Anoka County residents and businesses recycled more than 145,334
tons of residential waste in 2007.
Of the county’s 21 municipalities, 14 met or exceeded their 2007
recycling goals: Andover, Blaine, Burns, Centerville, Circle Pines,
Columbus, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Ham Lake, Hilltop, Lexington, Lino
Lakes, Ramsey, and Spring Lake Park. Their achievements were
recognized recently by the Anoka County Solid Waste Abatement
Advisory Task Force, which advises the Anoka County board on issues
related to recycling and solid waste management.
“In 2007, 17 of our Anoka County municipalities reached their
recycling goal or saw significant improvement in the amount of waste
they recycled,” said Anoka County Commissioner Jim Kordiak, who
chairs the county’s Waste Management and Energy Committee. “We’re
hearing more and more about the ‘living green’ movement. Recycling
is one of the most important things we all can do to protect our
environment and preserve natural resources.”
The City of Andover received special recognition for having the
most prolific municipal recycling program in Anoka County. Andover
has consistently met its recycling goals every year since 1988. In
2007, Andover residents recycled more than 4,034 tons of materials
and collected more than 89 tons of problem materials for proper
management. The city’s recycling rate of more than 268 pounds per
person for all materials is the highest of any Anoka County
municipality. Andover promotes recycling through the city
newsletter, newspaper ads, and special mailings. A drop-off center
is open during daylight hours every day.
Along with Andover, Circle Pines and Lino Lakes have reached
their recycling goal every year since 1988. The recycling programs
in East Bethel, Linwood, and St. Francis showed improvement from
2006.
Anoka Municipal Utility (AMU) was specially recognized for its
efforts to recycle outdated electric meters. Unable to find a buyer
for the old meters, the city electric utility developed a system of
dismantling the meters and recycling or reused nearly all of the
individual components including stainless steel, aluminum,
electronics, cardboard, polycarbonate plastic, and glass. The
revenue generated from recycling the materials has paid for the
recycling process. “As a result of their persistence, AMU has found
an innovative and environmentally sound way to dispose of more than
4,000 meters,” Kordiak said. AMU anticipates recycling another 4,200
meters in 2008.
Two area businesses also received special recognition for their
recycling efforts. At John’s Auto Parts in Blaine, recycling and
resource conservation are central to every aspect of their business.
In addition to adhering to high automotive salvage industry
standards, John’s Auto Parts reconditions used antifreeze for use in
company vehicles and sold 2,400 gallons to customers in reused
antifreeze and window washer fluid bottles. The company buys
recycled-content paper for use in its office and promotes a
comprehensive in-house recycling program for paper and beverage
containers.
HOM Furniture and RISE, Inc., a nonprofit agency serving people
who have disabilities and other barriers to housing and employment,
have teamed up to develop a highly effective program to recycle the
wrapping and packaging materials that protect HOM products while
they are shipped to the store. Crews from RISE, Inc., sort and
recycle packaging materials including cardboard, low density
polyethylene film plastic and polystyrene foam, which is not easily
recycled in Minnesota. In addition to recycling packaging materials
received at the store, HOM picks up and recycles polystyrene foam
that residents bring to the Coon Rapids Recycling Center. HOM
estimates it recycles 1,300 tons of cardboard, 600,000 pounds of
polyethylene, and 225,000 pounds of polystyrene foam annually.
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CUTLINE 1 - City of Andover
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The City of Andover received a special award for having the most
prolific municipal recycling program in 2007. From left: Jim
Michaelson, Knights of Columbus Cedar Council 9585; Rich Hirstein,
Allied Waste Services; Deb Gatz, Randy’s Sanitation; Mike Larson,
J.R.’s Advanced Recyclers; Tracy Hannan, ACE Solid Waste; Torre
Heiland, Waste Management of MN, Inc.; Anoka County Commissioner
Dick Lang; and Cindy DeRuyter, Andover Recycling Coordinator.
CUTLINE 2 - HOM/RISE/Coon Rapids
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HOM Furniture, the City of Coon Rapids, and RISE, Inc., were
cited for working together to recycle packaging materials. From
left: Anoka County Commissioner Jim Kordiak; Brian Klobe, HOM; Greg
Brick, HOM; John Nielsen, RISE, Inc.; and Colleen Sinclair, Coon
Rapids Recycling Coordinator.
CUTLINE 3 - John’s Auto Parts
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John’s Auto Parts in Blaine was recognized for its leadership on
recycling methods in the auto salvage industry. From left: Anoka
County Commissioner Robyn West; and John’s Auto Parts
Representatives Linda Haluptzok, Harry Haluptzok, Melissa Hortman,
and Mark Hortman.
