What is the history of recycling in Minneapolis Parks?
Recycling of resources has been an important component of MPRB operations for many years. In the early 1980s the MPRB instituted a program that encouraged aluminum can recycling at park facilities, including, but not limited to, community centers and regional parks. In 1990, the recycling program at the MPRB’s 49 community centers was expanded to include curbside recycling of glass, plastic, aluminum and paper. This has been a successful program. In earlier years, the outdoor recycling program depended upon park users putting aluminum cans in the proper receptacles in order to comply with the separation of materials required by recycling vendors. Providing only for aluminum cans in outdoor locations met with varied success due to mixing and contamination of recycled materials. Because of health and safety considerations, MPRB staff was asked not to dig through trash for recyclable materials. What is the Co-Mingled Outdoor Recycling Program? In 2000 the MPRB established a pilot program
