Lino Lakes couple walk the walk on recycling

Rain or shine, Ed Hemauer is out and about, collecting the junk he spots along five miles of streets he's informally adopted near his Lino Lakes home.

It's something he started doing one day, recycling as many of his finds as possible, because "it seemed like a good thing to do." A decade later, he's still at it.

Similarly, Hemauer's wife, Mary, works the trails in and around the Rice Creek chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve.

Recently, Anoka County recognized the Hemauers as "Recycling Champions," bestowing the new honor at a recycling awards ceremony at the county government center. In fact, the couple's hard work inspired the award, which is new this year, said Rhonda Sivarajah, chairwoman of the county board.

Usually the county's annual recycling awards focus on outstanding municipalities and hauling companies. The new award is a way to expand that to individuals who go above and beyond.

For years, Sivarajah said, she has seen Hemauer in action. "He's more dependable than the postman," along with his wife, she said.

"It's important for the community to say thanks for the great job they're doing," she said. "It really makes a difference, and it sets a great example."

During his daily walks, for which he carries a supply of garbage bags, Hemauer stays on top of everything from the grounds of the nearby YMCA to Lino Lakes City Hall.

Before he heads out, Hemauer says to himself, 'What am I going to find today?' Every day is an adventure, he said.

He comes across run-over or broken car parts, cigarette cartons, DVDs, sunglasses, cups, wallets, tires, cell phones and everything else imaginable, he said.

It's easy to tell the difference between items that are tossed out of a car window and others that wound up on the roadside accidentally, he said.

Occasionally large items such as TVs or washing machines will turn up, though he's glad to see it's happening less and less.

In general, "most people are doing the right thing. It's less than one percent that are littering," he said. "Understanding that gives me a lot more patience."

A 'positive addiction'

Hemauer, who used to run marathon races, stresses the health benefits of his walking regimen. He's found that five miles is just right for keeping his weight, blood pressure and cholesterol in check, he said.

Also, even when it's cold outside, he never gets "cabin fever."

It's motivating knowing that "when I finish the walk, I'll feel energized and really good," he said. "I call it a positive addiction."

"I don't fish, hunt or bowl. I don't golf. This is what I like to do. It's very satisfying."

Passersby often take notice. It's encouraging when people come to him and say, 'Hey, you inspired me to pick up in my own neighborhood,' he said.

Often, the couple drops off bags of aluminum cans at the nearby Gethsemane United Methodist Church. The church's collection is part of an ongoing fundraiser for youth programming.

Gethsemane pastor Marci Jamison said the funds from the recycled cans go to all kinds of charitable causes, such as youth mission trips or the local food shelf. Contributions from the Hemauers and others may "seem like a little thing, but it adds up," she said.

It also helps to "substantially reduce the amount of trash going into the dumpster," she said.

"If we would all do it, just imagine what the world would look like," she said. "It sure would look a lot different than it does now."

Anna Pratt is a Minneapolis freelance writer.