Growing Strong Industries
Developing New Ideas
Nurturing Natural Resources
Developing New Ideas
Nurturing Natural Resources
University of Minnesota Duluth
Hauling waste from Duluth to a landfill in Sarona, Wisc., 75 miles one way, was a logistical problem for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. Bulky trashed mattresses only made the problem worse.
So in 2002, Hank Fisher at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency brought together people he thought could help get the mattresses out of the trucks and out of the landfill. The working group was made up of representatives from various governmental agencies, the hospitality industry, mattress retailers, waste haulers and local prison administrators. Goodwill Industries was interested in taking on this new venture.
Small business owners wear many hats to keep things rolling. Kelly O’Toole is no different. "Designing, selling, billing, answering the phone... I’m doing everything," he said of his Aluminum Cabinet Company. But what he’s doing works.
Sometimes new businesses are launched after careful planning, research and preparation. And sometimes a business seems to launch itself. Such is the case of Top That! in International Falls, Minn.
Steve Kossett was ready for a challenge. So when UMD Civil Engineering Professor Nate Johnson came to NRRI’s rapid prototype center with an idea to improve his research Kossett said, "Let’s give it a try."
"Is there a non-chemical or natural way for me to get rid of bugs in my garden and rid my yard of large ant hills?"
A safe, reliable and natural weapon in your arsenal against garden insect pests is diatomaceous earth (DE). Pulverized DE has been used for decades by gardeners with great results. Some versions of powdered DE can be purchased with pyrethrum but the powder alone is safe and effective. DE products can be purchased on line but surprisingly you can find DE locally at a bargain price. How it works is...
Contact June Kallestad if you would like to tour our facilities!
