Ramsey Resident - 2013 - March/April

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Attention Property Focus on Environment Owners on Private Minnesota continues to be one of the national leaders in recycling. Annually, as a state, we recycle over 2 million Septic Systems UPOTPGXBTUF XIJDISBOLTVTTFDPOEJOUIFDPVOUSZăFSF BSFNBOZFOWJSPONFOUBMBOEFDPOPNJDCFOFđUTPGSFDZDMJOH ăFDJUZPG3BNTFZIBTPWFS QSJWBUFMZ one of which is a reduction of greenhouse gases. In 2011, owned individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS) SFDZDMJOHFĈPSUTUISPVHIPVUUIFTUBUFXFSFFRVJWBMFOUUPUBL within its city limits. Per Minnesota Rules Chapter JOHBCPVUNJMMJPODBSTPĈUIFSPBE 7080, owners of an ISTS (or the owner’s agent) must Recently, the state of Minnesota increased its targeted check for leaks through visual evidence and measure goal for recycling and Anoka County’s recently adopted or remove certain accumulations at a frequency no 4PMJE8BTUF.BTUFS1MBOSFĔFDUTUIFTFOFXMZFTUBCMJTIFE MFTTUIBOFWFSZUISFF ZFBSTăF$IBQUFSBMTP goals (stated in tons) as follows: TQFDJđFTUIFUFSNTXIFODFSUBJONBUFSJBMTIBMMCF SFNPWFEăFDJUZSFGFSTUPUIJTBTUIFAQVNQJOHBOE Actual Objectives cleaning’ provision. As an alternative to the pump- 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 ing and cleaning, residents can have a sewage handler 134,257 154,029 174,651 189,416 221,597 inspect the system and certify it does not need to be As you can see, the new goals are very aggressive. In pumped, as allowed by Chapter 7080. City Code re- order to achieve these new goals, we need to rethink what quires that property owners submit record of pump- can be recycled. We all know that paper, cardboard, glass, ing or inspecting through an ISTS Pumping Permit plastic and aluminum/steel containers can be recycled. But, in order to ensure that the city records are up to date. XFPĕFOEPOUBTTPDJBUFUIBUXJUIJUFNTTVDIBTQBQFSUPXFM Last August the city sent out over 2,300 letter cores, shoe boxes, mail inserts and envelopes. Plus, accept- reminders to property owners to have their ISTS able plastics have expanded to include any plastic container, pump/cleaned, allowing until October 15, 2012, as bottle or tub and aseptic packaging (milk, soup, and bev- the deadline for compliance. We received nearly 70 erage cartons) is also accepted now. We not only need to percent compliance. For those who were unable to encourage everybody to recycle but also encourage everyone make that deadline work, a second reminder will be to recycle more material. mailed out soon. If you’re not sure if a particular material or item is recy- For those who did not receive a letter reminder, DMBCMF ZPVIBWFNBOZPQUJPOTUPđOEPVU TVDIBTDPOUBDUJOH you are either in compliance, or very shortly you may the city’s Recycling Coordinator Chris Anderson at 763- receive in the mail a letter reminder to have your 433-9905 or canderson@ci.ramsey.mn.us, ACE Solid Waste ISTS pumped, cleaned or inspected. For some, this at 763-427-3110 or service@acesolidwaste.com, the city’s message is mostly informational. However, if you are website at www.cityoframsey.com, or Anoka County’s web- due this year, or are behind, please make an appoint- site at http://www.co.anoka.mn.us/v2_dept/iwm/index. ment to have your septic tank(s) pump cleaned or aspx. inspected. Ramsey’s recycling program is funded through the If you are unsure of who performs such services state’s Select Committee on the Environment and Recycling the following link will aid you in your search: www. (SCORE). Funds are distributed through the County to cityoframsey.com/septic. NVOJDJQBMJUJFTUPIFMQNFFUUIFUPOOBHFPCKFDUJWFTăFSF We appreciate your assistance and would like to are new funding prospects available this year and the city remind you that in addition to protecting the envi- will hopefully be unveiling a couple new recycling opportu- ronment, regular maintenance of your septic tank(s) nities beginning this summer. Stay tuned for will extend the life of your system and may lead to more details in the coming months. MPXFSMPOHUFSNDPTUTõVFTUJPOTSFHBSEJOHUIJT Let’s see what each one of us can do to program can be directed to the Community Devel- help meet Ramsey’s recycling goal for 2013 opment Department; Building Division at 763-433- (2,205 tons) and beyond! 9850. 10 Ramsey Resident • March/April 2013