Reduce waste on Valentines Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!


Valentine's Day has a long history of romance and love, which has, in recent years, become centered on cards and gifts. Approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the United States (making Valentine’s Day the second most popular holiday for sending cards), and over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold each year. It is also the top holiday for fresh flower purchases.

This year, consider putting a little more thought into your valentine’s gift. It will show your loved one that you care about him or her and that you care for our environment. Instead of the standard cards, flowers, and chocolates try:

• Buy a card that is made from recycled materials, or make one from materials you already have
• Consider sending an e-card to friends and family rather than a paper card
• Buy local, fair trade, organic chocolates—it will support the producers and cut down on waste used to transport or chemicals used in production
• Choose locally grown, organic flowers
• Make a donation to an organization close to your valentine’s heart
• Look for antique jewelry rather than buying new
• Plan a trip, concert or other experience that you could do together
• Walk to dinner at a local restaurant, or make dinner yourself using locally grown ingredients.
• Buy candles made with soy or beeswax, or make your own

However you decide to celebrate this Valentine’s Day, a little extra thought and personalization can keep your valentine and your environment happy. Thanks to my friends at http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/ for the tips.  If you have any other tips, please share them! 

Let your voice be heard

Want to help shape the future of recycling? Join your neighbors at one of Hennepin County's recycling forums.  There will be discussion on improving recycling and hopefully some snacks.  I'll have to check on the snacks before I RSVP to go. The closest one to us is March 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Dr. N. Visit http://www.hennepin.us/recyclingfeedback for more information.  They are asking you to RSVP at 612.348.4168, but I'm sure they will not turn you away if you just show up. 

Christmas Trees

Now that Christmas is over, it is time to take down the tree and put it away or get rid of it.  If you are like me and get a fresh tree each year, it has to go out for disposal. Most garbage haulers will pick it up (for a fee) the first week or two in January, but you have to call them to make arrangements for it to be removed.  If you don't call, you may be stuck with it...or like me, just use it for the first bonfire of the spring. 

Goodbye Pumpkins

Who would have thought we would get so many pumpkins? Not me, but we recycled (composted) over 19,000 lbs. of pumpkins from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7.  Thank you residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal and New Hope! We also had one resident reuse pumpkin stems that she dug out of our container. Take a look at the velvet pumpkin crafts she gave us as a sample.

The Great Pumpkin was Spotted in Brooklyn Park!

Can you spot the Great Pumpkin? Who can guess how many pounds of pumpkins are in the container?  Take a guess!

Pumpkin Recycling Continues

Great start to our pumpkin recycling. After our 1st full day, we have collected about 1000lbs. of pumpkins! Keep them coming and I'll keep you posted on how many we get.

Pumpkin Recycling

Get ready to recycle your pumpkins. A roll-off container will be placed at Central Park in the same parking lot as the free wood mulch, which is across the street from Brooklyn Park's Operations & Maintenance facility, 8300 Noble Ave N.  Residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, and New Hope may place pumpkins in the container starting November 1 and continuing until November 7.  We will empty the container as necessary and the pumpkins will be composted into new dirt to grow more pumpkins next year.