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10 Odd Things That Can Be Recycled
1. Contact Lenses
Through a program sponsored by Bausch + Lomb and TerraCycle, you can send in your used contact blister packs, top foil, and contact lenses to be recycled. Simply place any of these items in a small cardboard box, once full print out a free shipping label and take the box to any UPS location. More information and shipping labels can be found here.
2. Brita Filters
If your house has a Brita filter, you can now send back your used filters to be recycled and even earn points towards new purchases through the Brita Rewards program. More information and how to sign up can be found on their website here.
3. Bras
You can donate your gently used bras to women and girls in desperate need of them through The Bra Recyclers. Simply wash them, print out a label, and send them in. More information can be found here.
4. Burt's Bees Products
Through TerraCycle, you can send back any emptied and cleaned Burt's Bees branded personal, lip, or beauty care packaging. More information about how this program works can be found here.
5. Tennis Balls
Through a partnership between Laykold and Ace Surfaces, you can send in old tennis balls to be recycled into world-class tennis ball surface. To find out more about this program, you can visit this website.
6. Greeting Cards
You can send new or used, all-occasion greeting cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. They work with children to recycle the cards into new ones and sell them. Money raised from selling the cards goes to funding programs for abused, neglected, or homeless children, young adults, and families. Information about where to send the cards can be found on St. Jude's website.
7. Solo Cups
TerraCycle has partnered with Solo Squared to create a free recycling program for rigid, #6 plastic cups. Simply ship any amount of cups with a free shipping label you can print on this website.
8. Instrument Stings
A partnership between TerraCycle and D'Addario has created a free recycling program for instrument strings and clippings. The nearest drop off location in Dakota County can be found at LaVonne Music in Savage. More information about the program can be found here.
9. Wine Corks
Recycling natural cork encourages the use of natural cork (a traditional sustainable practice) and can be used in products in place of other environmentally harmful foams and plastics. ReCORK provides drop-off locations where you can bring your corks to be recycled for free. The nearest Dakota County drop off locations are at Marketplace Liquor in Savage and Houlihans in Eagan. More information and address can be found at this website.
10. Food Wrappers, Disposable Cups, and Coffee Accessories
Subaru in partenrship with TerraCycle have launched a new campaign called Subaru Loves the Earth. Through this program, anyone can bring in disposable cups and lids, candy and snack wrappers, and coffee, tea, or creamer capsules to participating Subaru dealerships to be recycled for free. More information about the program and how Subaru is working to become zero landfill can be found here.
10 Tips To Use Less Plastic
Whether it has been recycled or is just sitting in a landfill, nearly every piece of plastic ever created still exists in some form. The fraction of plastic that does get recycled is shockingly low, sitting at just about 30%. The vast majority that isn't being recycled is accumulating in landfills or ending up as litter in roadways and water systems. Our society is making a shift towards disposable and/or single-use plastics and, according the the National Geographic, if current trends continue we can expect about 12 billion metric tons of plastic to end up in landfills. It can be extremely hard to give up plastic entirely, but small shifts in our behavior can make a huge difference in reducing our plastic pollution.
1. Reusable Bags 
According to the EPA, Americans use over 380 billion plastic bags and wraps every year. Although there are plastic bag drop-offs for recycling, most bags end up in landfills. By switching to reusable bags for shopping and produce items, you could dramatically lower your need for plastic.
2. Reusable Water Bottle
Americans use approximately 50 billion water bottles every year yet the recycling rate for plastic is only 23%. By bringing a reusable water bottle when you're at work, school, or on-the-go, you will reduce your need to buy a single-use plastic water bottle. Not only will you be saving natural resources but you will also save a lot of money over time.
3. Say No to Straws 
500 million plastic drinking straws are used and disposed of every day. Many of these straws end up littering our road and waterways making them one of the most treacherous pollutants because of the harmful effects they have on marine animals. Next time you're out to eat or at a coffee shop, remember to ask for your drink without a straw. And, if you're with a group, encourage them to follow your lead! Change often starts with one person.
4. Avoid the Microplastics 
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic (about the size of a sesame seed) that are found in many cosmetic and toiletry items including face wash and toothpaste. These small pieces of plastic get flushed down sinks and drains and end up in our water systems including oceans, lakes an rivers. Unfortunately, plastic does not break down or dissolve in water so it continues to pose a threat for marine life and birds. Studies are still being done to see what sort of long-term affects this might have on animal and human life, but what we do know is that avoiding it completely is a better option.
5. Pack In Or Pack Out Lunches
If you normally eat out for lunch, try packing your own lunch in a reusable container instead. Not only will you save some money, but you'll also avoid any single use plastics that your food might otherwise come in. In addition, if you do go out to eat for lunch, consider bringing your own Tupperware to the restaurant for leftovers instead of using the disposable to-go containers.
6. Shop in Bulk Bins 
Many items such as nuts, fruits and beans are available in bulk bins which can be found at most grocery stores. By purchasing items from the bulk bins, you can avoid the single-use plastic that most items are wrapped in, and you can get the amount you need to avoid wasting food. Keep in mind that purchasing from bulk bins is not the same as buying in bulk because even though buying in bulk can be a better option to reduce excessive packaging, you'll find that you end up with more food than you need and it can be wasteful.
7. Buy Loose and Fresh 
To go along with the tip above, buying fruits and veggies loose versus packaged will help lower your use of plastic. In addition, the small plastic bags that are available at grocery stores to put your food in is not at all necessary so if you're looking to use less plastic, you should skip them entirely. If you still prefer to bag your loose fruits and veggies, consider buying reusable produce bags to bring to the store with you. You can even find some that might increase the shelf life of certain foods!
8. Reusables at Parties 
Parties and get-togethers are one of the most common places to see waste from disposable Styrofoam© plates and plastic silverware to one-time use decorations. Next time you host, consider using reusable and washable plates, cups and silverware instead of disposable. Not only will you reduce your waste, but it'll help make your party feel more personal and homey. In addition, if you do want to buy decorations, consider buying supplies that can be reused for years such as a universal "happy birthday" banner or cake topper.
9. Make Your Own Cleaners
In the U.S. we generate 1.6 million tons of harmful household chemicals with the average home accumulating as much as 300 pounds of household hazardous waste. By making your own cleaner in a reusable bottle, you'll avoid the single use plastic bottles that most cleaners come in and you'll greatly decrease harmful chemicals in your home. For recipes on DIY green cleaners, visit our green cleaner guide.
10. Get it Fixed 
It's often easier for us to throw away common items when they break, but did you know you can get many of them fixed for free? In fact, every month Dakota County offers a free fix-it clinic where you can get expert help fixing common household items. Many residents have visited these clinics to fix old vacuum cleaners, broken fans, ripped clothing and so much more. To find an upcoming clinic near you, visit the Dakota County website and search "fix it."
2016 Business Recycling Law
New Recycling Requirement for Businesses
Starting January 1, 2016, recycling will be the law for many businesses. Commercial building owners operating or leasing to a retail establishment, restaurant, educational or professional service, health care service or any other business with a North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code between 42 and 81 and contracting disposal of at least four cubic yards of solid waste per week must recycle at least three materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, metal and organics (food waste and soiled paper).
5 Tips to Green in the New Year
The New Year is a time for resolutions that are made to bring about positive changes in your life. This year, make a difference in your community and start off the New Year right by adding some easy green resolutions to your list. Here are five ideas to help you get started: 
- Reduce your food waste: 40% of food is currently being wasted in the United States. That means wasted resources, time, energy, and money. Reducing your food waste might be as easy as making smaller trips to the store with a clear list in mind, or just storing your food properly to make it last as long as possible. For more tips, visit our Reduce Your Food Waste Guide.
- Reuse w
ith ease: Why buy something new when you can fix something you have for free? This year, resolve to attend a Dakota County Fix-It Clinic when you have something in need of repair. Clinics are offered every month in cities around Dakota County and you can bring up to five small household items such as torn clothing, broken vacuum cleaners, and more. - Recycle everything you can: This year, recycle more by using the hauler specific recycling guides found here. While you’re at it, make sure to recycle the things that can’t go in your curbside bin such as electronics by taking them to the Recycling Zone!
- Ditch the plastic: Approximately 50% of the plastic we use, we use once then throw away. Make 2018 the year you make a conscious effort to bring a reusable bag shopping and a reusable water bottle whenever possible.
- Recycle your organics: Orga
nic material such as food scraps and food-soiled paper don't have to end up in the landfill. Instead turn them into a rich soil amendment by recycling them. Dakota County now has two free drop sites for your household organics. You can also resolve to backyard compost this year too! Find out how using our Backyard Composting Guide here.