, provided they were from households (for several years business's have been banned from landfilling CRT's). This new state law applies to regular households.

What hazardous materials do CRT's contain? Lead and small amount of other hazardous metals. Lead is a heavy soft metal that is hazardous to both humans and animals. CRT's are collected at the Kandiyohi County Landfill (during regular business hours) at a cost of $15.00 each.

If you have any questions please call Kandiyohi County Recycling/Household Hazardous waste @ 231-3587 or the Kandiyohi County Landfill @ 354-2707.

If you have any questions,
please call Jay @ 231-3587(Kandiyohi Co. HHW) or email @ jay_b@co.kandiyohi.mn.us

Packaging Purgatory

Do you ever wonder why manufacturers make products with so much packaging? A perfect example of "Excess Packaging" is a product called "Lunchables". "Lunchables" are targeted toward the grade school age kids. They are a convenient and quick way to pack a lunch for a grade schooler's field trip etc. and kids are told by advertisers that they are fun and cool to eat. The problem is there is a huge amount of packaging and not much food. Some of the packaging is also not recyclable in many areas of the country.

Some solutions to "Excess Packaging" are:

Buying products with less packaging.
Buying in bulk.
Packing a lunch for your child in reusable containers.
Purchasing house paint in metal cans rather than plastic containers (they are not recyclable).

Manufacturers listen closely to what consumers say and want. You speak to manufacturers by purchasing or not purchasing their products.

If we all do part, we can lessen the waste "Excess Packaging" causes.

If you have any questions please call Kandiyohi County Recycling/Household Hazardous waste @ 231-3587 or the Kandiyohi County Landfill @ 354-2707.

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