Environmental (45 posts)
5 Tips to Help Your Business Go Green!
Sustainability and green business practices are becoming increasingly important to customers. Check out our 5 tips to help your business go green!
December 12, 2022
Electronics Recycling Company Near Me – Events All Season Long (Video)
Electronics Recycling Events in Washington County, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Nebraska and more!
April 20, 2022
Battery Recycling – What Happens To Old Batteries? (Detailed Guide)
Brett Weber, Environmental Sales Rep for Retrofit Environmental in the Twin Cities, MN, provides hazardous & regulated waste recycling tips
September 17, 2021
Hazardous Waste Recycling Tips – Brett Weber (Video)
Brett Weber, Environmental Sales Rep for Retrofit Environmental in the Twin Cities, MN, provides hazardous & regulated waste recycling tips
June 14, 2021
Battery Containing Devices – A Recycling Challenge
Battery Containing Devices (BCDs) are a growing concern to e-scrap recyclers. Huge volumes of electronics with imbedded rechargeable batteries create massive risks and challenges for e-scrap recyclers. Better processes need to be created to ensure these devices are being properly processed and do not end up in landfills.
March 19, 2021
Top 10 FAQ (List)
The Retrofit Companeis, Inc. had the pleasure of working with Johnson, Doerhoefer & Miner P.A. (JDM), at their Owatonna location, to improve their interior office lighting with a simple LED refresh. The Partners at JDM recognized the importance of proper workspace lighting and during, what some are calling, an economic recession, these financial gurus easily concluded that this efficient lighting was a no-brainer.
October 5, 2020
Universal Waste Aerosol Recycling Program
Aerosols now accepted as Universal Waste in Iowa, making it much easier and less expensive to recycle. Share with your Iowa businesses & we will schedule a pickup! #Recycle #EnvironmentalServices #TRC #Aerosols #AerosolWaste #UniversalWaste #EPA #RCRA
August 18, 2020
Contaminated Wipes or PPE Disposal During COVID-19
Medical waste disposal for facility decontamination, regulated medical biohazard waste solids, PPE, masks, gloves, and other waste associated with the cleaning and sanitation of your work space during this COVID-19 pandemic. The Retrofit Companies, Inc. located in St. Paul, Owatonna, Minneapolis Minnesota is an LED Lighting Designer and Recycling Service for Industrial, Commercial and other Businesses in the Midwest and nationwide.
April 27, 2020
5 Ways to Save Money When Your Building is Empty [checklist]
The Retrofit Companies, Inc., Lighting Designer and Contractor out of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, provides suggestions on how to save money with a temporarily empty or semi-occupied building.
March 30, 2020
Blue Earth Art Center – Customer Spotlight
With hopes of bringing her dream community art center to life, a local Blue Earth, MN woman needed our help with a chemical clean out of an abandoned building.
January 13, 2020
Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal
Order. Pak. Ship. Easy. ReturnPak: DEA Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Program Many residents and businesses have expired or unused pharmaceutical products and don’t know what to do with them. The Retrofit Companies, Inc. is excited to share with you this cost-effective, environmentally friendly program. Pharmaceutical Waste ReturnPak is designed to help you properly dispose […]
October 9, 2019
Part 6: It’s Just…Ceramic Glaze
A Guide to Common Products with Uncommon Properties By: Nick Dryden Part 6: It’s Just…Ceramic Glaze This is part 6 of our It’s Just… series on common products we see in industry. In this series we will be focusing on the chemicals found in these products, where you might find them in your facility, […]
August 29, 2019
Part 5: It’s Just…Epoxy
A Guide to Common Products with Uncommon Properties By: Nick Dryden Part 5: It’s Just…Epoxy This is part 5 of our It’s Just… series on common products we see in industry. In this series we will be focusing on the chemicals found in these products, where you might find them in your facility, and […]
August 19, 2019
Part 4: It’s Just…Paint
A Guide to Common Products with Uncommon Properties By: Nick Dryden Part 4: It’s Just…Paint This is part 4 of our It’s Just… series on common products we see in industry. In this series we will be focusing on the chemicals found in these products, where you might find them in your facility, and […]
August 8, 2019
Part 3: It’s Just…Windex
A Guide to Common Products with Uncommon Properties By: Nick Dryden Part 3: It’s Just…Windex This is part 3 of our It’s Just… series on common products we see in industry. In this series we will be focusing on the chemicals found in these products, where you might find them in your facility, and […]
July 31, 2019
Part 2: It’s Just…Drano
A Guide to Common Products with Uncommon Properties By: Nick Dryden Part 2: It’s Just…Drano This is part 2 of our It’s Just… series on common products we see in industry. In this series we will be focusing on the chemicals found in these products, where you might find them in your facility, and […]
July 15, 2019
How To Properly Dispose of Smoke Detectors
By Steve Jacobs, Environmental Division Manager Why Should I Properly Dispose of Smoke Detector? Customers frequently ask us about properly disposing of smoke detectors and why they are different from other electronic scrap wastes. With these life-saving devices in nearly every home, you would assume disposal would be fairly easy. So why can’t we just […]
July 11, 2019
How to Package Batteries for Shipment
Steve Jacobs, Environmental Services Director for The Retrofit Companies, Inc., shares tips on how to follow proper packaging guidelines for common battery types, including alkaline, lithium, lead acid and nickel cadmium.
June 19, 2019
Part 1: It’s Just…Bondo
A Guide to Common Products with Uncommon Properties By: Nick Dryden Part 1: It’s Just…Bondo This is part 1 of our It’s Just… series on common products we see in industry. In this series we will be focusing on the chemicals found in these products, where you might find them in your facility, and how […]
June 12, 2019
Aerosol Can Recycling Program
TRC Aerosol Recycling Program* *please note that state regulations change frequently; please contact TRC for the latest regulations in your state Despite the changing regulations around Aerosol recycling, TRC is pleased to provide an easy program for businesses in Minnesota to comply. Since introducing the program in 2016, we have seen a growing number […]
June 10, 2019
E-Scrap Plastic, the Next Challenge in Recycling
New Challenge in E-Waste As an environmental partner offering our customers responsible outlets for recycling their regulated waste, we run into many challenges as regulations and markets change. Over the last few years, we have seen challenges in the processing of leaded CRT glass from tube televisions and monitors. A new challenge in the E-waste […]
March 11, 2019
TRC Partners with Communities to Recycle E-Waste
This year The Retrofit Companies Inc., held dozens of recycling events and partnered with cities and counties across Minnesota to provide residents with responsible recycling options for those unwanted household electronics, such as old TV’s or monitors.
December 24, 2018
Lithium Batteries Are a Fire Hazard
If the batteries have a flaw, are damaged, overcharged, packed too closely together or are exposed to high temperatures they can overheat. This can be a very dangerous situation where uncontrolled positive feedback can cause other nearby batteries to overheat, triggering a domino effect of what is known as “thermal runaway.”
December 23, 2018
EPA Launches New E-Manifest System
The EPA is in the final stages of developing their nationwide Electronic Tracking System, with a compliance target date of June 30th, 2018.
December 23, 2018
Local School Cleans Out Chemical Stockpile
Radioactive materials have long been used in schools to demonstrate this fundamental concept. These materials may be dangerous if not properly handled and stored. We often find that these materials were purchased long ago, by staff who have since moved on. As regulations change and new staff arrive, it can be a challenge to keep training and licensing current.
September 24, 2018
Customer Spotlight – Bob Shellen, Amesbury Truth
Today we checked in with Bob at Amesbury Truth in Owatonna, MN to talk about their business and working with TRC. We have partnered on both Environmental Services projects and Lighting projects over the years, and today he told us about one of the very first projects that was a success and why he continues to work with TRC.
April 23, 2018
Shedding some light on led lamp recycling requirements
It is undisputed that LED lamps have become the leading lighting technology, offering the benefits of energy savings, longevity and quality of light. With the rise of their popularity, several of our customers have inquired as to the regulations regarding their proper disposal and recycling.
October 23, 2017
Choosing a Reputable Partner Minimizes Your Risks for Regulated Waste Related Fines
One of the most important concepts for generators of waste to understand is Cradle-to-Grave. In a nut shell, this means that the generator of waste is responsible to ultimate disposal. Nothing will relinquish a generator of this responsibility and there’s no expiration date or time limit. Hiring someone else to transport and dispose of your waste does NOT transfer responsibility.
October 23, 2017Tank Talk: Tank Maintenance and Cleaning Services
To continue to provide the environmental services that our customers need from us. We have recently started promoting our tank cleaning and maintenance services. Tanks can be found in all kinds of buildings, including schools, manufacturing, and any building that, at one point, used a boiler. Some tanks will get used and maintenanced regularly, while […]
April 23, 2017Corporations Step Up to Support Community Ewaste Recycling Collections
Over the span of just ten days, over the course of 5 years, in a town with less than 1,800 residents, one company was able to collect more than 115,000 pounds of waste electronics and appliances as a service to its employees. This waste was diverted from improper disposal or landfilling, and was responsibly recycled. The community collection model has been a staggering success for the worker community at Marvin Windows and Doors.
November 23, 2016How Does Hazardous Waste Clean Up Work?
Do you have a room, closet, or cabinet used for chemical storage? Maybe your business has a few old cans of paint, or an entire warehouse aisle of miscellaneous products that sit half-unused year after year, and you’re not really sure how to start getting it all cleaned up safely and responsibly?
September 23, 2016Recharging your Knowledge of Recycling Batteries
Since the mid-1990’s TRC has gained expertise in the safe transportation of wastes ranging from toxic gases to Mercury containing lamps. Our recycling trucks have transported everything from old light bulbs to lead paint. This expertise and knowledge of waste handling and disposal regulations have helped our clients simplify the disposal and recycling process for all types of Universal and Hazardous waste.
August 23, 2016CRT TV and Monitor Recycling
In the electronics recycling industry, waste processing changes over time as methods improve or markets shift. CRT recycling used to be what is known as a ‘closed loop process’ where old leaded glass tubes were recycled into new ones; however, new technology does not use leaded glass tubes.
August 23, 2016Has your old, unused material become Explosive?
UPDATED MARCH 2017 We are often asked to properly dispose of hazardous wastes that have collected over many years, for schools and all types of businesses. These are chemicals and products that were used for maintenance, or in a lab or classroom at one time, that have outlived their usefulness. These products often spend many years in a back room, storage […]
July 23, 2016Aerosol Can Recycling Process
Aerosol can disposal has recently undergone some changes in Minnesota and The Retrofit Companies has designed a program for Minnesota businesses to take advantage of these new regulations. Under this program TRC accepts waste aerosols for recycling or disposal on our Universal Waste Bill of Lading. Aerosols may be packaged into any of our UN-rated […]
June 23, 2016Aerosol Can Recycling as Universal Waste in Minnesota
The MPCA has officially adopted aerosols into the universal waste program. Aerosol cans may now be recycled on our standard Universal Waste Bill of Lading with TRC in the state of Minnesota. When you schedule a pick up for other recyclable waste like, fluorescent lamps, batteries, electronic waste (computers), or mercury, you can now […]
June 23, 2016Identify Radioactive Exit Signs
Radioactive waste disposal is somewhat uncommon, but responsible disposal is a necessity when the time comes. We recently discussed the disposal of Tritium Exit signs, but what are they and how can we identify them? WHAT IS TRITIUM? It’s a radioactive gas used in some self-luminous signage. Commonly found in exit signs. It was also […]
May 23, 2016Pre-Paid Recycling Program
TRC is stepping up our services with RecyclePak®, an easy, pre-paid recycling solution for small quantities of Universal Waste, such as fluorescent lamps, batteries, ballasts, batteries, and mercury waste. Simply select the container for your waste type, and it is delivered to you. With one payment you receive a shipping container, mailing label, on-site pickup, recycling […]
April 23, 2016Interview: Safely Managing Hazardous Waste in Schools
Today we’re sharing a short interview with a small school district that came up against a confusing, and potentially dangerous set of chemicals in their science labs that needed to go. The chemicals had eclipsed their classroom usefulness, and while they had been sitting idly on a shelf for some time the threat of their presence was real.
November 23, 2015
Preparing A Hazardous Waste Management Plan
Disposing of Hazardous Waste is a time consuming, detail oriented process. Many of the chemicals listed above are not common recycling items. If you are unfamiliar with the chemicals you need recycled, it is likely that you are unfamiliar with the handling, packaging, and transportation regulations to dispose them.
September 23, 2013Mercury Spills & How To Safely Handle Mercury Waste
Because of the dangers mercury waste poses to the environment and the health of others, the Department of Transportation has regulated how it must be transported. The main focus when transporting mercury is containment. There are some packaging and handling guidelines in effect to help prevent spills.
July 23, 2013Understanding Mercury Waste & Mercury Recycling Process
While we have found safer uses and have been able to reduce the amount of mercury required to create a viable product, as is the case with fluorescent lamps, that does not mean it is any less dangerous. The harmful effects of mercury are still present and it must be handled, stored, transported and recycled carefully.
June 23, 2013Four Things You Must Know to Responsibly Recycle Your Electronics
When you are finished with a computer you should make sure your information is no longer accessible and that the hazardous materials in the equipment are properly handled. This is why it is especially important to responsibly recycle e-waste with a trusted, certified recycler.
June 23, 2013MUST HAVE: Hazardous Waste Recycling Resource Guide
We’ve compiled this helpful Hazardous Waste Recycling Resource Guide as a way to keep some important reference information at hand when you are looking to learn more about hazardous waste disposal in Minnesota.
May 23, 2013Fluorescent Lamp Recycling: Small amounts of mercury, big hazard
Many states have required recycling of all fluorescent lamps. While it is not yet a nationwide law, the EPA recommends that all types of fluorescent lamps be disposed of as if they are a hazardous waste.
May 23, 2013