How to cope with trash dumped in the alley

Pretty much anyone who lives in Frogtown for any length of time has been dumped on. Our home is no exception. Tires in the alley. A broken TV on the curb. A sodden couch with a hopeless “FREE” sign discarded on the boulevard, with no sign of its owner. It’s a frustrating part of living in a city with a complex and sometimes fragmented system for dealing with trash.
At a recent meeting of Ward One residents that I attended, city officials offered advice and resources for coping with the perennial problem of dumping. Below, some takeaways from that meeting, as well as information gleaned from an online review of city and county resources.

If someone dumps on you, it’s better to deal with it right away.
At the meeting, Department of Safety and inspections (DSI) staffer David Hobahn was direct: “The law says the property owner is responsible when something lands on their property. DSI will issue you a ticket if you don’t take care of the problem.” But, Hoban continued, “If you get a citation, reach out to us first. Get in touch with DSI. In many cases we can work with you to avoid an assessment.” Call DSI at 651-266-8989 to talk with Hobahn or his colleagues.

If you’ve got your own things to dump, you’ve got options!
If what you’ve got to get rid of is too big to fit in your trash can, don’t despair. Call your hauler, who will pick up two or three “bulky items” per year. Sarah Haas, director of the city’s garbage and recycling department, says that surprisingly, only 10% of people in St Paul take advantage of this bulky item provision. So put that giant stuffed panda that you won at the Fair out with the trash – after you’ve alerted your hauler. (Who’s your trash hauler, you say? If you don’t know, call 651-266-6101 or Google “who’s my hauler Saint Paul” for a map.)

Is it a mattress? You’re in luck.
Mattresses are the number one dumped item, according to Haas. “Today is a Monday and we scheduled 22 mattresses for pick-up,” she said. In addition to just being gross, mattresses in a landfill absorb hazardous chemicals and can catch fire. The good news is that up to 98% of a mattress can be recycled, including the steel inner springs and the box spring wood. Furthermore, thanks to a contract with the county, Second Chance Recycling will pick up an unwanted mattress or box spring for free; call 612-230-7524 or email citycurbside@emerge-mn.org.

Cleaning out the garage and basement?
Take your old batteries, propane tanks, cleaning chemicals, auto fluids and unused paint to the Ramsey County Hazardous Waste Collection Site, at 5 Empire Drive. Take used sharps and needles there, too. Workers will sort through your stuff and dispose of what’s truly unuseable, putting the rest out for free. So, your unwanted leftover paint might be just what some other visitor to the Product ReUse Center, adjacent to the drop off site, is looking for! I’ve found lots of great paint for small projects there. Check out ramseyrecycles.com/hhw or call 651-633-3279.

What about that old computer?
Ramsey County has also partnered with Repowered (formerly Tech Dump) to offer electronics recycling at no charge to county residents. Bring your tech stuff to Repowered, 860 Vandalia Street, and know that in addition to safely disposing of its metals and electronic circuitry, you’re helping fuel a job training program for recyclers.

Got scrap metal?
Scrappers trolling St Paul alleys will take most large metal items, but did you know that pots, pans and hangers can go in the trash?

How about those unused pills?
Whatever you do, don’t send them down the drain; we don’t need more pharmaceuticals in our drinking water! Take leftover pills as well as inhalers, unused Epi pens and even blister packs to the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center, 425 Grove Street downtown St Paul. There’s a drop box in the lobby where you can leave unused medicines behind. Again, someone at 651-633-3279 can answer your questions or you can check the web at ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/unwanted-medicine.

Dumping trash feels like a crime, and it is.
“Dumping is hard for citizens,” said Cat Brown, Western District’s police chief, who also weighed in at the session on dumping. “It’s a quality-of-life issue. When the neighborhood is cleaner, we feel safe.” If you’ve got a gnarly litter issue, the police can work with you about how to make your property less inviting for dumpers. Call the non-emergency police line at 291-1111.

The bottom line: talk to government officials.
The meeting on dumping was hosted by Ward One City Councilmember Anika Bowie, whose legislative aide John Barry promised a follow-up fact sheet on the Ward One web page. To connect with Bowie’s office, email ward1@ci.stpaul.mn.us or call 651-266-8610.
Frogtown Green is a resident-led and volunteer-powered environmental initiative in St Paul’s most diverse neighborhood. If you’d like to know more, browse frogtowngreen.com or call 651-757-5970.