Recycling progress report now available, five hazardous waste collection events scheduled for 2015, apply for environmental education grant funding and more in the April Green Notes

Green Notes

APRIL 2015


ABOUT GREEN NOTES

GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.

Please take a few moments to read our stories. Share your feedback and ideas for protecting the environment.

Also check out archived issues.


IN THIS ISSUE


CONTACT

Email Hennepin Environment


SIGN UP

Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.

INTERACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Environment and Energy

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

More than 80 percent of waste in Hennepin County diverted from landfills in 2014

In 2014, 81 percent of the waste generated in Hennepin County was diverted from landfills and reused, recycled, composted, or burned to create energy. This enabled the county to meet the 2015 landfill diversion goal established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the second consecutive year.

Recycling also increased to 41 percent in 2014, the amount of organics collected for composting increased by 15 percent due to more cities and business offering organics recycling, and the total amount of waste generated remains 20 percent below 2007 levels.

Hennepin County is committed to making recycling as convenient as possible and expanding opportunities to recycle and compost. In 2015, the county will continue to work with cities, businesses, organizations, apartment buildings, parks, events and more to improve recycling and organics recycling programs. The success of our efforts also relies on individuals, businesses, manufacturers and partners taking action to support and improve recycling.

An update on the county’s efforts to increase recycling and landfill diversion in 2014 as well as goals for 2015 are outlined in the Recycling Progress Report.

For more information, contact Carl Michaud at carl.michaud@hennepin.us or 612-348-3054.


Grant funding available for environmental education projects

Applications due May 15

Minnetonka ECFE

Looking to engage your community in activities to increase recycling, reduce waste, reduce energy use or protect our air, land and water? Apply now for funding, project support and free resources through the Green Partners Environmental Education Program. Grants of up to $15,000 are available. Eligible organizations include community groups, youth programs, congregations, park districts, and private and public schools.

Get information about funding requirements, feedback on your project ideas and tips for completing your proposal at upcoming information meeting on May 5. Learn more and apply.

For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.


Minneapolis residents can sign up now for curbside organics recycling

Organics recycling

Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling customers will soon be able to recycle food waste and non-recyclable paper through the city’s curbside organics recycling program. The new organics recycling program is an easy way for residents to reduce waste and make a difference.

Residents received a mailing with program information and a sign-up postcard in early April. To participate, residents must sign up by returning the postcard or contacting Solid Waste and Recycling at 612-673-2917 or SWRcustomer@minneapolismn.gov by May 4.
The organics recycling program will begin in two phases, with 25 percent of customers having organics recycling available in August 2015 and the rest in spring 2016. Residents can find out what phase they are in by checking the organics recycling roll-out map.

The city offers drop-off sites for residents who want to start recycling their organics now.


Volunteer to protect the environment

Monitor for aquatic invasive species

Volunteer to monitor for AIS

Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Hennepin County by becoming an AIS detection volunteer. Ideal volunteers are people who already spend time on or near lakes in Hennepin County, including people who fish, boat, live by or walk near lakes.

Volunteers will learn how to look for signs of AIS at a training session on June 30 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol in Spring Park. Volunteers then commit to contributing 15 hours from July through November monitoring for signs of AIS in their daily activities. The training course is limited to 30 participants. Apply to volunteer by May 15.

For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.

 

Collect data on the health of wetlands

WHEP volunteers

Explore the county’s wetlands and collect valuable data on water quality this summer with the Hennepin County Wetland Health Evaluation Program. Volunteers don’t need to have a background in science or previous experience — just an interest in wetlands, bugs, plants and protecting natural resources. Hennepin County provides training, equipment and leadership. Teams will be formed in the Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Minneapolis and Minnetonka areas.

Volunteers spend about 15 hours per month from June through September collecting data in area wetlands. Partnering cities use the data to determine the health of water resources and assist with natural resource management. Volunteer applications will be accepted through June 15.

For more information, contact Mary Karius at mary.karius@hennepin.us or 612-596-9129.


Gravel-bed nursery will provide a diversity of trees for county projects

Trees

The county board recently approved a plan to establish a gravel-bed nursery at the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility. The gravel-bed nursery will give the county access to a wider variety of tree species for use on county properties, will help the county proactively replace ash trees that will ultimately be infected with the emerald ash borer, and will produce trees that have a higher survival rate than conventional nursery trees. There are an estimated 1 million ash trees in Hennepin County that will be lost to the emerald ash borer. Trees will be purchased from commercial nurseries and planted in the gravel-bed nursery in the spring where they will grow and develop a good root structure before being transplanted to county projects and properties in the fall.

The nursery will provide job-training opportunities for Adult Correction Facility offenders and Sentencing to Service crews. The county will also work with University of Minnesota students to conduct a canopy assessment that will guide future planting efforts throughout the county.

For more information, contact Ellen Sones at ellen.sones@hennepin.us or 612-596-1173.


Pioneer Metal Finishing cited for hazardous waste violations

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently cited Pioneer Metal Finishing, LLC in Minneapolis for several violations of hazardous waste rules, including improper hazardous waste storage and disposal, failure to provide required employee training, failure to maintain and operate the facility to minimize the possibility of a release, and failure to regularly inspect hazardous waste areas. The improper management of hazardous waste potentially increases the risk of harmful contaminants being released into the air, land or water, posing a threat to human health and the environment. The company has made corrections and agreed to pay a $45,000 civil penalty.

The hazardous waste violations were observed during a routine Hennepin County hazardous waste compliance inspection and brought to the MPCA for enforcement. The company had previously been cited by Hennepin County for hazardous waste management violations in 2005 and 2009.


Online hazardous waste licensing portal reduces paper use and improves efficiency

Hennepin County licenses about 5,000 businesses that generate hazardous wastes to ensure their wastes are properly managed to prevent pollution and protect health and the environment. Since 2014, the county has been transitioning to using an online licensing portal. Using this system conserves resources and reduces costs by eliminating paperwork, improves accuracy by reducing manual data entry, and allows business to more easily manage their hazardous waste information and control workflow within their organization.

The transition to the online system has been successful in improving efficiencies for both businesses and the county. For example, the county recently created the first batch of hazardous waste generator licenses for the 2015 license period that starts on May 1. Of the 2,505 operations that were eligible to receive a license in this batch, 99 percent of the businesses were portal users that were able to log in to the portal and print their licenses instead of having them printed and mailed by the county.

For more information, contact Bruce Forness at bruce.forness@hennepin.us or call 612-348-8690.


Hennepin County transportation improvements will save energy, reduce fuel consumption

Hennepin County’s 2015 transportation improvements includes plans to convert additional traffic signals to light emitting diodes (LEDs) to save energy and traffic signal optimization to decrease fuel consumption. All county traffic signals will be using LEDs once the remaining 45 traffic signals are converted from incandescent lights in 2015. In addition to saving energy, switching to LEDs reduces operating and long-term maintenance costs. The county will also synchronize 73 traffic signals in targeted corridors to improve travel and reduce delays and fuel consumption.


Hennepin County runs on wind power on Earth Day

For the second year, Hennepin County purchased clean, renewable wind energy to offset electricity use in county buildings on Earth Day, April 22. The energy was purchased through Windsource, Xcel Energy’s voluntary green power program. The 150,000 kilowatt-hours of wind energy purchased for Hennepin County facilities on Earth Day is equivalent to the annual energy use of more than 18 homes in Minnesota.


In the News

Hennepin County business recycling grants support heightened interest in recycling and composting

Many businesses are looking at ways to improve recycling and start diverting food scraps and non-recyclable paper for organics recycling. This interest has been sparked by several changes, including a Minneapolis ordinance that went into effect on Earth Day requiring that all food and beverages for take-out be served in recyclable or compostable containers, expansion of curbside organics recycling programs for residents, and consumer interest in supporting businesses that recycle.

Organics recycling at McDonalds

Grants provided by Hennepin County have already helped numerous businesses and organizations achieve their waste management goals. For example, the McDonald’s at 31st and Lake Street in Minneapolis became the first McDonald's in Minnesota to provide organics recycling. The restaurant was awarded a Hennepin County business recycling grant in late 2014 and has already cut the amount of garbage they create in half. Similarly, Wellington Management used a $5,000 business recycling grant to start organics recycling at the Greenway Office Building in Minneapolis. The management company sees organics recycling as an important amenity to offer tenants at the building that already includes an array of green features, such as solar panels and reclaimed wood building materials. Applications for the next funding round of business recycling grants are due June 15.

Learn more on WCCO and the Star Tribune.

 

Minnesota Twins fans will be able to recycle and compost throughout Target Field this season

Minnesota Twins organics

In a continued effort to make Target Field one of the greenest ballparks in the U.S., the Minnesota Twins are offering organics recycling for composting throughout Target Field this season and have switched to serving all food and beverages in compostable or recyclable containers. Twins fans can now divert leftover food and food containers for composting in addition to recycling plastic and aluminum bottles and cups. Hennepin County has partnered with the Twins since Target Field opened to expand and improve their recycling and organics recycling program. Learn more on WCCO.

 

Recycle your electronics

Recycle electronics

Minnesota is a national leader in electronics recycling thanks in part to a law that requires manufacturers to help pay for the costs of recycling electronics. Recycling for electronics, including old TVs, DVD players, computers and cell phones, is offered at certain retailers and county drop-off facilities. State officials are considering changes to the state’s electronics recycling law to give recyclers more credit for reusing electronics and to account for the fact that electronics continue to get smaller and lighter. Learn more on MPR.

 

Medicine disposal drop boxes contribute to effort to reduce drug overdose deaths

Medicine disposal

Overdose deaths from heroin and other opiates in Hennepin County decreased by 23 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. This is the first time the number of overdose deaths has dropped since 2010. Efforts to raise awareness about opiate abuse include town hall meetings held by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and medicine disposal drop boxes offered throughout the county. Abuse of prescription painkillers is one of the primary ways for people to become addicted to opiates and eventually heroin, and the medicine drop boxes provide safe disposal for unwanted medications. Read more in the Star Tribune.


Events

Hazardous waste collection events

Hazardous waste collection events

Hennepin County organizes collection events to give residents more convenient local options for disposing of household hazardous wastes. Materials accepted include unwanted automotive wastes, household, lawn and garden products, batteries, mercury-containing items and more.

Collection events are held Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following collection events are scheduled for 2015:

  • May 14 – 16 in Minnetonka
  • June 11 – 13 in St. Louis Park
  • July 9 – 11 in northeast Minneapolis
  • August 20 – 22 in south Minneapolis
  • September 17 – 19 in Shorewood

Learn more about event locations, guidelines and materials accepted.

 

Hennepin Natural Resources Partnership meeting

Natural resources map

Learn about the Hennepin County natural resources interactive map, which includes detailed information on vegetative cover, natural resource corridors, soils, wetlands, floodplains, geology, topography and the ecological significance of land in the county. The map is intended to help local governments and landowners make decisions about managing and protecting the natural resources on their properties.

The next Natural Resources Partnership meeting will be held on June 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library. Everyone is welcome to attend, especially those from cities, watersheds, agencies and organizations involved with or interested in natural resources management and protection.

RSVP to Stacey Lijewski at stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us or 612-348-9938.

 

Green Partners quarterly networking meeting

Learn more about environmental education project support available through the Green Partners program at the next quarterly networking meeting on May 5. The meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Walker Library in Minneapolis with optional networking from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking. Get information about the grant funding and application process, supplies and resources available, and get feedback on your project ideas.

Networking meetings are open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP to Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.

 

Northeast Minneapolis tool library grand opening

Northeast Minneapolis tool library

Have a home repair project but don’t want to invest in the tools required to get the job done? The new Northeast Minneapolis Tool Library can help. The library will have drills, saws, sanders, hammers, ladders, rakes, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, drain snakes and more available for loan. The Northeast Minneapolis Tool Library will lend out household tools much like traditional libraries lends out books, allowing people to share resources, reduce waste, save money, and connect to each other and to new skills.

Learn more about the tool library and becoming a member at the grand opening on Saturday, May 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Thorp Building, 1618 Central Ave, Suite #4 in Minneapolis.

 

Fix-It Clinics

Fix-It Clinic

Fix-It Clinics provide an opportunity to receive free, guided assistance from handy volunteers on disassembling, troubleshooting and repairing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Learn more about how the Fix-It Clinics work on Channel 12.

Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

  • Saturday, May 9 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Southdale Library in Edina
  • Saturday, June 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Redeemer Center for Life Church in Minneapolis. This clinic includes a Bike Repair Clinic!
  • Saturday, July 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale

Volunteer fixers who have skills in electrical, mechanical or electronics repair, wood working, sewing or general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.

 

Celebrate Arbor Day in Eden Prairie

Celebrate Arbor Day with a walk around Round Lake and check out variety of green activities that will help you take action to protect the environment at the Eden Prairie Arbor Day walk and green fair. The event is on Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to noon at Round Lake Park. Stop by the Hennepin County table to learn more about reducing waste, recycling, properly disposing of hazardous materials and implementing green yard practices to protect water.


Green Tip

Make your own green cleaners

Green cleaning

Protect your health and the health of your family, pets and the environment by making your own cleaning products with simple, less-toxic ingredients. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only a fraction of registered chemicals have gone through complete testing for human health concerns. Many common household products, such as baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar and liquid dish soap, can make effective and inexpensive cleaners.

See the recently updated Green Cleaning Recipes brochure to learn more about:

  • The cleaning properties of basic cleaning supplies.
  • Green cleaning recipes for throughout your home, including all-purpose cleaner, air fresheners, sanitizers, stain removers, pest control, oven cleaner, drain unclogging, laundry detergent and more.
  • Purchasing tips for products you still buy, including how to look for the least toxic product, ingredients to avoid, and environmentally friendly certifications to look for.