New Recycling Program Hits St. Cloud Area on Earth Day, April 22nd

The Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) has teamed up with the WACOSA of Waite Park to start one of the most progressive recycling programs in Minnesota.

“We are trying to do something a bit different locally and hopefully expand the concept state-wide” Ellen Telander, Executive Director of RAM says. “Our focus will be to recycle bottles and cans from away from home locations using some very eye-catching containers that look like giant soda bottles.”

Most Minnesotans recycle at home, but studies show that recycling rates decrease dramatically when people are away from home. Whether that trend is because people don’t know where they can recycle, or because there aren’t any recycling containers convenient to them, the Message in a Bottle campaign will address both issues.

The Message in a Bottle recycling program offers participating businesses free, recognizable recycling containers. Pick up service, through WACOSA, is also free. The service is currently available for businesses located in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne County.

The recycling program provides meaningful work opportunities for those individuals that receive services through WACOSA. It’s a program that offers work in the community and a chance to make it a better place to live. The recycling program provides innovative vocational opportunities and a way for individuals to give back. You get to recycle a bottle or can and WACOSA finds someone a job. We all win.

The new program will kick off on Earth Day, April 22, with ten convenience stores in the Tri-County area. There will be two special public events at two of the stores to help celebrate Earth Day and a chance for the public to participate in the “Get Caught Recycling” event. The stores participating in the kick off are selected Little Dukes, Holiday and Super America stores. The “Get Caught Recycling” events will be held at the Super America Store at 600 South Highway 10 in St. Cloud at 10:00 a.m. and at the Holiday store at 157 Waite Avenue South in Waite Park at 12:00 p.m.

“We hope to include car wash facilities, laundry facilities, parks and also several special events in the near future,” states Ellen Telander.

Contact RAM if you’re a business and would like to sign up or to learn more about the recycling program at 651-641-4560 or by email at [email protected].
For more information about the Message in a Bottle recycling program go to: www.recycleminnesota.org

The Message in the Bottle recycling program partners include the Minnesota Beverage Association, Stearns County Environmental Services, Benton County Environmental Services, Sherburne County Environmental Services, WACOSA, The Recycling Association of Minnesota, Bernick’s Beverages and Vending Co., Viking Coca-Cola Bottling Company, www.recyclemoreminnesota.org and Python’s Sanitation.