Twin Cities businesses find cash in their trash

Trash is truly a treasure here in Minnesota. For example, recycling in our state supports around 37,000 jobs, generating nearly $1.96 billion in wages and adding close to $8.5 billion to the state’s economy.

Add to that a program in Washington and Ramsey Counties that is helping businesses cut down waste and costs when it comes to garbage.

BizRecycling is a public program run by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E). “We want the money in the hands of businesses as quickly as possible, and we want to make sure businesses have the best tools so they can keep doing their business while we take care of the trash,” said Trista Martinson, R&E Executive Director.

BizRecycling provides free consultations for businesses, including non-profits, schools, healthcare facilities, offices, restaurants, warehouses, residential buildings, and more. Since 2013, it has supported over 4,000 local businesses with free resources to reduce waste, improve recycling, and operate more sustainably. Experts offer businesses valuable tips and even grants of up to $50,000. Martinson says a great example is a local kombucha business. “They were selling it in aluminum cans, and because they wanted their art on the can, they were wrapping each can in a plastic label, which makes it not recyclable.”

Martinson said the business was given a $50,000 grant to buy the equipment necessary to put the artwork right on the can. “No more plastic labels, which saves them money. Plus, the can is recyclable and we pay for it,” Martinson added.

Help is available on a smaller scale, too, with many businesses qualifying for bins and labels to mark recycling or packaging solutions. “Think of a restaurant that uses Styrofoam for takeout containers because they are more affordable, but there is money available to get something organic or recyclable,” Martinson explained. “We’re making an impact, giving business what their customers want, and we’re helping pay for it.”

More than $6 million in grants have been awarded, with 500 businesses starting organic collection, 400 beginning or improving existing recycling, and 1,000 businesses enhancing their existing waste management systems. In 2021, Minnesotans recycled 2.3 million tons worth more than $690 million. But the amount of discarded recyclable materials costs the state more than $200 million in lost value and landfill fees.

“We know what happens to garbage, at the end of the day, we either produce it into energy or it gets buried, which is bad,” Martinson added. “We want to prevent that so we can go upstream to businesses to help them reduce their waste, which in turn keeps costs down.”

It's a win-win for everyone involved, including the environment, as the program

converts more than 14 million pounds of waste every year, or 500 garbage trucks filled. The BizRecycling program is ongoing and open to businesses in Ramsey and Washington Counties.

You can learn more about the program at https://bizrecycling.com/.