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In lieu of an Earth Day celebration, the CG Green Committee is taking a step toward making our offices a little eco-friendlier. If you’re at our EP office today, you can find recycling guides for Hennepin County near the trash & recycling receptacles in the first and second floor kitchens. When throwing something out, review these guides and make a conscious decision to make our planet a better place.
If you’re at one of Christensen Group’s other offices, please keep an eye on your mail! Recycling guides are coming your way as well. Where possible, these guides are directly from your county’s recycling centers. Otherwise, a general recycling guide from Waste Management is on its way to you.
For all, regardless of your location, below you'll find some simple tips on recycling right, starting a compost, and easy eco-friendly swaps you can make today. Small actions add up to a big difference!
Recycling Right Did you know that putting the wrong items in your recycling bin can cause an entire load to end up in a landfill? Here's how to make sure your recycling actually gets recycled:
**DO **recycle:
- Plastic bottles, cups, tubs, and containers
- Clean them first! Food is not recyclable 😊 (but it is possibly compostable!)
- Look for the recycling codes on your item: #1, #2, and #5 are generally recyclable, but check with your local recycling center to make sure.
- Aluminum and food cans
- Paper, newspapers, and magazines
- Flattened cardboard boxes
- Glass bottles and jars (check your local guidelines — not all areas accept glass curbside)
** ** **DON'T **recycle:
- Plastic bags or anything in a plastic bag (these jam machinery!)
- Greasy pizza boxes or food-soiled paper
- Styrofoam, bubble wrap, or plastic straws
- Coffee cups (they have a plastic lining)
- Broken glass
- Electronics, batteries, or cords (these need special drop-off locations)
Quick Tips:
- Rinse containers before tossing them in the bin — they don't need to be spotless, just residue-free
- Put caps and lids back on bottles before recycling
- Flatten cardboard to save space
- If it's smaller than a sticky note, it goes in the trash — small items jam machinery
- When in doubt, check your local waste management website for what's accepted in your area
- Some Resources for you: Recycling 101 & Where to find a recycle center for flexible plastics near you.
How You Can Start Composting Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce the food waste that ends up in landfills (where it releases harmful methane gas). And you don't need a big backyard to do it! ** ** What you CAN compost:
- Fruit and veggie scraps
- Coffee grounds and paper filters
- Tea bags
- Eggshells
- Dry leaves, cardboard, and shredded newspaper
What to KEEP OUT of your compost:
- Meat, fish, or dairy (attracts pests)
- Oils and cooking grease
- Pet waste
- Glossy paper or plastic
** ** How to get started:
- Pick a bin — even a small countertop bin works great for kitchens
- Aim for a ratio of 3 parts "browns" (cardboard, dry leaves) to 1 part "greens" (food scraps)
- Keep it moist (like a wrung-out sponge) and turn it every week or two
- In a few weeks to a few months, you'll have rich, dark compost for your garden or houseplants!
** ** Here is a comprehensive guide on how to compost at home provided by the EPA (Environmental Protection Ageny): EPA Composting at Home Guide
Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps you can Make at Home You don't have to overhaul your lifestyle to make a difference. Here are some of the simplest swaps to reduce your waste and environmental footprint:
Instead of... Try this! Single-use plastic bags Reusable grocery & produce bags Paper towels Cloth dishcloths or reusable wipes Plastic water bottles A reusable stainless steel or glass bottle Plastic wrap Beeswax wraps or silicone food bags Plastic toothbrush A bamboo or biodegradable toothbrush Bottled shampoo/conditioner Shampoo & conditioner bars Disposable sponges Compostable natural fiber scrubs Plastic straws Bamboo, glass, or stainless-steel straws Bottled cleaning spray Concentrated cleaning tablets or refillable bottles
Your Call to Action! This Week, the CG Green Committee would like to challenge you to three things this Earth Day to help make the planet a better place:
- Double-check one item before putting it in the recycling bin
- Start a small compost container on your kitchen counter
- Make one eco-friendly swap, even something as simple as grabbing a reusable bag
Here's to making every day a little greener, one small step at a time!
Thanks, The Green Committee Sean Kurtenbach Jennifer Roberts Wes Slaughter Barb Michaels Abbey Johnson Ashley Braaten Gavin Knott Madeline Garrett
