Yard Waste Site Now Open

I think we can officially say spring is here. It is 76 degrees out, the sun is shining, and most importantly the Maple Grove Yard Waste Site is open! Bring all your leaves, tree branches up to 10-inch diameter, and (eventually) grass clipping to the site. There is no charge at the gate for residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, and New Hope. The site is open April 1st through November 30th, Mon-Sat 8am to 7pm and Sundays Noon to 7pm. For more information visit www.mgyardwaste.com

Cash for Appliances

As some of you may know, more federal stimulus money is up for grabs. Whether you agree with the funding or not, if you have an old refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher or washing machine, this is a good opportunity to trade up and save up to $200. The idea is to get some of these energy "hogs" off the grid and replace them with Energy Star models that use about 1/3 of the energy. Your old appliance must be recycled. Details are available at www.mnappliancerebate.com

The rebates will go fast and you can apply to reserve your rebate starting at 8:00 a.m., today, March 1st.

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