Our mission, and the methods we use to act on it, is a community-driven effort. We believe that individuals working together locally, cooperatively, wisely can make a difference. The NEC operates curbside and multi-family recycling programs for Saint Paul residents, collecting over 17,000 tons of material each year from 110,000 households. Recycling trucks make an average of 65,000 stops a month. Saint Paul residents can recycle glass, aluminum and tin cans, newspaper, junk mail, paper board and cardboard boxes.
Residents can also put clean rags and used household items on the curb for recycling and reuse.
The NEC also works with member organizations such as the community council offices to sponsor and host brush drop-offs and neighborhood cleanups. Neighborhood cleanups are a great way to clean up Saint Paul and get rid of junk from people s alleys, garages or basements. Each neighborhood in Saint Paul sponsors a cleanup once a year where residents can drop off materials for reuse, recycling and disposal for a fee. Saint Paul residents can also drop off brush at these neighborhood cleanups in the Spring and Fall and at NEC sponsored brush drop-offs in the Summer. The Free Market SM is one of the newest programs sponsored by the NEC to promote reuse and waste reduction.