JANUARY 5, 2022
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— Minnesota Department of Health
Holiday greenery adds joy in the darkest, coldest season. When the holidays are over, there are several local options to properly dispose of Christmas trees. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources warns households to dispose of their tree properly to prevent the spread of invasive species from outside the state. Pests of concern include elongate hemlock scale, a small insect established in the eastern U.S. where many decorative Fraser firs are grown. Feeding damage from this invasive insect can cause the needles of hemlocks, firs and spruces to yellow and prematurely drop. Also, boxwood blight and Oriental bittersweet, sometimes found on wreaths and centerpieces, can endanger native trees and other landscaping. More information on these threats can be found at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) website at www.mda.state.mn.us/holidaygreenery. To protect the local environment, the state is asking residents to properly dispose of greenery and trees after the holiday season. The DNR has recommended the following guidelines: • The best option is to use a curbside tree collection or bring to a designated dropoff site. Check with your waste hauler, city or county to see what services are offered in your area. • Do not toss trees and greenery into backyard woods or your residential compost pile, which could allow hitchhiking pests to escape. • Wreaths and other decorative greens can be disposed in trash cans. If your city or county does not have an organized pickup or dropoff, the last resort would be to burn the greens. Always check with local ordinances first and follow them. If you suspect that your greenery or tree may be infested with an invasive insect or disease, contact the MDA’s Arrest the Pest line at 1-888-545-6684 or arrest.the.pest@ state.mn.us. See below for a list of tree dropoff sites in your area. These sites have varied hours of operation. Many are free to residents, but some charge a fee. Check ahead of time by visiting your county website or calling the collection site. Ramsey County Christmas trees can be brought to Ramsey County yard waste collection sites that accept trees and branches, where they will then be mulched. Participating yard waste sites include Arden Hills, Frank and Sims, Midway and White Bear Township. Please remove all decorations, lights, wire, tinsel and tree bags. Flocked trees are not accepted and may be placed in the trash. All sites are free and open to Ramsey County residents; photo ID required. All sites except Midway can be used by Washington County residents for free. Collection sites are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Call the Ramsey County Recycling and Disposal hotline with questions at 651-633-3279. • Arden Hills Yard Waste Collection Site: 3530 Hudson Ave., Arden Hills, MN 55112 • Frank and Sims Yard Waste Collection Site: 1150 Sims Ave., St. Paul, MN 55106 • Midway Yard Waste Collection Site: 1943 Pierce Butler Route, St. Paul, MN 55114 • White Bear Township Yard Waste Collection Site: 5900 Sherwood Road, St. Paul, MN 55126
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Washington County • Forest Lake, City of Forest Lake Public Works, 843 Fourth St. SW: open to Forest Lake residents only, 24hour drop-off through Jan. 31. No charge. For more information, call Forest Lake Public Works at 651-464-3220. • Oakdale, City of Oakdale Public Works, 1900 Hadley Ave. N.: open to Oakdale residents only, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 26 through Jan. 31. Cost is $3 per tree. For more information, call Oakdale Public Works at 651-730-2740. • Washington County, Northern Yard Waste Site, 5527 170th St. N. in Hugo: open to all residents, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No charge. For more information, call Washington County at 651-430-6655 or see co.washington.mn.us/yardwaste. City of Vadnais Heights • Free curbside recycling of Christmas trees will be available the first two weeks of January. Place the tree at the curb on Jan. 5 or 12 and the hauler will pick it up within 48 hours at no charge. Remove all decorations and do not place the tree in a plastic bag. The tree (or sections of the tree) cannot be longer than seven feet. There will be a charge for trees placed outside for pickup at times other than those listed above. For more information, visit cityvadnaisheights.com/civicalerts.
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The Minnesota Department of Health is encouraging parents to talk to caregivers, whether it be a grandparent or a babysitter, about the ABCs of safe sleep. Data consistently has shown that unsafe sleep environments account for nearly all unexpected infant deaths in Minnesota. Every year, 50 or more Minnesota babies die suddenly and unexpectedly, and nearly all those tragic deaths happen in an unsafe sleep environment. State health department analysis of the 100 sudden unexpected infant deaths in 2018 and 2019 found that 93% were sleep-related and happened in unsafe sleep environments, according to preliminary data. A key takeaway for parents and other caregivers is to know the ABCs of safe sleep: • ALONE: Infants should always sleep or nap alone. • BACK: Always put a baby on their back to sleep or nap. • CRIB: Babies should always sleep or nap in their own safety-approved crib or play yard without blankets or pillows. “Safe sleep practices are essential for all child care providers, whether they be full time, part time or friends and family just watching a baby for an evening or afternoon,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm. “We need to give all families and those caring for an infant the education and the supports they need to create a safe sleeping environments, such as a dedicated crib, for infants.” After the 2013 implementation of new standards and training requirements for safe sleep practices, deaths in licensed child care have decreased significantly. In recent years, the number of all infant child care deaths, sleep-related and otherwise, have stayed below three a year since the standards went into effect, compared to before the standards were implemented, when there were at least six infant child care deaths each year during the years 20082012, and 12 in 2008. The health department review of infant deaths found that soft items such as blankets, pillows, crib bumpers and toys in the crib pose a hazard, as does exposure to cigarette smoke. It is also important for infants to sleep separately from other sleeping children and adults, since research has found that keeping infants in bed with others is hazardous. One positive alternative is co-rooming, where the baby sleeps in their own safety-approved crib, bassinette or play yard but is nearby for breastfeeding and nighttime diaper changes. A safe sleeping environment is just as important during naptime as it is during nighttime sleeping. Instead of using blankets to keep infants warm, parents are urged to dress babies in pajamas or other clothing appropriate for the temperature. As always, parents should talk with a doctor or nurse if they have questions or concerns.
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