Reuse
Products can be repurposed within your residence, sold in a garage sale, sold to a reseller, or given to charity.
Various items: A plethora of items can be sold online via various websites. Of particular note is FreeCycle, which is a nonprofit organization that offers free classifieds for giveaway items. Businesses are welcome to use the free state-sponsored Minnesota Materials Exchange for sales classifieds.
Eyeglasses: Lion's Club redistributes eyeglasses to those who cannot afford them. Over two dozen drop-off locations exist in the Saint Cloud area.
Paint, stains, adhesives, etc: Tri-County Solid Waste operates a free store. Residents may drop-off chemicals for free. Items determined to be reusable are made available to the public for free within their store.
Books: There are at least three Little Free Library locations within our neighborhood. Great River Regional Library accepts donations of books and DVD's.
Furniture: The Used Furniture Store at 1600 Highway 23 East, a for-profit company, pays cash for furniture.
Household items: Several nonprofit organizations operate second-hand stores, including Goodwill, Wacosa ThirftWorks!, and Elevate's Treasure Chest Thrift & Gift. There are also for-profit stores, such as Smart Organizing Solutions' Treasure Chest, Savers, Play It Again Sports, Plato's Closet, and Once Upon A Child.
...and more: Aluminum foil is useful for sharpening scissors and punches. Egg cartons are reused by merchants at farmers markets. Sheet glass (not tempered) is used by art teachers to demonstrate glass-cutting skills. The local stamp club donates used postage stamps to a Sons of Norway fundraiser. Ink and toner cartridges are accepted at office supply stores such as OfficeDepot. Organizations typically collect gently-used winter coats.
Various items: A plethora of items can be sold online via various websites. Of particular note is FreeCycle, which is a nonprofit organization that offers free classifieds for giveaway items. Businesses are welcome to use the free state-sponsored Minnesota Materials Exchange for sales classifieds.
Eyeglasses: Lion's Club redistributes eyeglasses to those who cannot afford them. Over two dozen drop-off locations exist in the Saint Cloud area.
Paint, stains, adhesives, etc: Tri-County Solid Waste operates a free store. Residents may drop-off chemicals for free. Items determined to be reusable are made available to the public for free within their store.
Books: There are at least three Little Free Library locations within our neighborhood. Great River Regional Library accepts donations of books and DVD's.
Furniture: The Used Furniture Store at 1600 Highway 23 East, a for-profit company, pays cash for furniture.
Household items: Several nonprofit organizations operate second-hand stores, including Goodwill, Wacosa ThirftWorks!, and Elevate's Treasure Chest Thrift & Gift. There are also for-profit stores, such as Smart Organizing Solutions' Treasure Chest, Savers, Play It Again Sports, Plato's Closet, and Once Upon A Child.
...and more: Aluminum foil is useful for sharpening scissors and punches. Egg cartons are reused by merchants at farmers markets. Sheet glass (not tempered) is used by art teachers to demonstrate glass-cutting skills. The local stamp club donates used postage stamps to a Sons of Norway fundraiser. Ink and toner cartridges are accepted at office supply stores such as OfficeDepot. Organizations typically collect gently-used winter coats.
Recycling
Specific materials can be reprocessed into new material. For example, unwanted paperwork can be processed and made into new paper, which reappears in an office supply store as a new product.
Plastic bags and wraps: Grocery stores and major retailers typically offer a collection bin for plastic bags and wrappers. This includes retail bags, food storage bags, deflated bubble wrap, beverage case wrap, bread bags, paper towel wrap, shrink wrap, cereal box liners, and more. See this guidance poster or BagAndFilmRecycling.org. These particular plastics cannot go in other recycling systems as they jam the machinery.
Municipal recycling service: The City of Saint Cloud provides a recycling service to all single-family, duplex and triplex houses. Residents simply place clean items into the provided recycling bin, including: glass jars, plastics labeled 1,2,5, aluminum cans, tin cans, newspapers, magazines, office paper, greetings cards, envelopes (though no plastic windows), brown bags, corrugated board, fiberboard, and milk cartons. However, items not blatantly labeled or listed as recyclable should not be, as demonstrated in this Saint Cloud Times article regarding the city's recycling "wall of shame." Photograph paper is not recyclable, as it contains a chemical layer.
Hardcover books or large quantities of the above mentioned recyclables: Python's Recycling is located 550 4 1/2 Street Northeast.
Shredded paper: Neither the City of Saint Cloud nor most haulers accept shredded paper. Some farmers use shredded paper as animal bedding.
Metals: Recycling centers typically pay cash for aluminum, steel, copper, brass, cables, and automobiles. Alternatively, 24/7 free drop-off is typically available for cheaper metals and appliances. Local recycling centers include Midway Iron at 648 Lincoln Avenue Northeast and Northern Metal at 119 6th Avenue Northeast
Oils and lubricants: Drop-off is available 24/7 courtesy of East Side Oil Companies at 625 Lincoln Avenue Southeast.
Holiday lights: Multiple locations accept holiday lights, including WACOSA.
Leaves and yard waste: Material can be hauled to the city's compost site with an inexpensive permit. Plus, a yard waste pickup service is provided citywide most Monday mornings, April through November. Alternatively, build a compost bin on your property.
...and more: Find other recycling options at search.earth911.com. One final option is brand-specific recycling such as TerraCycle, which accepts some otherwise discarded containers such as toothpaste tubes and beverage pouches.
Plastic bags and wraps: Grocery stores and major retailers typically offer a collection bin for plastic bags and wrappers. This includes retail bags, food storage bags, deflated bubble wrap, beverage case wrap, bread bags, paper towel wrap, shrink wrap, cereal box liners, and more. See this guidance poster or BagAndFilmRecycling.org. These particular plastics cannot go in other recycling systems as they jam the machinery.
Municipal recycling service: The City of Saint Cloud provides a recycling service to all single-family, duplex and triplex houses. Residents simply place clean items into the provided recycling bin, including: glass jars, plastics labeled 1,2,5, aluminum cans, tin cans, newspapers, magazines, office paper, greetings cards, envelopes (though no plastic windows), brown bags, corrugated board, fiberboard, and milk cartons. However, items not blatantly labeled or listed as recyclable should not be, as demonstrated in this Saint Cloud Times article regarding the city's recycling "wall of shame." Photograph paper is not recyclable, as it contains a chemical layer.
Hardcover books or large quantities of the above mentioned recyclables: Python's Recycling is located 550 4 1/2 Street Northeast.
Shredded paper: Neither the City of Saint Cloud nor most haulers accept shredded paper. Some farmers use shredded paper as animal bedding.
Metals: Recycling centers typically pay cash for aluminum, steel, copper, brass, cables, and automobiles. Alternatively, 24/7 free drop-off is typically available for cheaper metals and appliances. Local recycling centers include Midway Iron at 648 Lincoln Avenue Northeast and Northern Metal at 119 6th Avenue Northeast
Oils and lubricants: Drop-off is available 24/7 courtesy of East Side Oil Companies at 625 Lincoln Avenue Southeast.
Holiday lights: Multiple locations accept holiday lights, including WACOSA.
Leaves and yard waste: Material can be hauled to the city's compost site with an inexpensive permit. Plus, a yard waste pickup service is provided citywide most Monday mornings, April through November. Alternatively, build a compost bin on your property.
...and more: Find other recycling options at search.earth911.com. One final option is brand-specific recycling such as TerraCycle, which accepts some otherwise discarded containers such as toothpaste tubes and beverage pouches.
Refuse Disposal
After efforts to reuse and recycle have been exhausted, garbage should be disposed of via a waste management vendor.
Foam: "Expanded polystyrene," sometimes known by the brand name of Styrofoam, is a difficult to recycle variant of plastic #6. As of early 2022, there are no known recycling locations in Greater Saint Cloud.
Plastic #3,4,6,7: As of fall 2022, the City of Saint Cloud's service does not accept plastics #3,4,6,7. However, some private haulers do accept them.
Organic: As of early 2022, organic recycling service is not yet available from the City of Saint Cloud. This would include leftover food, napkins, and other biodegradable materials. In the interim, residents must operate their own compost bins or place these items in the garbage.
Municipal garbage service: The City of Saint Cloud provides a refuse service to all single-family, duplex, and triplex houses. To dispose of larger items, households can schedule a special pickup by calling the city's Public Works department at 320-650-2900. Large residential properties and businesses can contract with the private refuse service of their choice.
Electronics: Minnesota law bans the placement of electronics with regular garbage. This includes computers, computer peripherals, printers, monitors, television sets, DVD players, tablets, mobile phones, etc. If reuse options have been exhausted, these vendors shall arrange for proper disposal such that hazardous components avoid landfills and valuable materials are recycled:
Medication: A collection box is located within the lobby of the Stearns County Sheriff Office at 807 Courthouse Square. There is no paperwork. Simply walk in, drop medications in the bin, and walk out.
Child car seats: Tri-County Solid Waste accepts damaged and worn seats at 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park.
Fluorescent bulbs: Most hardware stores and bulb retailers accept fluorescent bulbs, which contain mercury. Typically compact bulbs are free. Fees apply for larger bulbs, such as $1 for a 4-foot tube.
Batteries: Most hardware stores and battery retailers accept old batteries for free.
Hazardous materials: A wide range of chemicals, including mercury thermostats and thermometers are accepted at Tri-County Solid Waste at 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park.
Construction waste: Shingles, concrete, asphalt, tiles, and other construction waste can be hauled to Henkemeyer Landfill at 6029 Lark Road NW in Sauk Rapids. Fees applicable.
Foam: "Expanded polystyrene," sometimes known by the brand name of Styrofoam, is a difficult to recycle variant of plastic #6. As of early 2022, there are no known recycling locations in Greater Saint Cloud.
Plastic #3,4,6,7: As of fall 2022, the City of Saint Cloud's service does not accept plastics #3,4,6,7. However, some private haulers do accept them.
Organic: As of early 2022, organic recycling service is not yet available from the City of Saint Cloud. This would include leftover food, napkins, and other biodegradable materials. In the interim, residents must operate their own compost bins or place these items in the garbage.
Municipal garbage service: The City of Saint Cloud provides a refuse service to all single-family, duplex, and triplex houses. To dispose of larger items, households can schedule a special pickup by calling the city's Public Works department at 320-650-2900. Large residential properties and businesses can contract with the private refuse service of their choice.
Electronics: Minnesota law bans the placement of electronics with regular garbage. This includes computers, computer peripherals, printers, monitors, television sets, DVD players, tablets, mobile phones, etc. If reuse options have been exhausted, these vendors shall arrange for proper disposal such that hazardous components avoid landfills and valuable materials are recycled:
- Central Appliance Recyclers at 3107 Highway 10 Southeast
- IRT at 660 Mayhew Lake Road Northeast
- Waste Management Transfer Station at 670 North Highway 10
- Republic Transfer Station at 3490 2nd St SE.
- Alternatively, check with your favorite computer/electronics shop.
- Some organizations, such as United Cerebral Palsy, operate electronics recycling fundraisers.
- Some manufacturers will pay a delivery company to pickup old electronics at your home.
Medication: A collection box is located within the lobby of the Stearns County Sheriff Office at 807 Courthouse Square. There is no paperwork. Simply walk in, drop medications in the bin, and walk out.
Child car seats: Tri-County Solid Waste accepts damaged and worn seats at 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park.
Fluorescent bulbs: Most hardware stores and bulb retailers accept fluorescent bulbs, which contain mercury. Typically compact bulbs are free. Fees apply for larger bulbs, such as $1 for a 4-foot tube.
Batteries: Most hardware stores and battery retailers accept old batteries for free.
Hazardous materials: A wide range of chemicals, including mercury thermostats and thermometers are accepted at Tri-County Solid Waste at 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park.
Construction waste: Shingles, concrete, asphalt, tiles, and other construction waste can be hauled to Henkemeyer Landfill at 6029 Lark Road NW in Sauk Rapids. Fees applicable.
Accumulation & Health Hazards
Unfortunately, instances do occur when a particular property accumulates a sufficient quantity of debris to become an eyesore or health concern. Smaller quantities of particular items such as upholstered furniture and animal feces also pose a health hazard. Report these issues to the City of Saint Cloud Health & Inspections offices at 320-255-7214.
Photography and narrative ©2023 Northside-Hester Park Neighborhood. Recycling graphic is in the public domain.