ANOKA, Minn. – (May 26, 2016) – Anoka County Recycling & Resource Solutions recently held its 27th annual Recycling Recognition Awards ceremony at the Anoka County Government Center on Wednesday. The event recognized municipalities, haulers, and service providers who assisted Anoka County residents and businesses with recycling 200,225 tons of materials in 2015, resulting in 51 percent of waste generated in the county being recycled. The amount of materials recycled in 2015 was over 20,000 tons more than in 2014.
Together, county and municipal staff and other partners increased information available to residents about recycling and improved recycling opportunities available to county residents. The “Most Improved Municipal Drop-off Program” awards were presented to the cities of St. Francis and Spring Lake Park for improving the amount of recyclables collected by 30 percent or more over the previous year.
In addition, collaborative efforts between communities were recognized. In the summer of 2015, Fridley, Columbia Heights, Spring Lake Park and Hilltop held a joint drop-off event. The cities of Centerville, Circle Pines, Lexington also held a joint drop-off event for their residents.
Several businesses were recognized for their commitment to recycling more. Culver’s of Anoka began an organics recycling program in the kitchen and customer areas and inspired other Culver’s locations to do the same. Several area McDonald’s locations improved recycling of bottles, cans and paper and began organics recycling in the kitchen and the National Sports Center expanded the recycling program by adding containers to all areas of the facility to increase the convenience of recycling for their guests.
The following individuals and organizations were designated “Recycling Champions” for their efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle: Summit Oaks Apartments, River Road East Apartments, Jennifer Pyper-Muno, Anoka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, and Mike Gaynor. Recycling provides a range of environmental and economic benefits to our communities. Manufacturing with recycled materials saves energy and water and produces less air and water pollution than manufacturing with virgin materials.
It takes 95 percent less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials. Making recycled steel saves 60 percent, recycled newspapers 40 percent, recycled plastics 70 percent, and recycled glass 40 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
