Environmental Assistance Grant

This summer, Olmsted County received an Environmental Assistance Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to work with the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) and other K-12 schools in the Rochester area to establish and enhance their waste reduction and recycling programs. This grant is part of a larger commitment in Minnesota to significantly reduce our generation of waste, increase our recycling rates, and in turn, save on energy and greenhouse gas emissions.  

RCTC is working on improving their recycling system by focusing on recycling and trash bin placement, creating eye-catching and descriptive signs, and increasing awareness.  Caitlin Meyer, Waste Abatement Specialist for Olmsted County, Brittany Stewart, Minnesota GreenCorps Member, and Britt Gangeness, Outreach and Education Division for the MPCA recently worked together to alter RCTC’s recycling bins to include “Paper Too!”.  By making this slot opening on their bins, it is now more convenient to recycle on campus.  They can recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and now paper in the same location!  We hope this will increase recycling participation on campus and be a model for other Minnesotans looking to contribute to a healthier environment.

Written by Caitlin Meyer

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