City Recycling Resources
Public Health and Environment hosts quarterly meetings for city and township recycling coordinators. The meetings provide valuable learning opportunities and encourage collaboration across communities in Washington County.
Meeting topics include the county’s recycling grant program, resources available for use and distribution at community events, and discussions on innovative ways to reinvigorate residential recycling and waste reduction programs. The department publishes electronic agendas and meetings materials for the recycling coordinators.
A recycling best practices continuum has been developed to assist cities and townships in generating ideas for project level grant funding. It is the intent of these projects to increase education and awareness among residents regarding residential recycling. These efforts will help guide a community towards increased recycling rates.
Washington County offers a municipal recycling grant program to assist cities and townships with residential recycling program expenses. Grant funding levels are dependent on municipality household counts and recycling program activities. Funding levels are outlines in the guidelines below. Cities and townships are encouraged to apply for the maximum level of funding.
Through the recycling performance scorecard development process, the county realized the need to research and develop a standard list of items to be collected in all recycling programs in the county. This list is provided to cities and townships to be included in ordinances, hauler licenses and/or recycling contracts as a curbside residential recycling requirement. With the assistance of a private consultant, the following list was created based on the following specifications:
- Adequate supply of material
- Ability for haulers to collect the materials
- Demand by processers, manufacturers, exporters, etc
- Long-term market stability
Waste Reduction Campaigns
Washington County has developed a series of campaigns that collectively contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly environment. Each campaign or program includes social media graphics, images, and handouts that can be used by cities and townships.
Printed materials: To order updated printed materials, such as rack cards and brochures, please submit a request form.
Washington County also provides helpful educational resources such as learning kits and displays.
Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy offers waste reduction programs and public education campaigns that support safe, responsible waste management. The Partner Resource Hub makes it easy for partners to share accurate, ready-to-go information with the public.
Current campaigns
- Food Scraps Pickup Program
- Sharps Disposal
- Propane Tank Disposal
- Battery Disposal
- Food Waste Reduction
Print Assets
- Compost Bin Sale (PDF)
- Rain Barrel Sale (PDF)
- Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale (PDF)
Resources to help promote the Disposal Directory in Washington County.
- Disposal Directory Postcard (PDF)
Please contact Max.Dalton@co.washington.mn.us for postcard design files. - Disposal Directory Vertical Ad (JPG).
- Disposal Directory Facebook Graphic (JPG).
- Disposal Directory Ad - Winter Items (PDF).
Advertisements
- Environmental Center postcard mailer (PDF)
Please contact Max.Dalton@co.washington.mn.us for postcard design files. - Holiday "Be a Battery Hero" Advertisement (PDF)
Images: North Environmental Center
- North Environmental Center exterior 1.
- North Environmental Center exterior 2.
- North Environmental Center Free Product Room 1.
- North Environmental Center Free Product Room 2.
Images: South Environmental Center
- South Environmental Center photo 1.
- South Environmental Center photo 2.
- South Environmental Center Drop-off lane.
- South Environmental Center Free Product Room.
Social media graphics can be used to promote residential recycling best practices. These core messages are based on the Recycling at Home postcard (PDF) and the standard list of residential curbside recyclables (PDF).
Download the corresponding social media messages (PDF) to use with each graphic.
Washington County is providing these graphic and image files that can be used for educational print materials like brochures, flyers or recycling guides, or for use on community websites.
Curbside Recycling
- 6X9 single sort recycling sticker (PDF).
- Flattened cardboard.
- Newspaper and magazines.
- Mixed paper.
- Phonebooks.
- Food and beverage cans.
- Cartons.
- Glass bottles and jars.
- Plastics bottles and containers #1-2-5.