Column: Randy Tuchtenhagen, Solid Waste Officer

As spring and warmer weather come, our office has been busy putting the finishing touches on our collection programs.

For 2011 we have planned two electronic collections, one in May and the other in September.

We’ll also continue the household hazardous waste program as in the past, visiting 20 cities throughout the summer collecting old paint and chemicals.

In my opinion, the most valuable asset we have developed over the years that makes our programs successful has been the many volunteers who show up each collection to assist us. Without these dedicated people we would not be able to serve the huge volume of residents that bring waste items like the computer and television collection program or the cans of paint and chemicals, fertilizer and propane tanks for hazardous waste collections.

Today our population is better educated and more environmentally conscious than at any time. The average person probably knows that liquids and chemicals should not be put into the trash. The average person also probably knows about recent laws preventing harmful items from being landfilled or sewered like electronics or pharmaceuticals.

Life was not always like this. Twenty-five years ago, when Keith and I operated our garbage collection business, we often packed away old televisions, tires, appliances and sometimes liquids, as did other hauling companies. The packer sucked them into the box and they were taken to the landfill.

In those days there were few rules governing disposal of special items. We were not educated about potential dangers or problems associated with handling hazards. It was “out of sight and out of mind” and no alternatives existed to divert potentially harmful items from the waste stream.

The 2011 hazardous waste collection schedule appears in the box to the right. It also can be found in the last issue of Community News.

You can also view the schedule on the Freeborn County website if you go to www.co.freeborn.mn.us and click on the Environmental Services Department. We will provide advertising in the Albert Lea Tribune, Freeborn County Shopper and have already posted the schedule in banks, post offices and stores throughout Freeborn County.

The collection schedule lists the city, time and date for the hazardous waste collections as well as the dates for electronics collection. The electronic collection program was originally designed for businesses, but we will accept items from anyone. Electronics have a fee. No collection programs operated by Freeborn County accept tires, appliances, microwaves or other special wastes. There are disposal options for those items, and you can talk to our staff to help you find the disposal site that works for you.

Randy Tuchtenhagen is the Freeborn County solid waste officer.