Today’s recycling bin is as much of a household staple as Amazon Prime. We know it, we love it...we may be guilty of overusing it. Raise your hand if you’ve ever recycled something that you weren’t entirely sure was recyclable. It’s okay, we’ve all been there—hovering over the bin, a lonely bead of sweat trickling down your temple, paper coffee cup in hand. You are filled with uncertainty and a strong urge to recycle the cup.

Non-recyclable items like paper coffee cups, plastic berry containers, and Styrofoam® end up in recycling bins every day. As a result, the

amount of “contamination” in the recycling industry is on the rise. Higher contamination reduces the value of our recyclables and makes it more challenging for waste haulers to market the materials.

So what to do? Make sure your recycling game is on point! Recycle the items that you know should go in your bin. Check with your waste hauler on the items that you’re unsure of. What about the rest? Skip it! If you can’t recycle an item, try eliminating it from your life. If it drives you bananas that you can’t recycle it, just don’t use it.

Buy meat from the meat case or a farmer to avoid the foam trays. Bring a reusable mug or bottle instead of using disposable alternatives. Tote reusable bags, choose reusable storage containers instead of film and foil, buy in bulk, and skip drink covers and straws.

Before you know it, your recycling bin will be gleaming with

perfection, and it will be a bit lighter too!

We spend so much time fretting over what’s above the ground: pruning, mowing, spraying. The living landscape actually extends to nearly a foot below the soil surface (if you’re lucky enough to have that depth) where what matters most, actually happens.

Healthy, non-compacted soil teems with beneficial bacteria, critters, and fungi that derive sustenance from this subterranean habitat. And just by living, these beneficial organisms free up and supply nutrients to the roots of the plants whose above-ground parts receive so much of our attention.

Focus efforts on nurturing your landscape’s dynamic food web. It’s more than the sum of those discrete, pruned parts—everything is connected and rooted in the soil!

Soil-building is a noble undertaking requiring elbow grease, a dose of patience, and plenty of organic matter. But the resilient landscape you’ll cultivate resists drought and disease far better than the chemically-dependent yard that demands continual intervention to

withstand the inevitable challenges nature offers. Add organic matter, fertilize naturally, and aerate periodically.

Pesticides kill living things. Many are hazardous to people, pets and wildlife. Improving the soil allows plants to stand up to disease and out-compete weeds – eliminating the need to “treat and kill”. There are natural pesticides but they, too, can be harmful when used improperly. The fast food diet that granular chemical fertilizers offer may satisfy short-term nutritional needs, but contributes nothing to soil structure or long-term plant and microbial health.

Lawns offer space for sports and games, but can be high-maintenance. Evaluate those spots where growing grass is a continual challenge and replace them with beds of clustered plants to mimic nature’s patchwork patterns. Include edible perennials and annual vegetables in your beds for added interest.

Feed your soil and feed your family!

Have a question? Email your question to wastepaper@wlssd.com or ‘Contact Us’ at wlssd.com.

Q & AQ & A

K eep Your Recycling Game on Point

Q I just moved in to my house and want to replace the

smoke detectors. What should I do with the ones I’m taking down?

AGreat question! Smoke detectors made in the last

couple decades are either photo electric, ionizing or a combination of both. They can be hardwired with or without battery back-up or just operate on batteries.

These smoke detectors can safely be thrown in the garbage (as can a carbon monoxide detector). Any alkaline batteries can be thrown in the garbage. Lithium ion batteries, on the other hand, need to be recycled and should be brought to the WLSSD Househould Hazardous Waste Facility or a battery retailer that recycles batteries.

QHow can I dispose of LED lights?

ALED light bulbs do not contain any mercury. They can be safely

thrown away in the garbage. Any burned out incandescent bulbs can also be put in the garbage.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, on the other hand, do contain mercury. These and all other fluorescent bulbs (the most common style would be the 4 foot tube) need to be recycled.

The WLSSD Household Hazardous Waste Facility offers convenient and free fluorescent bulb recycling for residents. Many local bulb retailers also accept burned out fluorescents; call retailers for more details.

A newsletter about solid waste and wastewater treatment within theWestern Lake Superior Sanitary District, published twice a year for residents of the WLSSD service area. Comments and questions are welcome at:

wastepaper@wlssd.com218-722-0761

WLSSD provides wastewater treatment and solid waste management for a 530 square mile service area in St. Louis and Carlton Counties.

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District2626 Courtland Street

Duluth, MN 55806-1894218-722-3336

wlssd.com

The Waste Paper

- 5 - - 6 -

T h e W e s t e r n L a k e S u p e r i o r S a n i t a r y D i s t r i c t

Waste PaperThe

Volume 27, Issue No. 1 Spring 2017

In This Issue1Use Less & Party More

2Waste Not, Want Not

3Gardening for Clean Water

4Facility Hours, Recycling Info

5Lawn and Landscape, Spring To Do List

6Keep Your Recycling Game on Point, Q&A

Recycled paper made with 30% post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free and acid-free

U se Less & Party More

L awn and LandscapeA Deeper Look

It’s Duluth Community Garden Program’s Year of the Onion. Learn more about One Veg-etable, One Community at duluthcommunitygarden.org

Consider starting a vegetable garden or setting up a couple of patio containers of tomato plants (salsa!). Add a little Garden Green® compost (1:4 mix for pots or a couple inches worked into the top of each bed) to get them growing great!

Corral the clutter under the kitchen sink. Countless cleaners really aren’t necessary to keep the house looking nice. Keep the couple that get used and bring the rest to WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Paint the house. Longer days, sunshine and plenty of fresh air mean more drying time for outside and inside paint jobs. Use up the paint you already have—or measure the project and buy just the

amount of paint that you need (and maybe a quart for small touch-ups).

Spring

To Do List

WLSSDYard Waste

Compost Site

1 cubic foot bag (~40 lbs) $ 5 1 cubic yard bulk $22 1 cubic yard bulk loaded $30

Open Fri, Sat, Sun9 am - 4 pm

What if trash and recycling were a thing of the past? The circular economy describes a group of policy and business models where goods are designed and packaged to be reused, repaired, and/or redistributed. Contrasting with today’s linear economy, where items are created with raw materials and then disposed of at end-of-life, goods manufactured in a circular economy can be efficiently disassembled at end-of-life and then remade into something new. Our linear economy stresses recycling as solution, but it can’t be the only one—recycling can be energy intensive and the materials recovered are often of lesser value than the originals.

A circular economy aims to keep materials flowing through the system, saving the energy needed to mine and manufacture virgin materials using smart design and innovative technologies to make the most of what we have. It’s a big idea!

Closer to home and a little more down to earth, WLSSD makes repurposing good “stuff” easy. Find free items to upcycle or refurbish at the Materials Recovery Center’s Reuse Area and the supplies (paints, glues, adhesives) to spruce them up at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility’s Product Reuse Center. Residents have oodles of other choices when it comes to getting the most value out of “stuff.”

If you own it, repair it. Before researching a new model when an item breaks, use your web search energy to seek out repair shops.

Let a professional evaluate the item’s needs and efficiently return it to working order, saving you considerable time. Alternatively, do it yourself and build your skills. Use manuals, magazines, and resources at the public library or visit You Tube for some online how-to videos. Try community education courses through local school districts or join classes held at local businesses.

If you don’t own it, rent it. Shift the burden of maintenance and repair to others and simply rent the tools you need for the job. The benefits include the opportunity to use a higher quality, commercial grade item than might be available retail—plus you don’t have to store it. Rental shops will also give you tips and tutorials for safely using their inventory.

Build your skills or free up your time. Either way it’s a party—reducing or reusing isn’t about deprivation at all but using our energy for its greatest value. If life’s a party, it’d be great if WLSSD’s role at our regional fiesta is less about cleaning up the broken “stuff” and more about keeping the party hopping by supporting the circular economy.

- 2 - - 4 -- 3 -

Residential Food WasteDrop Sites

email: gardengreen@wlssd.com

7 Convenient LocationsWLSSD’s 27th Ave W Yard Waste Compost Site during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

WLSSD’s 27th Ave W Household Hazardous Waste Facility during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

WLSSD’s Materials Recovery Center (4587 Ridgeview Rd) during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

Marshall Hardware (parking lot at 4415 E Superior St). Bags for sale in store.

Chester Creek Cafe (1902 E 8th St). Obtain free bags inside the cafe.

Willard Munger Inn (7408 Grand Ave). Obtain free bags from Inn staff.

Lake Superior College (W-building parking lot at 2101 Trinity Rd).

Trash TriviaQuesTion

All of us wishcycle a bit. What item do you wish could be recycled in our community?

LasT issue’s answer:

All answers received by 5 pm on Thursday, June 22nd, will be entered into a drawing for a reusable shopping bag kit with recyclable items. Please email your answer to wastepaper@wlssd.com

* Limit one winner per household per year

A. Items sent to the Reuse Area are charged a reduced rate of $10 per cubic yard (as compared to $24 per cubic yard for waste that is headed for the landfill). This rate helps to cover the cost of running the program and can cover a portion of the disposal cost if the item is never taken and is eventually thrown away. MRC staff determines eligibility of items for the Reuse Area; let them know what you have when you visit.

Q. How much does it cost to bring reusable items to the Reuse Area at the Materials Recovery Center?

Home improvement can be pricey. DIYers have many expenses to think about when tackling a painting project—avoiding waste is a top priority. PaintCare®, the manufacturer-sponsored program mandated to manage left-over paint, offers a wealth of information to help consumers waste less and keep more “ching” in their pockets.

Minnesota paint consumers pay a PaintCare® fee on every paint purchase. The fee is based on container size and funds the program that collects, transports, and recycles unwanted paint. Visit www.paintcare.org/paint-smarter/ for complete details.

Buy what you need. Buying just the right amount of paint starts with measuring. Find the square footage of your room by multiplying the height x width to get the area of each wall, and add the walls together. Subtract area of doors, windows and large openings, and ta-da! You have the area needing coverage.

Get help. When you arrive at the paint store, seek out staff to help determine how much paint you need based on your square footage. Paint professionals can help you understand coverage rates for different products, and guide you to what will work.

Keep in mind you may need more or less paint depending upon the current state of the walls: are they primed, painted with deep tones, have a textured surface, or a high sheen? These factors influence the next coat, so take note before you head to the store.

Once purchased, be sure to store paint properly so it doesn’t dry or freeze. Use it all up; if there are leftovers, pass it on or bring it to a PaintCare® retailer for reuse or recycling. WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility participates in the PaintCare® program and also makes leftover paint available to residents for free in the Product Reuse Center.

Separate these items from your trash:Plastic (household bottles, tubs, jugs, jars & lids)Glass (clear, brown & green)Aluminum Cans (food & beverage cans)Metal Cans (food & beverage cans)Newspapers & Magazines (including glossy inserts)Office Paper (letter, copier, notebook or computer paper)Boxboard or Pasteboard (cereal, soda & pasta boxes)Corrugated Cardboard (clean, free of oil & food)

No Curbside

Recycling?Look for recycling information in:

Canosia, Duluth, Fredenberg, Grand Lake, Lakewood, Midway, North Star, Rice Lake & Solway

your township newsletter

wlssd.comConvenient recycling drop off centers

are located in area townships:

G ardening for Clean Water

Questions?Visit wlssd.com

or call the Hotline at 218-722-0761

W aste Not, Want Not

RecyclingBasics

Tips for better recycling:Flatten as many of your containers and boxes as possible to save space and make transporting recyclables more efficient.

Rinse containers and remove all caps from glass bottles.

Plastic bags don’t belong in recycling bins! Use paper bags to collect recyclables since the bag can be recycled with your mixed paper.

Be a smart shopper - buy reusable, returnable and recyclable items.

Carlton County Facilities

Transfer Station1950 Hwy 210, Carlton

Solid/Demolition Waste, Appliances, Electronics, Tires & Brush for a fee from Carlton County Residents

Summer Hours - Apr 1 to Oct 31:Mon thru Saturday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Household HazardousWaste Facility

1950 Hwy 210, Carlton

Household hazardous waste accepted at no charge from Carlton County Residents

Open through mid-October:Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pmSaturday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

For rural recycling shed locations and hours, visit www.co.carlton.mn.us

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

FACILITY HOURSFor Holiday hours or questions: WLSSD Hotline 218-722-0761 or wlssd.com

Yard Waste Compost Site27th Ave West & Courtland Street

FOR DISPOSAL OF OPERATING HOURS

Household Hazardous Waste Facility27th Ave West & Courtland Street

Paint products FreeButton batteries FreeUsed oil & filters FreeChemicals & pesticides FreeFluorescent bulbs Free

Grass, leaves, garden debris FreeBrush and branches $8/cu ydDirt and sod (3 cu yd limit) $8/cu yd

YEAR-ROUNDThursday 9 am - 4 pmFriday 9 am - 4 pmSaturday 9 am - 4 pmSun, Mon, Tues, Wed Closed

Materials Recovery CenterCorner of Rice Lake & RidgeviewRoads

Mixed waste $24/cu ydSorted, recoverable waste $10/cu ydReusable items $10/cu ydMicrowaves 1 free per day ($5 each add’l)Appliances $5 eachTires 4 free per day ($3 each add’l)Household Electronics $15, 12, 9, 2 or FreeRecyclables, fluorescent bulbs, metal Free

YEAR-ROUNDTuesday 9 am - 4 pmWednesday 9 am - 4 pmThursday 9 am - 4 pmFriday 9 am - 4 pmSaturday 9 am - 4 pmSunday, Monday Closed

LOCATION

MID-APRIL THROUGH MID-NOVEMBERFriday, Saturday, Sunday 9 am - 4 pmMon, Tues, Wed, Thurs Closed

The snow melts and the rain falls, and it’s time to think of gardens. This year, give some thought to gardening that uses nature’s best water filter—soil – and build a rain garden.

You’ll have to do some planning and shovel some dirt, to be sure. In the end, you can keep your rain gutters and sump pump from pouring gobs of water into storm sewers. And you’ll grow some flowers that bees and birds like, too. Your rain garden won’t take much work once it’s up and running because a good selection of plants will crowd out weeds, leading to less mowing and maintenance.

Here’s a rain garden primer:a rain garden is simply a shallow place in your yard that catches runoff before it goes into a storm sewer. Plants that like to have their roots under water or in soggy soil thrive there.

The water percolates through the rich soil and joins the groundwater flow to nearby lakes or rivers, naturally purified by its path to the river.

Conservation groups, cities and environmental agencies encourage rain gardens because of this feature.In a natural forest only 10 percent of rainfall washes over the soil and 50 percent soaks into the groundwater.

By contrast, more than 75 percent of water can wash off a developed city block and only 15 percent makes it into the groundwater.

Ready? Let’s build a rain garden! First, look for places where water drains naturally. It could be downhill of your rain gutter downspouts, or where your sump pump discharges, for example.

Rain gardens work best when they’re between 100 and 300 square feet. You’ll pick a size based on drainage area (including roofs). You want a flat spot and will need to identify the type of soil there. For example, clay soil soaks up water slowly and you’ll need a larger surface area for your rain garden or you’ll need to add a healthy dose of organic material like compost to make it work well.

After you’ve selected your location and size, call Gopher State One Call before digging! Once you’ve confirmed it is safe to dig, dig out a shallow, wide depression and build a berm (short mound) around it. The rain garden should be about four inches deep.

Look for a good mix of perennial plants that’ll outcompete any weeds. It’s best to buy plants from nurseries, and there are even nurseries that specialize in native plants.

There are a lot of places on the web with information about rain gardens. One local starting point is lakesuperiorstreams.org. Click on “Home and Garden”. That’ll even lead you to an app for your phone to help you design your rain garden, because of course there’s an app for everything.

Gopher State One Call:1-800-252-1166 or 811

Homeowner Online Locate Request:http://mn.itic.occinc.com/cgi-bin/mn_

imenu_server.fcgi

- 2 - - 4 -- 3 -

Residential Food WasteDrop Sites

email: gardengreen@wlssd.com

7 Convenient LocationsWLSSD’s 27th Ave W Yard Waste Compost Site during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

WLSSD’s 27th Ave W Household Hazardous Waste Facility during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

WLSSD’s Materials Recovery Center (4587 Ridgeview Rd) during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

Marshall Hardware (parking lot at 4415 E Superior St). Bags for sale in store.

Chester Creek Cafe (1902 E 8th St). Obtain free bags inside the cafe.

Willard Munger Inn (7408 Grand Ave). Obtain free bags from Inn staff.

Lake Superior College (W-building parking lot at 2101 Trinity Rd).

Trash TriviaQuesTion

All of us wishcycle a bit. What item do you wish could be recycled in our community?

LasT issue’s answer:

All answers received by 5 pm on Thursday, June 22nd, will be entered into a drawing for a reusable shopping bag kit with recyclable items. Please email your answer to wastepaper@wlssd.com

* Limit one winner per household per year

A. Items sent to the Reuse Area are charged a reduced rate of $10 per cubic yard (as compared to $24 per cubic yard for waste that is headed for the landfill). This rate helps to cover the cost of running the program and can cover a portion of the disposal cost if the item is never taken and is eventually thrown away. MRC staff determines eligibility of items for the Reuse Area; let them know what you have when you visit.

Q. How much does it cost to bring reusable items to the Reuse Area at the Materials Recovery Center?

Home improvement can be pricey. DIYers have many expenses to think about when tackling a painting project—avoiding waste is a top priority. PaintCare®, the manufacturer-sponsored program mandated to manage left-over paint, offers a wealth of information to help consumers waste less and keep more “ching” in their pockets.

Minnesota paint consumers pay a PaintCare® fee on every paint purchase. The fee is based on container size and funds the program that collects, transports, and recycles unwanted paint. Visit www.paintcare.org/paint-smarter/ for complete details.

Buy what you need. Buying just the right amount of paint starts with measuring. Find the square footage of your room by multiplying the height x width to get the area of each wall, and add the walls together. Subtract area of doors, windows and large openings, and ta-da! You have the area needing coverage.

Get help. When you arrive at the paint store, seek out staff to help determine how much paint you need based on your square footage. Paint professionals can help you understand coverage rates for different products, and guide you to what will work.

Keep in mind you may need more or less paint depending upon the current state of the walls: are they primed, painted with deep tones, have a textured surface, or a high sheen? These factors influence the next coat, so take note before you head to the store.

Once purchased, be sure to store paint properly so it doesn’t dry or freeze. Use it all up; if there are leftovers, pass it on or bring it to a PaintCare® retailer for reuse or recycling. WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility participates in the PaintCare® program and also makes leftover paint available to residents for free in the Product Reuse Center.

Separate these items from your trash:Plastic (household bottles, tubs, jugs, jars & lids)Glass (clear, brown & green)Aluminum Cans (food & beverage cans)Metal Cans (food & beverage cans)Newspapers & Magazines (including glossy inserts)Office Paper (letter, copier, notebook or computer paper)Boxboard or Pasteboard (cereal, soda & pasta boxes)Corrugated Cardboard (clean, free of oil & food)

No Curbside

Recycling?Look for recycling information in:

Canosia, Duluth, Fredenberg, Grand Lake, Lakewood, Midway, North Star, Rice Lake & Solway

your township newsletter

wlssd.comConvenient recycling drop off centers

are located in area townships:

G ardening for Clean Water

Questions?Visit wlssd.com

or call the Hotline at 218-722-0761

W aste Not, Want Not

RecyclingBasics

Tips for better recycling:Flatten as many of your containers and boxes as possible to save space and make transporting recyclables more efficient.

Rinse containers and remove all caps from glass bottles.

Plastic bags don’t belong in recycling bins! Use paper bags to collect recyclables since the bag can be recycled with your mixed paper.

Be a smart shopper - buy reusable, returnable and recyclable items.

Carlton County Facilities

Transfer Station1950 Hwy 210, Carlton

Solid/Demolition Waste, Appliances, Electronics, Tires & Brush for a fee from Carlton County Residents

Summer Hours - Apr 1 to Oct 31:Mon thru Saturday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Household HazardousWaste Facility

1950 Hwy 210, Carlton

Household hazardous waste accepted at no charge from Carlton County Residents

Open through mid-October:Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pmSaturday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

For rural recycling shed locations and hours, visit www.co.carlton.mn.us

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

FACILITY HOURSFor Holiday hours or questions: WLSSD Hotline 218-722-0761 or wlssd.com

Yard Waste Compost Site27th Ave West & Courtland Street

FOR DISPOSAL OF OPERATING HOURS

Household Hazardous Waste Facility27th Ave West & Courtland Street

Paint products FreeButton batteries FreeUsed oil & filters FreeChemicals & pesticides FreeFluorescent bulbs Free

Grass, leaves, garden debris FreeBrush and branches $8/cu ydDirt and sod (3 cu yd limit) $8/cu yd

YEAR-ROUNDThursday 9 am - 4 pmFriday 9 am - 4 pmSaturday 9 am - 4 pmSun, Mon, Tues, Wed Closed

Materials Recovery CenterCorner of Rice Lake & RidgeviewRoads

Mixed waste $24/cu ydSorted, recoverable waste $10/cu ydReusable items $10/cu ydMicrowaves 1 free per day ($5 each add’l)Appliances $5 eachTires 4 free per day ($3 each add’l)Household Electronics $15, 12, 9, 2 or FreeRecyclables, fluorescent bulbs, metal Free

YEAR-ROUNDTuesday 9 am - 4 pmWednesday 9 am - 4 pmThursday 9 am - 4 pmFriday 9 am - 4 pmSaturday 9 am - 4 pmSunday, Monday Closed

LOCATION

MID-APRIL THROUGH MID-NOVEMBERFriday, Saturday, Sunday 9 am - 4 pmMon, Tues, Wed, Thurs Closed

The snow melts and the rain falls, and it’s time to think of gardens. This year, give some thought to gardening that uses nature’s best water filter—soil – and build a rain garden.

You’ll have to do some planning and shovel some dirt, to be sure. In the end, you can keep your rain gutters and sump pump from pouring gobs of water into storm sewers. And you’ll grow some flowers that bees and birds like, too. Your rain garden won’t take much work once it’s up and running because a good selection of plants will crowd out weeds, leading to less mowing and maintenance.

Here’s a rain garden primer:a rain garden is simply a shallow place in your yard that catches runoff before it goes into a storm sewer. Plants that like to have their roots under water or in soggy soil thrive there.

The water percolates through the rich soil and joins the groundwater flow to nearby lakes or rivers, naturally purified by its path to the river.

Conservation groups, cities and environmental agencies encourage rain gardens because of this feature.In a natural forest only 10 percent of rainfall washes over the soil and 50 percent soaks into the groundwater.

By contrast, more than 75 percent of water can wash off a developed city block and only 15 percent makes it into the groundwater.

Ready? Let’s build a rain garden! First, look for places where water drains naturally. It could be downhill of your rain gutter downspouts, or where your sump pump discharges, for example.

Rain gardens work best when they’re between 100 and 300 square feet. You’ll pick a size based on drainage area (including roofs). You want a flat spot and will need to identify the type of soil there. For example, clay soil soaks up water slowly and you’ll need a larger surface area for your rain garden or you’ll need to add a healthy dose of organic material like compost to make it work well.

After you’ve selected your location and size, call Gopher State One Call before digging! Once you’ve confirmed it is safe to dig, dig out a shallow, wide depression and build a berm (short mound) around it. The rain garden should be about four inches deep.

Look for a good mix of perennial plants that’ll outcompete any weeds. It’s best to buy plants from nurseries, and there are even nurseries that specialize in native plants.

There are a lot of places on the web with information about rain gardens. One local starting point is lakesuperiorstreams.org. Click on “Home and Garden”. That’ll even lead you to an app for your phone to help you design your rain garden, because of course there’s an app for everything.

Gopher State One Call:1-800-252-1166 or 811

Homeowner Online Locate Request:http://mn.itic.occinc.com/cgi-bin/mn_

imenu_server.fcgi

- 2 - - 4 -- 3 -

Residential Food WasteDrop Sites

email: gardengreen@wlssd.com

7 Convenient LocationsWLSSD’s 27th Ave W Yard Waste Compost Site during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

WLSSD’s 27th Ave W Household Hazardous Waste Facility during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

WLSSD’s Materials Recovery Center (4587 Ridgeview Rd) during regular facility hours (hours on page 4). Obtain free bags from staff.

Marshall Hardware (parking lot at 4415 E Superior St). Bags for sale in store.

Chester Creek Cafe (1902 E 8th St). Obtain free bags inside the cafe.

Willard Munger Inn (7408 Grand Ave). Obtain free bags from Inn staff.

Lake Superior College (W-building parking lot at 2101 Trinity Rd).

Trash TriviaQuesTion

All of us wishcycle a bit. What item do you wish could be recycled in our community?

LasT issue’s answer:

All answers received by 5 pm on Thursday, June 22nd, will be entered into a drawing for a reusable shopping bag kit with recyclable items. Please email your answer to wastepaper@wlssd.com

* Limit one winner per household per year

A. Items sent to the Reuse Area are charged a reduced rate of $10 per cubic yard (as compared to $24 per cubic yard for waste that is headed for the landfill). This rate helps to cover the cost of running the program and can cover a portion of the disposal cost if the item is never taken and is eventually thrown away. MRC staff determines eligibility of items for the Reuse Area; let them know what you have when you visit.

Q. How much does it cost to bring reusable items to the Reuse Area at the Materials Recovery Center?

Home improvement can be pricey. DIYers have many expenses to think about when tackling a painting project—avoiding waste is a top priority. PaintCare®, the manufacturer-sponsored program mandated to manage left-over paint, offers a wealth of information to help consumers waste less and keep more “ching” in their pockets.

Minnesota paint consumers pay a PaintCare® fee on every paint purchase. The fee is based on container size and funds the program that collects, transports, and recycles unwanted paint. Visit www.paintcare.org/paint-smarter/ for complete details.

Buy what you need. Buying just the right amount of paint starts with measuring. Find the square footage of your room by multiplying the height x width to get the area of each wall, and add the walls together. Subtract area of doors, windows and large openings, and ta-da! You have the area needing coverage.

Get help. When you arrive at the paint store, seek out staff to help determine how much paint you need based on your square footage. Paint professionals can help you understand coverage rates for different products, and guide you to what will work.

Keep in mind you may need more or less paint depending upon the current state of the walls: are they primed, painted with deep tones, have a textured surface, or a high sheen? These factors influence the next coat, so take note before you head to the store.

Once purchased, be sure to store paint properly so it doesn’t dry or freeze. Use it all up; if there are leftovers, pass it on or bring it to a PaintCare® retailer for reuse or recycling. WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility participates in the PaintCare® program and also makes leftover paint available to residents for free in the Product Reuse Center.

Separate these items from your trash:Plastic (household bottles, tubs, jugs, jars & lids)Glass (clear, brown & green)Aluminum Cans (food & beverage cans)Metal Cans (food & beverage cans)Newspapers & Magazines (including glossy inserts)Office Paper (letter, copier, notebook or computer paper)Boxboard or Pasteboard (cereal, soda & pasta boxes)Corrugated Cardboard (clean, free of oil & food)

No Curbside

Recycling?Look for recycling information in:

Canosia, Duluth, Fredenberg, Grand Lake, Lakewood, Midway, North Star, Rice Lake & Solway

your township newsletter

wlssd.comConvenient recycling drop off centers

are located in area townships:

G ardening for Clean Water

Questions?Visit wlssd.com

or call the Hotline at 218-722-0761

W aste Not, Want Not

RecyclingBasics

Tips for better recycling:Flatten as many of your containers and boxes as possible to save space and make transporting recyclables more efficient.

Rinse containers and remove all caps from glass bottles.

Plastic bags don’t belong in recycling bins! Use paper bags to collect recyclables since the bag can be recycled with your mixed paper.

Be a smart shopper - buy reusable, returnable and recyclable items.

Carlton County Facilities

Transfer Station1950 Hwy 210, Carlton

Solid/Demolition Waste, Appliances, Electronics, Tires & Brush for a fee from Carlton County Residents

Summer Hours - Apr 1 to Oct 31:Mon thru Saturday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Household HazardousWaste Facility

1950 Hwy 210, Carlton

Household hazardous waste accepted at no charge from Carlton County Residents

Open through mid-October:Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pmSaturday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

For rural recycling shed locations and hours, visit www.co.carlton.mn.us

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

FACILITY HOURSFor Holiday hours or questions: WLSSD Hotline 218-722-0761 or wlssd.com

Yard Waste Compost Site27th Ave West & Courtland Street

FOR DISPOSAL OF OPERATING HOURS

Household Hazardous Waste Facility27th Ave West & Courtland Street

Paint products FreeButton batteries FreeUsed oil & filters FreeChemicals & pesticides FreeFluorescent bulbs Free

Grass, leaves, garden debris FreeBrush and branches $8/cu ydDirt and sod (3 cu yd limit) $8/cu yd

YEAR-ROUNDThursday 9 am - 4 pmFriday 9 am - 4 pmSaturday 9 am - 4 pmSun, Mon, Tues, Wed Closed

Materials Recovery CenterCorner of Rice Lake & RidgeviewRoads

Mixed waste $24/cu ydSorted, recoverable waste $10/cu ydReusable items $10/cu ydMicrowaves 1 free per day ($5 each add’l)Appliances $5 eachTires 4 free per day ($3 each add’l)Household Electronics $15, 12, 9, 2 or FreeRecyclables, fluorescent bulbs, metal Free

YEAR-ROUNDTuesday 9 am - 4 pmWednesday 9 am - 4 pmThursday 9 am - 4 pmFriday 9 am - 4 pmSaturday 9 am - 4 pmSunday, Monday Closed

LOCATION

MID-APRIL THROUGH MID-NOVEMBERFriday, Saturday, Sunday 9 am - 4 pmMon, Tues, Wed, Thurs Closed

The snow melts and the rain falls, and it’s time to think of gardens. This year, give some thought to gardening that uses nature’s best water filter—soil – and build a rain garden.

You’ll have to do some planning and shovel some dirt, to be sure. In the end, you can keep your rain gutters and sump pump from pouring gobs of water into storm sewers. And you’ll grow some flowers that bees and birds like, too. Your rain garden won’t take much work once it’s up and running because a good selection of plants will crowd out weeds, leading to less mowing and maintenance.

Here’s a rain garden primer:a rain garden is simply a shallow place in your yard that catches runoff before it goes into a storm sewer. Plants that like to have their roots under water or in soggy soil thrive there.

The water percolates through the rich soil and joins the groundwater flow to nearby lakes or rivers, naturally purified by its path to the river.

Conservation groups, cities and environmental agencies encourage rain gardens because of this feature.In a natural forest only 10 percent of rainfall washes over the soil and 50 percent soaks into the groundwater.

By contrast, more than 75 percent of water can wash off a developed city block and only 15 percent makes it into the groundwater.

Ready? Let’s build a rain garden! First, look for places where water drains naturally. It could be downhill of your rain gutter downspouts, or where your sump pump discharges, for example.

Rain gardens work best when they’re between 100 and 300 square feet. You’ll pick a size based on drainage area (including roofs). You want a flat spot and will need to identify the type of soil there. For example, clay soil soaks up water slowly and you’ll need a larger surface area for your rain garden or you’ll need to add a healthy dose of organic material like compost to make it work well.

After you’ve selected your location and size, call Gopher State One Call before digging! Once you’ve confirmed it is safe to dig, dig out a shallow, wide depression and build a berm (short mound) around it. The rain garden should be about four inches deep.

Look for a good mix of perennial plants that’ll outcompete any weeds. It’s best to buy plants from nurseries, and there are even nurseries that specialize in native plants.

There are a lot of places on the web with information about rain gardens. One local starting point is lakesuperiorstreams.org. Click on “Home and Garden”. That’ll even lead you to an app for your phone to help you design your rain garden, because of course there’s an app for everything.

Gopher State One Call:1-800-252-1166 or 811

Homeowner Online Locate Request:http://mn.itic.occinc.com/cgi-bin/mn_

imenu_server.fcgi

Today’s recycling bin is as much of a household staple as Amazon Prime. We know it, we love it...we may be guilty of overusing it. Raise your hand if you’ve ever recycled something that you weren’t entirely sure was recyclable. It’s okay, we’ve all been there—hovering over the bin, a lonely bead of sweat trickling down your temple, paper coffee cup in hand. You are filled with uncertainty and a strong urge to recycle the cup.

Non-recyclable items like paper coffee cups, plastic berry containers, and Styrofoam® end up in recycling bins every day. As a result, the

amount of “contamination” in the recycling industry is on the rise. Higher contamination reduces the value of our recyclables and makes it more challenging for waste haulers to market the materials.

So what to do? Make sure your recycling game is on point! Recycle the items that you know should go in your bin. Check with your waste hauler on the items that you’re unsure of. What about the rest? Skip it! If you can’t recycle an item, try eliminating it from your life. If it drives you bananas that you can’t recycle it, just don’t use it.

Buy meat from the meat case or a farmer to avoid the foam trays. Bring a reusable mug or bottle instead of using disposable alternatives. Tote reusable bags, choose reusable storage containers instead of film and foil, buy in bulk, and skip drink covers and straws.

Before you know it, your recycling bin will be gleaming with

perfection, and it will be a bit lighter too!

We spend so much time fretting over what’s above the ground: pruning, mowing, spraying. The living landscape actually extends to nearly a foot below the soil surface (if you’re lucky enough to have that depth) where what matters most, actually happens.

Healthy, non-compacted soil teems with beneficial bacteria, critters, and fungi that derive sustenance from this subterranean habitat. And just by living, these beneficial organisms free up and supply nutrients to the roots of the plants whose above-ground parts receive so much of our attention.

Focus efforts on nurturing your landscape’s dynamic food web. It’s more than the sum of those discrete, pruned parts—everything is connected and rooted in the soil!

Soil-building is a noble undertaking requiring elbow grease, a dose of patience, and plenty of organic matter. But the resilient landscape you’ll cultivate resists drought and disease far better than the chemically-dependent yard that demands continual intervention to

withstand the inevitable challenges nature offers. Add organic matter, fertilize naturally, and aerate periodically.

Pesticides kill living things. Many are hazardous to people, pets and wildlife. Improving the soil allows plants to stand up to disease and out-compete weeds – eliminating the need to “treat and kill”. There are natural pesticides but they, too, can be harmful when used improperly. The fast food diet that granular chemical fertilizers offer may satisfy short-term nutritional needs, but contributes nothing to soil structure or long-term plant and microbial health.

Lawns offer space for sports and games, but can be high-maintenance. Evaluate those spots where growing grass is a continual challenge and replace them with beds of clustered plants to mimic nature’s patchwork patterns. Include edible perennials and annual vegetables in your beds for added interest.

Feed your soil and feed your family!

Have a question? Email your question to wastepaper@wlssd.com or ‘Contact Us’ at wlssd.com.

Q & AQ & A

K eep Your Recycling Game on Point

Q I just moved in to my house and want to replace the

smoke detectors. What should I do with the ones I’m taking down?

A Great question! Smoke detectors made in the last

couple decades are either photo electric, ionizing or a combination of both. They can be hardwired with or without battery back-up or just operate on batteries.

These smoke detectors can safely be thrown in the garbage (as can a carbon monoxide detector). Any alkaline batteries can be thrown in the garbage. Lithium ion batteries, on the other hand, need to be recycled and should be brought to the WLSSD Househould Hazardous Waste Facility or a battery retailer that recycles batteries.

Q How can I dispose of LED lights?

ALED light bulbs do not contain any mercury. They can be safely

thrown away in the garbage. Any burned out incandescent bulbs can also be put in the garbage.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, on the other hand, do contain mercury. These and all other fluorescent bulbs (the most common style would be the 4 foot tube) need to be recycled.

The WLSSD Household Hazardous Waste Facility offers convenient and free fluorescent bulb recycling for residents. Many local bulb retailers also accept burned out fluorescents; call retailers for more details.

A newsletter about solid waste and wastewater treatment within theWestern Lake Superior Sanitary District, published twice a year for residents of the WLSSD service area. Comments and questions are welcome at:

wastepaper@wlssd.com218-722-0761

WLSSD provides wastewater treatment and solid waste management for a 530 square mile service area in St. Louis and Carlton Counties.

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District2626 Courtland Street

Duluth, MN 55806-1894218-722-3336

wlssd.com

The Waste Paper

- 5 - - 6 -

T h e W e s t e r n L a k e S u p e r i o r S a n i t a r y D i s t r i c t

Waste PaperThe

Volume 27, Issue No. 1 Spring 2017

In This Issue1Use Less & Party More

2Waste Not, Want Not

3Gardening for Clean Water

4Facility Hours, Recycling Info

5Lawn and Landscape, Spring To Do List

6Keep Your Recycling Game on Point, Q&A

Recycled paper made with 30% post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free and acid-free

U se Less & Party More

L awn and LandscapeA Deeper Look

It’s Duluth Community Garden Program’s Year of the Onion. Learn more about One Veg-etable, One Community at duluthcommunitygarden.org

Consider starting a vegetable garden or setting up a couple of patio containers of tomato plants (salsa!). Add a little Garden Green® compost (1:4 mix for pots or a couple inches worked into the top of each bed) to get them growing great!

Corral the clutter under the kitchen sink. Countless cleaners really aren’t necessary to keep the house looking nice. Keep the couple that get used and bring the rest to WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Paint the house. Longer days, sunshine and plenty of fresh air mean more drying time for outside and inside paint jobs. Use up the paint you already have—or measure the project and buy just the

amount of paint that you need (and maybe a quart for small touch-ups).

Spring

To Do List

WLSSDYard Waste

Compost Site

1 cubic foot bag (~40 lbs) $ 5 1 cubic yard bulk $22 1 cubic yard bulk loaded $30

Open Fri, Sat, Sun9 am - 4 pm

What if trash and recycling were a thing of the past? The circular economy describes a group of policy and business models where goods are designed and packaged to be reused, repaired, and/or redistributed. Contrasting with today’s linear economy, where items are created with raw materials and then disposed of at end-of-life, goods manufactured in a circular economy can be efficiently disassembled at end-of-life and then remade into something new. Our linear economy stresses recycling as solution, but it can’t be the only one—recycling can be energy intensive and the materials recovered are often of lesser value than the originals.

A circular economy aims to keep materials flowing through the system, saving the energy needed to mine and manufacture virgin materials using smart design and innovative technologies to make the most of what we have. It’s a big idea!

Closer to home and a little more down to earth, WLSSD makes repurposing good “stuff” easy. Find free items to upcycle or refurbish at the Materials Recovery Center’s Reuse Area and the supplies (paints, glues, adhesives) to spruce them up at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility’s Product Reuse Center. Residents have oodles of other choices when it comes to getting the most value out of “stuff.”

If you own it, repair it. Before researching a new model when an item breaks, use your web search energy to seek out repair shops.

Let a professional evaluate the item’s needs and efficiently return it to working order, saving you considerable time. Alternatively, do it yourself and build your skills. Use manuals, magazines, and resources at the public library or visit You Tube for some online how-to videos. Try community education courses through local school districts or join classes held at local businesses.

If you don’t own it, rent it. Shift the burden of maintenance and repair to others and simply rent the tools you need for the job. The benefits include the opportunity to use a higher quality, commercial grade item than might be available retail—plus you don’t have to store it. Rental shops will also give you tips and tutorials for safely using their inventory.

Build your skills or free up your time. Either way it’s a party—reducing or reusing isn’t about deprivation at all but using our energy for its greatest value. If life’s a party, it’d be great if WLSSD’s role at our regional fiesta is less about cleaning up the broken “stuff” and more about keeping the party hopping by supporting the circular economy.

Today’s recycling bin is as much of a household staple as Amazon Prime. We know it, we love it...we may be guilty of overusing it. Raise your hand if you’ve ever recycled something that you weren’t entirely sure was recyclable. It’s okay, we’ve all been there—hovering over the bin, a lonely bead of sweat trickling down your temple, paper coffee cup in hand. You are filled with uncertainty and a strong urge to recycle the cup.

Non-recyclable items like paper coffee cups, plastic berry containers, and Styrofoam® end up in recycling bins every day. As a result, the

amount of “contamination” in the recycling industry is on the rise. Higher contamination reduces the value of our recyclables and makes it more challenging for waste haulers to market the materials.

So what to do? Make sure your recycling game is on point! Recycle the items that you know should go in your bin. Check with your waste hauler on the items that you’re unsure of. What about the rest? Skip it! If you can’t recycle an item, try eliminating it from your life. If it drives you bananas that you can’t recycle it, just don’t use it.

Buy meat from the meat case or a farmer to avoid the foam trays. Bring a reusable mug or bottle instead of using disposable alternatives. Tote reusable bags, choose reusable storage containers instead of film and foil, buy in bulk, and skip drink covers and straws.

Before you know it, your recycling bin will be gleaming with

perfection, and it will be a bit lighter too!

We spend so much time fretting over what’s above the ground: pruning, mowing, spraying. The living landscape actually extends to nearly a foot below the soil surface (if you’re lucky enough to have that depth) where what matters most, actually happens.

Healthy, non-compacted soil teems with beneficial bacteria, critters, and fungi that derive sustenance from this subterranean habitat. And just by living, these beneficial organisms free up and supply nutrients to the roots of the plants whose above-ground parts receive so much of our attention.

Focus efforts on nurturing your landscape’s dynamic food web. It’s more than the sum of those discrete, pruned parts—everything is connected and rooted in the soil!

Soil-building is a noble undertaking requiring elbow grease, a dose of patience, and plenty of organic matter. But the resilient landscape you’ll cultivate resists drought and disease far better than the chemically-dependent yard that demands continual intervention to

withstand the inevitable challenges nature offers. Add organic matter, fertilize naturally, and aerate periodically.

Pesticides kill living things. Many are hazardous to people, pets and wildlife. Improving the soil allows plants to stand up to disease and out-compete weeds – eliminating the need to “treat and kill”. There are natural pesticides but they, too, can be harmful when used improperly. The fast food diet that granular chemical fertilizers offer may satisfy short-term nutritional needs, but contributes nothing to soil structure or long-term plant and microbial health.

Lawns offer space for sports and games, but can be high-maintenance. Evaluate those spots where growing grass is a continual challenge and replace them with beds of clustered plants to mimic nature’s patchwork patterns. Include edible perennials and annual vegetables in your beds for added interest.

Feed your soil and feed your family!

Have a question? Email your question to wastepaper@wlssd.com or ‘Contact Us’ at wlssd.com.

Q & AQ & A

K eep Your Recycling Game on Point

Q I just moved in to my house and want to replace the

smoke detectors. What should I do with the ones I’m taking down?

A Great question! Smoke detectors made in the last

couple decades are either photo electric, ionizing or a combination of both. They can be hardwired with or without battery back-up or just operate on batteries.

These smoke detectors can safely be thrown in the garbage (as can a carbon monoxide detector). Any alkaline batteries can be thrown in the garbage. Lithium ion batteries, on the other hand, need to be recycled and should be brought to the WLSSD Househould Hazardous Waste Facility or a battery retailer that recycles batteries.

Q How can I dispose of LED lights?

ALED light bulbs do not contain any mercury. They can be safely

thrown away in the garbage. Any burned out incandescent bulbs can also be put in the garbage.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, on the other hand, do contain mercury. These and all other fluorescent bulbs (the most common style would be the 4 foot tube) need to be recycled.

The WLSSD Household Hazardous Waste Facility offers convenient and free fluorescent bulb recycling for residents. Many local bulb retailers also accept burned out fluorescents; call retailers for more details.

A newsletter about solid waste and wastewater treatment within theWestern Lake Superior Sanitary District, published twice a year for residents of the WLSSD service area. Comments and questions are welcome at:

wastepaper@wlssd.com218-722-0761

WLSSD provides wastewater treatment and solid waste management for a 530 square mile service area in St. Louis and Carlton Counties.

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District2626 Courtland Street

Duluth, MN 55806-1894218-722-3336

wlssd.com

The Waste Paper

- 5 - - 6 -

T h e W e s t e r n L a k e S u p e r i o r S a n i t a r y D i s t r i c t

Waste PaperThe

Volume 27, Issue No. 1 Spring 2017

In This Issue1Use Less & Party More

2Waste Not, Want Not

3Gardening for Clean Water

4Facility Hours, Recycling Info

5Lawn and Landscape, Spring To Do List

6Keep Your Recycling Game on Point, Q&A

Recycled paper made with 30% post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free and acid-free

U se Less & Party More

L awn and LandscapeA Deeper Look

It’s Duluth Community Garden Program’s Year of the Onion. Learn more about One Veg-etable, One Community at duluthcommunitygarden.org

Consider starting a vegetable garden or setting up a couple of patio containers of tomato plants (salsa!). Add a little Garden Green® compost (1:4 mix for pots or a couple inches worked into the top of each bed) to get them growing great!

Corral the clutter under the kitchen sink. Countless cleaners really aren’t necessary to keep the house looking nice. Keep the couple that get used and bring the rest to WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Paint the house. Longer days, sunshine and plenty of fresh air mean more drying time for outside and inside paint jobs. Use up the paint you already have—or measure the project and buy just the

amount of paint that you need (and maybe a quart for small touch-ups).

Spring

To Do List

WLSSDYard Waste

Compost Site

1 cubic foot bag (~40 lbs) $ 5 1 cubic yard bulk $22 1 cubic yard bulk loaded $30

Open Fri, Sat, Sun9 am - 4 pm

What if trash and recycling were a thing of the past? The circular economy describes a group of policy and business models where goods are designed and packaged to be reused, repaired, and/or redistributed. Contrasting with today’s linear economy, where items are created with raw materials and then disposed of at end-of-life, goods manufactured in a circular economy can be efficiently disassembled at end-of-life and then remade into something new. Our linear economy stresses recycling as solution, but it can’t be the only one—recycling can be energy intensive and the materials recovered are often of lesser value than the originals.

A circular economy aims to keep materials flowing through the system, saving the energy needed to mine and manufacture virgin materials using smart design and innovative technologies to make the most of what we have. It’s a big idea!

Closer to home and a little more down to earth, WLSSD makes repurposing good “stuff” easy. Find free items to upcycle or refurbish at the Materials Recovery Center’s Reuse Area and the supplies (paints, glues, adhesives) to spruce them up at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility’s Product Reuse Center. Residents have oodles of other choices when it comes to getting the most value out of “stuff.”

If you own it, repair it. Before researching a new model when an item breaks, use your web search energy to seek out repair shops.

Let a professional evaluate the item’s needs and efficiently return it to working order, saving you considerable time. Alternatively, do it yourself and build your skills. Use manuals, magazines, and resources at the public library or visit You Tube for some online how-to videos. Try community education courses through local school districts or join classes held at local businesses.

If you don’t own it, rent it. Shift the burden of maintenance and repair to others and simply rent the tools you need for the job. The benefits include the opportunity to use a higher quality, commercial grade item than might be available retail—plus you don’t have to store it. Rental shops will also give you tips and tutorials for safely using their inventory.

Build your skills or free up your time. Either way it’s a party—reducing or reusing isn’t about deprivation at all but using our energy for its greatest value. If life’s a party, it’d be great if WLSSD’s role at our regional fiesta is less about cleaning up the broken “stuff” and more about keeping the party hopping by supporting the circular economy.