List three recyclable items at your house
Examples: pop cans, paper, cardboard, glass bottles/jars, soup cans, etc.
How much does it cost to use the compost site?
Free! (Donations accepted to support its maintenance)
Why is the Hazardous Waste Facility important to the solid waste management system?
Having a proper outlet for hazardous materials protects people and the environment from potential harm.
How long has the OWEF been in operation?
35 years
Where is the Olmsted county landfill located?
Kalmar Township
Why should plastic bags not go in your recycling bin?
They tangle inside the sorting equipment at MRF's
Name something you could bring to the compost site
Grass clippings, fallen leaves, garden waste, etc.
What types of batteries should be brought to the HWF?
Rechargeable batteries (Ex: lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, nickel-metal hydride, nickel cadmium, lead acid)
The OWEF reduces the volume of incoming garbage by approximately ___%?
90%
How many cells are located at the landfill?
3
Where is curbside recycling taken once it has been collected by your waste hauler?
MRF's = Materials Recovery Facilities
What is a common contaminant at the compost site?
Brush, rocks, pet waste, branches, woody roots, sawdust, hedge trimmings, noxious/invasive weeds, etc.
Name a word that could indicate a potentially hazardous material
Poisonous, flammable, dangerous, corrosive, reactive, etc.
How is the OWEF primarily funded?
Tipping fees & service charge
The landfill would have been filled ___ times by 2022 if it were not for the OWEF.
What is closed loop recycling?
The process of recycling an item infinitely
In the summer how fast can yard waste decompose into compost?
2-3 months
What percentage of waste brought to the HWF is placed in the Reuse Center?
Buildings that receive steam for heating/cooling and/or electricity from the OWEF are part of the _____ System?
District Energy System
What do we call the rainwater that has filtered through the landfill?
Leachate
Name the two recyclables that are accepted in your curbside cart that are not accepted at the OCRC
Cartons & boxboard
Grass clippings provide a high amount of which element to finished compost?
Nitrogen
What is this item & why it should be brought to the HWF?
Compact fluorescent lightbulb; It contains mercury
How many tons of garbage did the OWEF process in 2021?
Approximately 112,000 tons of garbage
What makes our landfill site unique from the rest of the county & why is this important?
The landfill sits upon a layer of clay that is not present anywhere else in Olmsted County. The clay acts as an additional barrier beneath the landfill to protect our groundwater from absorbing any pollutants that the landfill might release over time.