Go green

Winter maintenance

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recommends a low-salt diet for Minnesota waters. Doctors tell us to stick to a low-salt diet. Our lakes and streams should follow the same advice. When winter comes and snow and ice build up on Minnesota roads, parking lots and sidewalks, one of the most common reactions is to apply salt. This salt contains chloride, which pollutes water. When snow and ice melts, the salt goes with it, washing into our lakes, streams, wetlands and groundwater. It takes only 1 teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute 5 gallons of water. Once in the water, there is no way to remove the chloride. At high concentrations, chloride can harm fish and plant life. Less is more when it comes to applying road salt.

Get Smart Salting certified

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Smart Salting training program offers two level 1 classes and certifications for winter maintenance professionals. The goal of the training program is to provide the latest technologies, best practices and tools, and available resources to assist organizations to be effective and efficient in managing snow and ice. Learn to reduce salt use, improve efficiency, create safe surfaces, save money and protect water resources.

You can sign up online at www.mncee.org/home-energy-squad/slp or call 651.328.6220.

Join the organics program and make a difference

It’s the perfect time to join the growing number of residents already participating in St. Louis Park’s organics program. Over 41% of residents with city recycling services also participate in the organics program. This is a simple way to keep food scraps out of the garbage. To sign up, visit www.stlouispark.org/organics or call utility billing at 952.924.2111.

Maybe you’ve noticed the small brown-lidded organics carts in locations throughout the city. Those carts are part of the city’s multifamily organics drop-off program, which expanded on October 1! The program now has a total of 11 drop sites.

The city’s organics program helps keep food scraps out of the garbage by sending them to a commercial composting facility instead. And although single-family residents have had access to the program since 2013, many multifamily buildings do not collect onsite, so the city is expanding the drop-off program to make it accessible to more residents.

If you would like more information on the drop sites, or if you would like to sign up, visit www.stlouispark.org/mfrecycling.

Sign up to become a Recycling Champion!

The city’s solid waste division will once again be hosting the Recycling Champions class! This is a great way to learn more about how waste is handled by the city and about the recycling, organics and waste reduction programs. Those who participate in the class are then asked to serve as recycling ambassadors in the community. Sign up to join a great group of advocates and community leaders! The class will be held virtually on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. Any questions can be directed to recycling@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2187. Visit www.stlouispark.org/recycling-champions to learn more and sign up!

Keep your home warm and energy bills low

A Home Energy Squad visit can make sure your home isn't wasting energy (or expensive warm air) this winter! The City of St. Louis Park and Home Energy Squad are here to offer you a discounted visit, where experts install energy-saving materials on the spot and identify energy (and money) saving improvements for your home. Free visits are available for income-qualified owners and renters. Call 651.328.6220 or sign up online at www.mncee.org/home-energy-squad/slp.

Save money on fuel this winter season with one easy tip

According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, your engine only needs 30 seconds to sufficiently warm up, even in cold weather. In fact, driving at slow speeds for the first few minutes will warm up your vehicle's cabin twice as fast as idling it! Considering the fact that idling your car for just two minutes uses as much fuel as 1 mile of driving, that’s a lot of savings. Instead of unnecessary idling this winter, keep a blanket in your car to stay warm for those first few chilly minutes. Visit bit.ly/IdleFreeSLP to learn more about the benefits of reducing your idling.

Start planning for spring planting

The annual tree sale will start on March 1. Purchasing will again be online on a first-come, first-serve basis. The tree sale is an opportunity for St. Louis Park residents to get quality trees to plant on their properties at a discounted price. If you aren’t up for planting your own tree, the city also has a full-service option where a city contractor will plant a tree on your property and the city will share the costs. You must be a resident of St. Louis Park to participate in either program. Visit www.stlouispark.org/trees for more information and updates.