As we look back on the past year, Washington County Public Health & Environment is proud to highlight some of our accomplishments in addressing waste within the county.
On October 1, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the updated 2024-2042 Solid Waste Management Plan. This plan provides policy-based guidance to manage waste and aligns with the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan.
The North Environmental Center and Yard Waste Site opened in December 2024, offering residents a second location to drop off items that don't belong in the trash. This project was the result of over five years of planning, public engagement, and quality improvement.
In 2024, there were 58,720 visits to the Environmental Centers, a 12% increase from 2023! The Environmental Centers collected over 20,000 pounds of holiday lights for recycling, 398,000 pounds of paint, 167,000 pounds of batteries, and 970,000 pounds of electronic waste.
The Food Scraps Pickup Program rolled out in 26 new communities in Washington County. In addition, Washington County worked with several municipalities on a pilot project to distribute food scraps container to eligible residents.
Washington County held four Fix-It Clinics. Of the 154 items brought in by residents, 110 items were repaired, diverting 987.1 pounds of waste from the trash!
Washington County organized special disposal/recycling opportunities for residents, including the collection of nearly 40,000 pounds of pumpkins. Other opportunities included holiday tree drop-off and a mattress collection in partnership with Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E).
The Recycling Exists campaign was launched in collaboration with Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. This campaign aims to educate and dispel myths about recycling in Minnesota. In 2024, there were over 33 million visits to RecyclingExists.com.
BizRecycling, a program of R&E, provided $1,000,000 in grant funding to businesses in Ramsey and Washington counties.
In 2024, Washington County hosted its first Recycling Ambassadors training, in partnership with Ramsey County. Participants attend six education sessions to learn about waste in the county and have the opportunity to volunteer after completing the training. 20 residents participated in the first cohort.
In partnership with Washington County Library and Building Services, 36 new trash and recycling bins were installed at all Washington County Library branches. These paired bins will help increase recycling rates across the libraries.
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