Community

Being a good neighbor is important to us. Numerous improvements have been made at the R&E Center to beautify the site, address odors, and improve visitors’ experience. This includes conducting ongoing litter control, installation of a new odor removal system, landscaping and installing doors to the tipping floor. 

Vouchers

Every Newport household gets a voucher for free disposal of one bulky item (mattress, couch, appliance, etc.) each year. Bring your voucher and item to dispose to the R&E Center for free disposal. Additional items can be disposed of for a fee. 

Education

Current renovations at the R&E Center will include new educational space and a redesigned tour program. Once complete, residents, community groups and schools can visit and learn about how waste is managed in the East Metro and how to better prevent, reuse and recycle waste. 

Staff are also available to present at community meetings about what happens at the R&E Center. Contact us at info@recyclingandenergy to schedule.

Odor

The R&E Center was purchased by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy in 2015. Since then, R&E has invested over $800,000 in odor mitigation efforts at the facility, including:

• Adding OMI Ecosorb odor removal technology – This equipment is installed in the facility and also operates on a mobile basis around the facility. This technology does not mask odors – it eliminates them by breaking down and neutralizing odor molecules. 
• Installing tipping floor doors – Doors to all areas of the facility are kept closed as much as possible to contain odors.
• Enclosing operational areas – Current construction is further enclosing operational areas of the facility so that odors can be better contained.
• Treating surfaces – Staff treat outdoor surfaces with odor neutralizer to address liquids that may cause odors.
• Installation of weather monitoring station – Temperatures and wind direction impact odors around the facility. Readings from the facility’s weather monitoring station guide facility operations.
• Conducting routine odor testing – Staff and contractors regularly monitor odor on and off site. When trash odors are detected, facility operations and OMI equipment are immediately adjusted to reduce odor. 

Is the R&E Center the source of all objectionable odors in Newport? No. Thirteen other Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) air-permitted facilities operate within a one-mile radius of the R&E Center, including operations such as animal rendering, hide processing and tanning, a veterinary hospital crematorium, large-scale composting, and large-scale food production.

If you would like to file an odor complaint, please use the City of Newport’s Odor Complaint Form.