Hold the Salt to Protect Minnesota Water

More than 50 lakes and streams in Minnesota have been impaired by too much salt, including three of our lakes in Washington County. Help protect our water when using salt this winter: 

• Use less salt on your own driveway and sidewalk.
• Always shovel before using salt.
• Sweep up and reuse leftover salt after the ice melts.
• Skip the salt when it’s colder than 15 degrees.
• Consider safer alternatives, such as calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or magnesium chloride. 

Give Grit a Go! The South Washington Watershed District is giving away free bags of grit to those within the SWWD community at the Washington County South Environmental Center, as well as other locations across the watershed. 

Learn more

What to Do with Packaging Waste

Packaging waste can be confusing! Here are some tips on what packaging can and cannot be recycled. 

Cardboard boxes and paper filler: Flatten and put into your recycling cart. Flattened boxes can also be dropped off at a Washington County Environmental Center. Follow the signs to the self-serve recycling dumpsters. 

Bubble wrap, air pillows, and plastic shipping envelopes: Bring clean and dry items to an Environmental Center (drive-thru lane) or other plastic bag and film drop-off sites. If items are wet or dirty, put in your trash. 

Styrofoam/polystyrene: Put in your trash.

Search the Disposal Directory to find more local disposal, recycling, and reuse options.