Message in a Bottle Program
The focus of Message in a Bottle will be to recycle bottles and cans away from home using some very eye-catching containers that look like giant soda bottles.
Most Minnesotans recycle at home, but studies show that recycling rates decrease dramatically when people are away from home. Whether that trend is because people don’t know where they can recycle, or because there aren’t any recycling containers convenient to them, the Message in a Bottle will address both issues.
The Message in a Bottle recycling program offers participating businesses free, recognizable recycling containers. Pick up service, through WACOSA, is also free. The service is currently available for businesses located in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne County.
The recycling program provides meaningful work opportunities for those individuals that receive services through WACOSA. It’s a program that offers work in the community and a chance to make it a better place to live. The recycling program provides innovative vocational opportunities and a way for individuals to give back. You get to recycle a bottle or can and WACOSA finds someone a job. We all win.
The Message in the Bottle recycling program partners include the Minnesota Beverage Association, Stearns County Environmental Services, Benton County Environmental Services, Sherburne County Environmental Services, WACOSA, The Recycling Association of Minnesota, Bernick’s Beverages and Vending, Viking Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Recycle More Minnesota and Python’s Sanitation.
WACOSA is recycling other plastic materials that include:
- Plastic stretch/shrink wrap
- Plastic grocery bags
- Plastic newspaper bags
- Plastic dry cleaning bags
- Plastic product bags – must be dry and no food residue
- Plastic bread bags– must be dry and no food residue
- Plastic cereal bags– must be dry and no food residue
- Plastic frozen food bags– must be dry and no food residue
- Plastic wrap from paper products (paper towels, toilet tissue, etc.)
- Plastic salt bags with rigid plastic handles removed
They can’t accept:
- any plastic bags with food residue
- bubble wrap
- soiled or wet plastic
- plastic food containers.
You can use your receptacles or WACOSA will provide your business with large pallet size collection boxes with plastic bag liners. Materials are collected as needed. Nominal pick up charges may apply, depending on usage and success of this type of recycling.
Contact Ellen Telander at RAM if you’re a business and would like to sign up or to learn more about the two different programs.