A new environmental service center for household waste and other services in Ramsey County is opening just in time for spring cleaning.

Located at 1700 Kent St. in Roseville, the service center opens April 1 and will be accessible year-round. It features a covered drive-through for dropping off hazardous household waste – such as paint and cleaners – and electronic waste. It also accepts food scraps and general recycling and has space for fix-it clinics and a free product reuse room.

Household products that have the words “caution,” “warning,” “danger” or “poison” on their labels and still have product inside are considered hazardous and should not go in the trash, according to the county. Except for propane tanks, all empty containers can go in the trash.

The location also includes electric vehicle charging stations, rain barrels, native plantings and gardens and paths to nearby walking, biking and transit corridors.

“And the facility expands environmental health services, enhances accessibility and aligns with our solid waste management goals. So it will improve equity and environmental justice while operating at no cost to residents,” said District 2 Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire at a board of commissioners meeting earlier this month.

The county broke ground on the $29.7 million center in 2023. It is more than 30,000 square feet, uses solar and geothermal power, and is designed to reduce energy use and keep a low carbon footprint.

The center is part of the county’s “Enhancing Environmental Health Services” initiative, meant to redesign and provide more recycling and waste disposal services to the community, and was developed based on feedback from a 2020 resident survey.

Earth Week, at the end of April, will feature activities at the center like an open house and a fix-it clinic. The first 200 people dropping off household hazardous waste or electronics starting April 22 will receive giveaways.

The center was funded with the county environmental charge on trash bills, which supports most environmental health programs. The charge will not increase as a result of the project and ongoing operations will be built into the Environmental Health Division budget.

Services offered at Bay West, the year-round household hazardous waste site on Empire Drive in St. Paul, will move to the new facility.

What you need to know

• What: Ramsey County Environmental Service Center.

• Where: 1700 Kent St. in Roseville.

• When: Starting April 1, year-round Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on county holidays and Christmas Eve.

• What to know: As part of Earth week, the center will host an open house April 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a Fix-it Clinic on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. See what items the center accepts at ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/household-hazardous-waste.

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