Hangover

I've had writer's block (loser's hangover) since my last post, because every time I look at it I see Vikings and I'm still not over that game (and won't be until we get to and win a superbowl). Enough about my Vikings.

Today I'm promoting a great opportunity for Brooklyn Park residents to get involved in our community. Nearly 400 people gathered at community cafe's and more recently, 31 community members came together in a 3-day strategic planning session. Both are part of the process of making BP a better place in the future. We are looking for more community members to help by joining an action team geared towards three areas; resources, diversity, and youth. The deadline to join an action team is Feb. 26th. Please see our video clip or www.brooklynpark.org for more information. GO BP!

Do not recycle part 2

I'm continuing my series of things we should not recycle (in the curbside recycling cart). If you are like many Minnesotans, you may be enjoying a pizza this Sunday evening while watching the Vikings game. The pizza came in a box that you might think is recyclable, but it is not. Once a little grease and cheese get on the box, it should go in the trash. When grease and cheese sit on the pizza box for a while, mold starts growing and that is the last thing you want when you are trying to turn an old box into new cereal boxes and other boxes for food. Thanks for not recycling (pizza boxes) and GO VIKES!

Do not recycle part 1

I'm starting a series on items that we should not recycle in your curbside recycling cart. Today it is plastic bags. Please do not put plastic bags in your recycling cart and please do not put recyclables in plastic bags in your recycling cart. Plastic bags fowl up the sorting systems that are used at material recovery facilities. They get stuck in the conveyors and wind up as trash.

So what should you do with plastic bags...?

1. Don't use white or black trash bags for your recyclables at home, use a paper bag or put the recyclables in the cart without a bag. Personally, I use a small plastic trash container without a bag. When it is full, i walk it to my recycling cart and dump it - no bag needed!
2. Bring your own reusable bag when shopping
3. If you buy a small item, tell the cashier you don't need a bag
4. Recycle your plastic bags at Drop Off sites such as Festival Foods, Cub Foods, Lunds, Byerly's, or the Hennepin County Recycling Center (8100 Jefferson Hwy.,Brooklyn Park)

Thanks for not recycling (plastic bags in your cart).

Recycle your boxes!

Now that Christmas is over, don't forget that all the boxes from your Christmas presents are recyclable. Stuff them in your cart or put them in a bundle next to your cart. The bundle must be less than 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches thick and taped or tied. I fold boxes down and use duct tape on each end of my bundles. Thanks for recycling!

Christmas Week Recycling Reminder

Christmas week is here and with all the hustle and bustle, sometimes it's tough to remember what day it is, much less when recycling day is. Fear not, I'm here to tell you that everyone has regular recycling this week except Brooklyn Park residents with Friday recycling collection. Your recycling collection will be delayed one day to Saturday this week.

One more thing, I was out in the snow chasing recycling trucks with our trusty communications coordinator, you can check out where we went at this link...just press play. http://www.brooklynpark.org/sitepages/pid675.php

Recycle Christmas Lights for Free at Snyders and the Hennepin County Recycling Center in Brooklyn Park!

I don't have the scoop on this news flash, but I want to help spread the word. You can recycle old Christmas/Holiday lights for free at participating Snyder Drug Stores through Jan. 10, 2010. The closest one is in New Hope at 2705 Winnetka Ave N. Snyders also gives you a coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase for bringing in old lights. You can also recycle Christmas lights in Brooklyn Park at the Hennepin County Recycling Center (8100 Jefferson Hwy.), through Jan. 10th as well. Other participants are WCCO and X-cel energy, but who knows how to get something to them? Not me.

I have to admit, I just through out 5 strands of old icicle lights last weekend. The good news is my trash day isn't until Thursday, the bad news is I have to dig to the bottom of my trash to get the lights out. Once I'm done digging, I'm off to Snyders!!!

America Recycles Day - Nov. 15

On Sunday (Nov. 15) we celebrate America Recycles Day. In my opinion it is a day to do two things. One, give yourself a pat on the back. Recycling has been a successful way to reduce trash and energy to make new things. Two, do more recycling! Did you know we recycle less than 50% of aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles? Pledge to do more and don't forget to recycle your bottles and cans when you are on the go. It is not that tough to carry the empty can or bottle home and put it in your recycling cart. Recycling just 1 aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a TV or computer for 3 hours or a 60watt compact fluorescent light bulb for nearly a day! Did you ever leave a light on all day and think it was wasteful? Now you know one aluminum can in the trash is just as wasteful. I'm not trying to guilt you into recycling, just spreading the work that a little effort saves a huge amount of energy. Happy America Recycles Day!!!