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<br />Want to “do good” for our environment? Here are some suggestions
<br />Pollution in area streams and lakes can
<br />come from common, everyday materi-
<br />als like household chemicals, fertilizers,
<br />pesticides, gasoline, used motor oil and
<br />antifreeze. Contrary to what many people
<br />think, storm drains do not lead to waste-
<br />water treatment plants. The water enters
<br />a series of pipes which collect water from
<br />other neighborhoods, finally dumping
<br />directly into a nearby lake, stream, river or
<br />wetland.
<br />While many of the substances are washed
<br />by rainwater from our streets, yards, drive-
<br />ways and parking lots into storm drain in-
<br />lets, there is a growing problem of illegally
<br />dumping such waste. Deliberate dumping
<br />of hazardous materials into storm sewers
<br />makes the pollution problem worse. Just
<br />one quart of motor oil dumped down storm
<br />drains can ruin the quality of 250,000
<br />gallons of water. Dumping oil and other
<br />hazardous substances is illegal in Minne-
<br />sota.
<br />What you can do…
<br />• Keep your vehicle tuned up and clean
<br />up any oil leaks or spills from paved
<br />surfaces.
<br />• Dispose of automotive fluids, paint, and
<br />other hazardous materials properly.
<br />• Avoid using pesticides and other lawn
<br />chemicals or use them responsibly.
<br />• Report any suspicious dumping to the
<br />proper authorities as soon as possible.
<br />Keeping chemicals out of our lakes and streams
<br />Caution! Danger! Warning! Poison!
<br />Common household products stored in the
<br />kitchen, bathroom, garage or shed might
<br />be labeled with these words and must be
<br />disposed of properly.
<br />Household hazardous waste products are
<br />potentially harmful to people, pets and the
<br />environment. They should never be poured
<br />down the drain or put in the trash, and
<br />many people are not sure what to do with
<br />them.
<br />What’s in a label?
<br />Read the label before you buy a product
<br />and before you use it. Many injuries and
<br />unsafe exposures can be avoided by read-
<br />ing the label to learn what the product
<br />is for, how it is used, how hazardous the
<br />product is, and what to do in case of an
<br />accident.
<br />Got hazardous waste?
<br />No problem. For more information call
<br />651-633-3279 (EASY), visit
<br />ramseyrecycles.com and click on the
<br />Household Hazardous Waste icon, or visit
<br />the following collection options:
<br />Year-Round Site – Bay West, Inc.,
<br />5 Empire Drive in St. Paul
<br />• Open April through November
<br />• Tuesday through Friday from 11:00
<br />a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
<br />• Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
<br />• Closed Sunday and Monday
<br />Mobile Sites (Location changes monthly)
<br />• Open April through October
<br />• Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
<br />• Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
<br />Disposing of household
<br />hazardous waste
<br />Collection sites
<br />(Closed on Federal holidays)
<br />Law Enforcement Center
<br />425 Grove St., St. Paul
<br />Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
<br />Free parking
<br />Sheriff’s Patrol Station
<br />1411 Paul Kirkwold Dr., Arden Hills
<br />Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
<br />Free parking
<br />North Saint Paul City Hall
<br />2400 Margaret Street, North St. Paul
<br />Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
<br />Free parking
<br />Other collection programs
<br />Most HealthPartners pharmacies have
<br />a collection program for medicines. For
<br />more information, visit
<br />HealthPartners.com/rxdisposal.
<br />To find more medicine disposal options in
<br />the Twin Cities, visit RethinkRecycling.
<br />com or call 651.633.EASY (3279)
<br />24 hours a day.
<br />Safely dispose of unwanted, expired and unused medicines for FREE at one of three
<br />public drop boxes in Ramsey County. This year-round collection program helps
<br />prevent crime and protects the environment. Storing unwanted, expired and unused
<br />medicines can lead to drug abuse or poisoning, and medicines flushed down the drain or
<br />disposed of in the trash can harm the environment.
<br />What is accepted?
<br />All medicines from households are ac-
<br />cepted, including prescription, over-the-
<br />counter, vitamins, supplements and pet
<br />medicines. Medicines are accepted in any
<br />form, such as: blister packs, capsules and
<br />pills, creams and gels, epinephrine pens
<br />(unused only), inhalers, IV bags, liquids,
<br />patches, powders, sprays, and vials.
<br />What is not accepted?
<br />Needles, syringes, lancets or used epineph-
<br />rine pens. These are accepted for FREE at
<br />Ramsey County’s year-round household
<br />hazardous waste (HHW) collection site
<br />located at 5 Empire Dr. in St. Paul. Also,
<br />medicines from businesses, healthcare
<br />facilities, long-term-care facilities, pharma-
<br />cies, doctors’ offices or veterinary clinics
<br />are not accepted.
<br />Keep medicines in their original container
<br />for legal transport. Put loose medicines
<br />in a clear plastic bag and label it. Seal all
<br />containers in clear plastic
<br />bags, ideally one-gallon
<br />or smaller size. Place bag
<br />with medicine into drop
<br />box.
<br />Here are some resources for disposing of medications
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