The State of Minnesota is second in the nation per capita for recycling, say recent statistics. But making comparisons can be misleading because not all states count the same. The recycling of electronics (TVs, computers, VCRs) for example, may or may not be counted.

The Environmental Services Department held two electronics collections in Freeborn County this year and collected over 500 units. Although that sounds like a lot, how many people still have TV’s or computers and want to get rid of them? Electronics, like the garbage, have a disposal cost so we can assume that some are still going into the waste stream and some are piling up in storage areas.

Likewise, in Minnesota, Household Hazardous Waste items are counted as recycling but not in other states. HHW has not been showing up at our collections held throughout the county proportionate to our population. This year for example, 1191 households brought items for disposal to the hazardous waste program.

This represents 3 1/2 percent of the county population. We know there is more product and assume that some of it is going in the trash.

In 2002, Freeborn County generated 25,792 tons of trash, up from the 24,772 tons in 2001. In 2000 the tonnage was 20,918. This steady increase of trash in our county is reflective of what is happening statewide and nationwide.

At the same time, statewide recycling rates have leveled off and are not increasing at the same rate. Landfills are difficult to site (no one wants one next to their property) and very expensive to operate and meet federal standards. With the throw-away cell phones, millions of computers and related hardware, as well as an improvement in the economy, we anticipate higher trash numbers for 2003 and 2004.

The increased trash generation is not just a residential problem. Commercial business and industry are a huge factor in this picture. Industry uses thirty and forty cubic yard containers to haul their trash away. Changing attitudes about how we can save money in the workplace can be challenging until we convince all employees that reducing or recycling in the workplace has financial value.

Waste reduction does not necessarily mean more recycling. Some examples of this, that I have seen in industrial settings, are plastic and fiberglass pallets that stack inside each other and can be reused over and over again, keeping the broken wood pallets and crates out of the dumpster. Use of plastic barrels (they are difficult to get rid of) that can be returned for re-use and plastics or metal being placed into the trash that could be recycled are examples.

It is not easy to just &uot;recycle&uot; everything we don’t want anymore. Most plastics, unless they are food and beverage containers, have no market value and getting rid of wood scraps is always a challenge. These bulky items take up a lot of space in the trash bin and cost a business money to dispose. Looking at the receiving end to reduce packaging or &uot;take back&uot; can often be more successful to reduce waste and save dollars.

In spite of my garbage-generating doom and gloom, Freeborn County holds an excellent recycling record. Electronics, Household Hazardous Waste and special wastes are being recycled. One day in October, our recycling company collected nine tons of material from rural drop containers and curbside collection. We don’t have nine-ton days every day, but it does show recycling commitment.

Carrying this commitment to our workplace whether a construction site, factory job, or office setting can reduce waste, save money, and keep Minnesota on the top of the national environmental records.

(Randy Tuchtenhagen is Freeborn County’s solid waste officer.)