WHEREDOESYOURGARBAGEGO?

garbagegeneration,collectionanddisposal

GarbageFacts g
Wekeepcreatingmoregarbage.Eachpersonproduces about7poundsofgarbageandrecyclableseachdayat home,atworkorschool.Themetroareasgrowthrateis h k h l Th h i 7%,butgarbageisgrowingat22%. In2010,RamseyCountycreatedover625,000tonsof In 2010 Ramsey County created over 625 000 tons of garbageandrecyclables.Thatamountwouldfillalineof garbagetrucksstretchingfromSaintPaul,Minnesotato Indianapolis,Indiana.

AQuickPeek..
Garbage, trash, waste, refuse, rubbish, solid waste Garbage,trash,waste,refuse,rubbish,solidwaste itsallthesamewithadifferentname! Garbage comes from many sources and activities Garbagecomesfrommanysourcesandactivities, bothathomeandatwork. Wh t Whatarethedifferenttypesofgarbageand th diff tt f b d wheredoesitgo?

Garbage*isclassifiedintoafewbasiccategories,definedinstateand federalregulations: g

Residential fromhomes Commercial mostlyfrombusinesses mostly from businesses Industrial frommanufacturing Construction&Demolition fromalloftheabove

Municipalsolidwaste,industrialwaste,constructionwasteand demolitionwastearealldefinedinstateandfederalregulations.
*Garbageortrashisoftenreferredtoassolidwaste.Solidwasteisbasicallynonliquid,nonhazardous garbage.

Onceweown something, eventually itwillneedto bediscarded. Wethrowalot ofstuffaway!

Somethingtothinkabout
Wheredoesallthegarbagego? Canwerethinkbuyingstuffandcreativelyreduceourwaste? C h kb ff d l d ? Canourdiscardsbeuseful?

Whathappensto thegarbageafterit the garbage after it isemptiedintothe garbagetruck?

ResidentialGarbageDay
Mostpeopleusethesecontainerstogetridofthegarbagecreatedin p p g g g theirhome.Individualsorcommunitieswillhireagarbagehaulerto emptycartsandcanssetoutinthealleyorbythecurb.

Trucks loadedwith garbage b weighin andweigh outon huge scales.

Scales
Trucksareweighedbecausethehaulerischargedbythetontogetridof thematerial.Thetrucks,transfertrailersandsmallgarbagetrucks,are h l h k f l d ll b k weighedattransferstations,resourcerecoveryfacilitiesorlandfills.

Transfer stations canbea goodwayto reducetruck trafficon highwaysand highways and increasethe efficiencyof haulinggarbage.

TransferStations
A transfer station is a place where garbage trucks may go to unload and consolidate the garbage. Lots of garbage goes directly to transfer stations.

Tipping
Atresourcerecoveryfacilitiesandtransferstations,garbageistipped* fromthetruckintoahugestorageshed.Fromthere,thegarbageis pushedbyafrontendloaderorabulldozerintothetopofatrailer (sometimescalledatransfertrailerortractortrailer).*emptied

Ramsey WashingtonResourceRecoveryFacility
Somegarbagetruckshaultoaresourcerecovery facility.TheRamsey WashingtonResourceRecoveryFacilityislocatedinNewport,Minnesota. h l l d

Attheresourcerecovery facility,garbageis f ilit b i emptiedfromthetruck, pushedontoaconveyor andputthroughaseries p g ofshreddersandsorters. Next,itshauledtopower plants,andusedasfuelto createelectricity.

Conveyor

WastetoEnergyFact gy
RamseyCountyisservedbyaresourcerecoveryfacility y y y y y thatconvertsgarbagetoafuel.Thatfuelisburnedto produceelectricity. In2010,32%ofthegarbagefromtheCountywas convertedtoelectricity about200,000tons.Theenergy converted to electricity about 200,000 tons. The energy isusedtopowerabout12,500homeseachyear.

Somegarbage maybe y deliveredtoa landfill, directlyfrom thesource(the the source (the generator)ora transferstation.

Landfill
Somegarbagetrucks,transfertrailersorothertypesofhaulersmay taketheirgarbagetoalandfill.Ifalandfilliscloser,asmallgarbage k h b l df ll f l df ll l ll b truckmayunloadthereinsteadofatransferstation.

WorkingFace
Garbagefromtrucksisunloadedattheworkingface ofalandfill.

GarbageFacts g
The amount of garbage sent directly to landfills*from Theamountofgarbagesentdirectlytolandfills from RamseyCountyhasbeenontheincrease:in2010about 140,000tonsofthegarbagefromtheRamseyCountywent tolandfills.In1995thatamountwaslessthan97,000tons. to landfills In 1995 that amount was less than 97 000 tons In2010,10%ofthegarbagefromtheRamseyCountywas deliveredwentdirectlytolandfillsinIowaandWisconsin; d l d d l l df ll d 7%wentdirectlytolandfillsinMinnesota.

*Ifgarbagegoesdirectlytoalandfill,ithasnotbeenprocessed.

Whatabout Wh t b t

Compostableitems Yardwaste

Compostables are vegetablepeelings,fruit scraps,tealeaves,coffee l ff grounds,smallbitsofpaper towelandnapkinandother organicitemsthatbreak g downnaturally.

Compostables

HomeComposting
Fruitandvegetablescraps,leavesandgrasscanbecompostedathome. Youmayneverhavetothrowtheminyourtrashcan! h h h h

Yardwaste includesleaves, grassandother d h softbodiedgarden waste.

YardWaste

Compost
InRamseyCounty,leaves,grass,weedsandothersoftbodiedplant materialscanbedroppedatlocalyardwastesiteswheretheyareturned l b d d l l d h h d intocompost.EachspringRamseyCountyresidentscangetfreshcompost fromthesesites!

BrushandWoodyMaterials
Brushandwoodymaterials arecollectedatfourRamseyCountysites. Thesematerialsarechippedintomulchforlandscapingorfuel forpowerplants.Somecommunitiesmayofferbrushchipping opportunitiesforresidents.

YardWasteFact
In2010,over407,000visitorsusedRamseyCountys , , y y sevenyardwastesites,anddeliveredover109,500cubic yards(equaltoabout43,000tons)ofleavesandgrass clippingstobecompostedand150,500cubicyards(equal clippings to be composted and 150 500 cubic yards (equal to25,000tons)ofbrush! Since1991,therehavebeenover7.3millionvisitorstothe RamseyCountyyardwastesites!Thevisitorshave deliveredover800,000 tons of leaves grass and brush delivered over 800 000*tonsofleaves,grassandbrush.

*800,000tonsisroughlyequivalentto4.5fullyloadedairplanes.

Whatabout Wh t b t

Electronics

Electronics areincreasinglybeingrecycled.Theyincludecomputers (CPUs*),monitors(CRTs*),TVs,VCRs,DVDs,phones,laptops, automaticshutoffirons,coffeepots,crockpotsandcurlers,boom automatic shutoff irons coffeepots crockpots and curlers boom boxes,stereos,CDplayers,andgamesystems.

Electronics
Theelectronicsaretakenapartandmanyofthecomponents(glass, circuitboards,plasticcaseandwires)arerecycled. b d l d ) l d
*CentralProcessingUnit(CPU)andCathodeRayTube(CRT)

Electronics contain lead and containleadand othertoxicmaterials.Recycle yourelectronicsatalocal collectioneventsoran electronicsrecyclingbusiness.

Electronics

Whatabout Wh t b t

Householdhazardouswaste Sharps Medicine

HouseholdHazardousWaste(HHW)
HHWincludesusedmotoroil,oilfilters,pesticides,lawnchemicals, propanetanks,liquidpaint,somecleaningproducts,oldgasoline, k l d l d ld l mercuryfeverthermometers,fluorescentlights,poolandspachemicals, mercurythermostats,woodpreservatives,andsomehobbysupplies.

HouseholdHazardousWaste(HHW)
HHW should be taken to a facility in Ramsey County for proper disposal. HHW should not be mixed with garbage or poured in the street or into the soil. h ld b i d ih b di h i h il

Sharps(needles)
RamseyCountyshouseholdhazardouswastefacilityacceptssharps, needles andlancets.Yourlocalclinicorpharmacymayalsotakethem dl dl l l l h l k h back.

Medicine(pharmaceuticals)
Unwantedandunusedmedicines shouldbedisposedofinthetrash. Medicinesshouldbealteredtodiscourageconsumption. d h ld b l d d

HouseholdHazardousWasteFacts Household Hazardous Waste Facts

In 2010 over 25 000 households used the Ramsey County In2010,over25,000householdsusedtheRamseyCounty householdhazardouswastesites. Since1991,338,900householdshavevisitedthe householdhazardouswastesitesandhavedelivered700 tonsofmaterial. Since 1999 the majority of the latex paint brought to the Since1999,themajorityofthelatexpaintbroughttothe siteshavebeenrecycledintopaintandotheruseful coatingproducts.

Whatabout Wh t b t

Recyclables

Recyclables that that arecollectedvary fromcommunity tocommunity.

Recyclables
Commonrecyclablesincludeglassjars&bottles,plasticbottles, aluminumcans,metalfoodcans,newspaper,cardboard,officepaper, aluminum cans metal food cans newspaper cardboard office paper boxboard,likecereal,cracker,cakemixorfruitsnackboxes,oldmail,and insomeareas,magazinesandfabric.

Recyclables
Recyclablesarepickedupfromthecurborfromdropoffcenters.They maybeprocessedatmaterialsrecoveryfacilitiesorMRFs(pronounced maybe processed at materials recovery facilities or MRFs (pronounced murfs).Somematerialsarebaled.Thesebalesaresoldandshipped tomanufacturerswhousetherecyclablestomakenewproducts.

RecyclingFacts Recycling Facts

Recyclingworks!49%ofRamseyCountyswastewas y g y y recycledin2010.Ifyouaddinsourcereductionandyard wasterecycling,werecycle54%! Unfortunately,therecyclingtrendisflat.Eventhough,the amountofrecyclinghasincreasedslightlyeachyear,it hasntgrownasmuchasamountofgarbageproduced. h t h t f b d d Recycling is an important part of our economy. In Recyclingisanimportantpartofoureconomy.In Minnesota,ithascreated8,700jobs,affects19,000others, andgeneratesabout$3.48billionofeconomicactivity eachyear. each year.

Whatabout Wh t b t

Bulkyitems

BulkyWaste
Bulkywaste includescarpet,oldplumbingfixtures,sofas,chairs,dining y p p g g roomtables,bedframes,mattresses,boxsprings,desks,radiators,and shelving.

TheTwinCitiesFree Market,garagesalesand secondhandstoresare dh d otheroptionswhentrying togetridofuseablebulky itemsingoodcondition. g

BulkyWaste
Bulkywaste isoftenreusableandcanbegivenawayorsoldtoother people.Somebulkywastecanberecycled.Therestofthebulkywaste l S b lk b l d h f h b lk hastobeputintoalandfill.

Whatabout Wh t b t

Whitegoods

Whitegoods (largeappliances) includedryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, refrigerators, washing machines,hot waterheaters, dehumidifiers, d h idifi stoves,air conditioners, andfurnaces.

WhiteGoods
Whitegoodscanberecycledwithscrapmetalafter themercurycontaining switches,polychlorinatedbiphenyl(PCB)componentsandFreon h l hl db h l( C ) d refrigerantswhichcontainchloroflourocarbons (CFCs)havebeenremoved. OnlycertainbusinessesarecertifiedtoremoveCFCs.

Whatabout Wh t b t

Miscellaneoushouseholditems

MiscellaneousHouseholdItems
Miscellaneoushouseholditems includetoys,books,clothes,pillows, linens,potsandpans,games,smallfurniture,andyardtools. l d ll f d d l

MiscellaneousHouseholdItemFacts
Miscellaneoushouseholditemsingoodconditionareoften g welcomeatsecondhandstores,churchnurseries,nursing homelibraries,sheltersandresettlementserviceoffices. Tornclothes,wornsheetsandbooksbeyondrepairmaybe recycledinsomecommunities.Oldclothcanbebound recycled in some communities Old cloth can be bound andrecycledandpagesfromoldbooksmayberecycled withofficepaper. Someitemslikebrokenplastictoysandoldpillowsmay havenofurtheruseandmustbethrowninthetrash. have no further use and must be thrown in the trash

WasteatWork
Enough about your household garbage, now we will briefly garbage describe other types of solid waste.

Commercial mostlyfrombusinesses Industrial frommanufacturing Construction&Demolition fromalloftheabove

CommercialWaste
Commercialwasteisgarbagefromabusiness(store,restaurant,mall, office)orinalargeresidentialbuilding(apartmentbuilding,nursing ff ) l d l b ld ( b ld home,dorm).Commercialwaste looksalotlikethewastewecreateat home.

Organicwasteis basicallykitchen scraps.Businesseslike scraps. Businesses like grocerystoresandbig kitchensgeneratealot ofthiswaste.

CommercialOrganicWaste
Ediblefoodwastefromgrocerystoresandrestaurantsmaybedonated toafoodrescueorganization.Kitchenscrapsfromschools,restaurants f d h f h l andbigkitchenscanbecompostedorprocessedintoanimalfeedor energy.Thesescrapsmayneverhavetobethrowninatrashcan!

Industrialsolidwaste iscreatedfrom manufacturing processes. Examplesof industrialwaste includeitemslike include items like fabricscraps,wood cuttings,recalled products,metallictape andplasticscraps. d l ti

IndustrialWaste
Someindustrialwastesarerecycledatthemanufacturingplant.Cuttings andscrapsmaybemixedwithrawmaterialstomakeanewproduct. d b d h l k d

ConstructionWaste
Constructionwaste isoftencuttingsorscrapsfrombuildingmaterials thatarenotprefabricated. h f b d

Beforeanybuilding inRamseyCounty canbedemolished, b d li h d apredemolition inspectiontakesplace. Thisinspection identifieshazardous id ifi h d materialslikeasbestos, leadandmercurythat mustberemovedand properlydisposedbefore l di db f demolition.

DemolitionWaste
Demolitionwaste iscreatedwhenstructureslikeroads,offices,rooms, restaurantsandporchesarebuiltordemolished.

Inyearspast, constructionand t ti d demolitionwaste wastypicallyplaced inalandfill.Now, effortstoreuseand ff t t d recyclemetal,wood, concreteandother itemshasreducedthe dependenceonthe d d th landfillastheonly waytomanage constructionand demolitionwaste. d liti t

ConstructionandDemolitionWaste
Therearesomebusinesseswhichdeconstructbuildingsandhomesto selltheusefulpartsbeforedemolishinganddiscardingtheremainder.

CommercialRecycling y g
Muchofwhatisrecycledbycommercialgeneratorsisdonebehind thescenes.Youdontseemuchinthefrontofthestore. Ifyouarecurious,youcanask! Someexamplesofbehindthescenesrecyclingare: Some examples of behind the scenes recycling are: Shoppingcarts; Clothes hangers; Clotheshangers; Cardboardboxes; Pallets; ; Carpeting;and Packingfoam/pellets.

Somethingstothinkabout g
Howoftendoyouseerecyclingcontainersatcommerciallocations? How often do you see recycling containers at commercial locations? Doyouusethem?Iftheyarentvisible,doyouaskwheretheyare?Look forthemin: your apartment building yourapartmentbuilding youroffice the mall themall thegasstation thegrocerystore g y thepark

Formoreinformation
EnvironmentalHealth SaintPaul RamseyCountyPublicHealth 651.266.1199|www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph 651 266 1199 | www co ramsey mn us/ph