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INTRODUCTION <br />Going green in Sherburne County is a concept that dates back many years. Conservation clubs and ef- <br />forts to restore land in the County date back as far as the 1930s. Recent efforts, though, clearly show the resi- <br />dents of Sherburne County are strong supporters of efforts to re -use and recycle. The essays, letters, and docu- <br />ments published in the following pages suggest that the county may very well be a leader, a steward, in the efforts <br />to save resources for the future. The essays further reveal the economic value of re -use and recycle. A recent <br />newspaper report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted the recycling efforts in the state of Minnesota "create <br />37,000 direct and indirect jobs." A leader in the recycling work in the state is Liberty Paper of Becker, herein <br />Sherburne County. <br />The first essay, outlining the history of this vital paper company, opens the discussion of the value and <br />importance of "going green" in Minnesota. From its early history in Golden Valley, to the ground breaking of <br />the LPI plant in Becker, to its most recent enhancements, the LPI story documents a fascinating history of com- <br />pany innovation and involvement. <br />Following the work of Liberty Paper, essays about efforts from local government, county government, <br />and private citizens reinforce the ideas that anyone and everyone can be involved in the saving of resources and <br />recycling used products. The creation of the Sherburne County Municipal Recycling Board (MRB); the work of <br />Elk River to live up to its title as "Minnesota's Energy City "; Independent School district 728 commitment to <br />environmental education; the creation of the Landfill Gas Electric Generating Plant; and Sherburne County Gov- <br />ernment efforts to participate in and promote energy initiatives; all provide interesting stories about the direction <br />of energy efficiency and re -use and recycling. The final essay, a brief outline by Shari Vensland, illustrates per- <br />haps the most important idea in this booklet: recycling on the household level can have a huge impact on our <br />environment. <br />The same news article documenting jobs in Minnesota noted Minnesotans send over 1 billion <br />pounds of paper each year into landfills. Ms. Vensland's essay notes the very specific ways in which we can help <br />