HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 2012Recycling plastics: advantages, challenges, limitations
by Arlene Mitchell
I
n 1967, early in the movie
The Gradu-
Plastics are attractive to manufacturers and
we watched as a bewildered Ben-
ate,
users because they are so versatile. They
can be any size, shape, color, weight, den-
of career advice: . The advice was
plastics
Election day is Tuesday, November
plastic. Today the average American uses
6. In addition to national and state
about 10 times as much, more than 300
in the right additives. But here is where it
elections, Arden Hills has two City
pounds each year. The boom in plastics
Council seats on the ballot.
has also created problems: the major-
any given piece of plastic can be recycled.
ity of plastics are made from the worlds
Generally, recycling plastic involves sort-
Learn more about polling places,
ing, grinding, washing, and then melting it
hours, and the candidates in our lo-
products are designed to be used once and
down. Each additive changes the melting
cal election on page 4 of this Arden
point and characteristic of the plastic.
Hills Notes.
effectively recycled. This includes cups,
Most of the chemical additives have not
plates, eating utensils, food containers,
diapers, medical devices, shopping bags,
about the additives that were used. Histori-
the environment is not well understood.
ironically, trash bags.
cally, there has been little oversight of the
accuracy of the resin codes. Being able to
garbage incinerators.
In the same decades the baby boom gen-
eration has seen a rebirth in the recycling
movement. Today we have curbside recy-
The recycling chasing arrows symbol
cling, as well as the common placement
is commonly believed to mean that the
actually encompasses a broad range of
plastic can be recycled. That is not true
businesses, entertainment venues, and even
resins, products, and additives, which
(although it has sometimes been mis-
must be handled in different ways to
effectively and safely recycle them.
of those plastics. Right?
indicates which type of resin the product
Continued on page 2
was made from. However, it says nothing
Thanks for making Celebrating Arden Hills on September 15 a grea
Around the Town:
1245 West Highway 96
Good Samaritan receives appreciation award
Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734
by City Councilmember Fran Holmes
k
ight to qnite, which was August 2, 2012, is an evening
cityhall@ci.arden-hills.mn.us
At the Brueberry Townhouse neighborhood party, Councilmem-
*
Rolland Amundson
5
e-mail City Hall.
Business news notes
David Grant 6=1-=3>-07@7
aor:
My
Arden Hills is pleased to
.
STATEFARMINSURANCEOPENSITSDOORSINARDENPLAZA
Councilmembers:
Brenda Holden 6=1-636-29>7
4J
QU8VUUK
Ed Werner 6=1-636-2=@7
The Minnesota Department
D R A H
EPARTMENTOFEVENUEOPENSRDENILLSOFFICE
City Administrator:
"VUS8VOLZ
Communications Committee
:
Recycling Plastics,
continued from page 1
Y
Amy Dietl
Staff Liaison:
Council Liaison:
Desktop Publisher:
amounts for recycling.
Council meetings are held at City Hall
on the second and last Monday of the
month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised
recycling _1 and _2 plastic bottles
live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of
have evolved. The same cannot yet
the Planning Commission are televised
be said for other plastics and other
uses.
#
"
plastics overseas to be recycled may
morning after the meeting and continue
paper products, reducing the need for the
raw materials, this isnt true to the same
"
V
plastic is returned to the consumer mar-
are made only from virgin petroleum.
ww.ctv1=.or.
wg
on a planet where air and water systems
circle the globe.
#8
Arden Hills Notes
Plastic recycling seldom reduces our need
bumpers and plastic lumber.
letter of the City of Arden Hills, an
for new petroleum. While glass, alumi-
num, and paper are regularly recycled
2
Benchmarks:
a review of recent City Council action
July 30, 2012
#
Adopted Resolution 2012-027
58Z$
ordering a feasibility report for the
Approved partial payment of ~6@,030
2013 pavement management program
to Magney Construction for lift station
Authorized City staff to contract with
5N8Z$
Elfering Associates to provide
consulting services for the 2013 PMP
Approved Resolution 2012-02=
Approved partial payment of
adopting the Ramsey County
~11>,39@ to Minger Construction for
lift station _13 reconstruction
Adopted Resolution 2012-026
supporting the dedication and designa-
Approved transfers of ~1>>,>93 from
tion of the new Don Messerly picnic
for ~6,@00 for development of a lease
amendment and review of T-Mobiles
Adopted Resolution 2012-019 for the August 27, 2012
proposed upgrade project at the
abatement of public health nuisance
Approved second partial payment,
Approved Resolution 2012-02>
of ~=7,9>=, to Minger Construction,
Inc. for lift station _13 reconstruction
Approved Resolution 2012-029
Approved second partial payment, of
~13=,337, to Magney Construction,
August 13, 2012
Inc. for lift station _1 and _12
Want to learn more?
Approved a contract to hire Ramsey
County for election services for 2013-
to Pearson Brothers Incorporated for
Visit the city website at
www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us
While recycling whatever you can, when-
_1 or _2 plastics. This includes water and
The main source for information in this
bottles, laundry detergent bottles, and bot-
avoids the costs and environmental issues
story is Recycling Plastics: Complications
tles that contain saline solution, vitamins,
lotions, aspirin, and more. Because of the
report covers other topics including regula-
tory and product safety issues
wash them regularly. Alternatively, say
paper instead of plastic. ou can use
oped. In fact, we are now beginning to see
the paper bag to hold what you put out
for curbside recycling.
the recycled remains of previous bottles,
instead of plastic disposable ones.
Why cant I recycle more plastic?
with glass, aluminum, and paper.
imit your use of disposable items.
qse washable cups, plates, and utensils
whenever possible.
ou may also have tubs or trays or other
Want to learn more?
visit: www.ci.arden-hills.mn.org
The Arden Hills City website provides additional recycling infor
tunately, they contain a different additive
tion and links to other resources, including recycling informati
than the bottles do and so they cannot be
Ramsey County. This information can be found by going to
.
Find Information On . . . on the Citys home page
3
Brenda Holdens candidate statement
Election
Notes
M
y husband and I have enjoyed living proper maintenance avoids costly
in Arden Hills for over 30 years. I reconstruction projects. I have fought
by Kristine Goodrich
have had the privilege of serving on the hard to establish maintenance as the
Arden Hills City Council for the past 10 #
E
lection Day is Tuesday, kovember 6.
nance schedules are and will save the
ocal, state, and national races are on
City thousands of dollars in future
the ballot.
on the following:
Two candidates are running unopposed
and streets.
for two open seats on the Arden Hills City
Council. Councilmember Brenda Holden
Monitoring the Citys public safety
costs. The costs of police protection
and Dave McClung, who has previously
several grant opportunities. I would
served on the Council, hopes to return.
advantage of these opportunities
and continue to purchase additional annually. Public safety is an important
city function, and I will continue to
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to > p.m.
provide for increased infrastructure
Ramsey County is now administering the
improvements.assure that these services are provided
cost-effectively.
and polling places since the last election:
Moving forward for a stable, pedes-
trian friendly downtown business
: Presbyterian
area. The downtown Arden Hills
strong if we continue to grow our
alentine Hills El-
neighborhoods strong.
businesses that are destination driven.
Ramsey County
I appreciate your vote this kovember 6.
Preparing the City for the future.
With a City that is over =0 years old,
If you are unsure where you should vote,
Dave McClungs candidate statement
M
y name is Dave McClung and I am Three of the four years I was on the City
Eligible voters can register on Election
running to represent you on the Council I voted against increasing the City
Day if they have a drivers license or other
Arden Hills City Council. My family has
been involved in the life of the Arden Hills because City staff did not present budgets
an ID with a prior address plus a current
community since before we were Arden and proposed spending that were in line
utility bill with current address.
with the current economic realities we are
all facing. When our family budgets have
family has continued our service to Arden to go on a diet - so too should our City
tion Day may cast an absentee ballot.
Hills tirelessly over the years. budget. The City of Arden Hills needs to
These advanced ballots may be cast at
refocus its budgetary priority on critical
I was proud to serve as a City Council City services: health and public safety,
member representing you from 2007
absentee ballot application. The applica-
all residents.
tion and mail-in instructions are posted at
foremost I believe in communication and
listening to what the residents want. I have
always been open and approachable and vocate for the residents of Arden Hills and
In addition, in-per-
willing to have a discussion about what is
son absentee voting is
in the best interest of the residents. This
available at City Hall
has never changed and will never change. vote to allow me to continue that advocacy
beginning October 22.
I have been and will continue to be there for you.
to represent you, and your interests at City
More information is available on
Hall.
the City and County websites.
@
Battling Buckthorn?
by Susan Cathey
T
ber.
Are there some uninvited tree
species growing there? ou may
Both physical and chemical methods can
is a problem. Both common or European
very persistent. A combination of methods
Minnesota Department of katural Resourc-
Minnesota and cannot be imported, sold,
was originally brought from Europe for
thorn.
use in hedges, by the 1930s it was found
to be very invasive and a threat to native
plants in forests, wetlands, and prairies as
City of Arden Hills will help out with dis-
on, Minnesota nurseries no longer sold
call City Hall by Thursday. our trees or
branches should be organized in piles of no
more than 10 feet in length and placed at
The illustrations at right will help you
the curb with the cut side toward the street.
identify the plant.
Buckthorn
The plant is a tall understory shrub or small
has invaded all corners of our state and has
no natural enemies, so it is up to us to re-
with a spreading loosely branched crown
move it and protect our environment from
and often multiple stems at the base. It has
its harmful effects.
Raking? Cleaning up the yard? Some things to remember
Got leaves? You can bring them to the Ramsey County compost site located at
Hudson Avenue. (Turn east off New Brighton Road at First Street
follow the signs.) The site accepts trees, shrubs, leaves, grass
plants.)
The site is open through the end of November, weather permitting
at these times:
You can see a map...
Monday,Wednesday, Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can see a map of the Arden
Hills/New Brighton compost site and
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
all the yard waste disposal sites in
Ramsey County by going to:
www.co.ramsey.mn.us
Click on Public Health and then on
Waste Collection Sites.
=
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.
Twin Cities, Mk
Permit _1962
Arden Hills, Mk ==112-=73@
I
Plastic Recycling
n
Election Details
Postal Customer
s
City Council Candidate Statements
i
Battling Buckthorn
d
e
Notes from the City Administrator
T
construction were hard to accept, the good
he past 12 months have been a At the end of 2011, the City was just start-
ing the website upgrade project. Today I
has been investing a lot of money into the
Arden Hills. ast year, in the am happy to report that this project is in
kovember newsletter edition, I presented
enue bridge improvement project is done
information on the stadium proposal for dedication of the website ad hoc commit-
and Highway =1 is scheduled to be open
the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant
Communications Committee Chair Arlene
for completion this kovember are the new
City website. Today, I will follow up on
County Road 10 bridges over I-3=W that
these topics and provide an update on
connect Arden Hills and Mounds iew.
road construction activities.committee was to recommend a website
While these projects are nearing comple-
was selected. The City has entered into a
three year contract with CivicPlus for on-
construction activities in Arden Hills are
ed in Minneapolis and not in Arden Hills going hosting, design and support services.
at the TCAAP site, a possible silver lining
resulting from the stadium site selection
ing on the reconstruction of the Highway
process is that a tremendous amount of in-the website more user-friendly, to more ef-
formation on the TCAAP site, the City of #
a major construction project in the City
throughout 2013. More information on this
that site was distributed far and wide. the characteristics of Arden Hills. Ad-
project will be presented in an upcoming
newsletter and will be posted on the City
#
website.
come and gone, Ramsey County and the cityofardenhills.org. More information
City Council are still committed to seeing on the website upgrade will appear in the
that the TCAAP site is purchased from the kovember newsletter.
federal government, remediated, and put
The challenges ahead for Arden Hills are
An update on current City activities would
also opportunities to achieve the goals of
19, the Ramsey County Board of Com-not be complete without noting a few
missioners adopted a resolution directing
year, the Minnesota Department of Trans-
the City staff for the betterment of the
community.
remediation of the TCAAP site. The fol-
City Council adopted a resolution that
supports this action by Ramsey County.
the County on this project.
City Administrator