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Carolyn Collopy, Master Recycler/Composter Coordinator
Email
612-596-0993.
MRC Program
Payback opportunities
Hours reporting form
MRC Facebook group
MRC files
Thank you for your continued efforts to help Hennepin County reduce waste and recycle more! We’re glad you’re part of our outreach and education team!
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 From farm to table, an estimated 40 percent of all food in the United States is thrown away or left in the fields. Although food is lost at all stages of production and consumption, the largest portion is lost when it reaches our kitchens.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that up to 25 percent of the food and beverages purchased by households are tossed. One of the primary reasons we waste so much food at home is that food is cheap and readily available. Additionally, the more we waste, the more we continue to buy, so companies throughout the food supply chain profit from the waste.
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Ways to reduce food waste
As a Master Recycler/Composter, there are lots of ways you can help people reduce food waste. Suggest the following strategies to people looking for ways to reduce their food waste:
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Shop wisely: Planning meals, using shopping lists, buying from bulk bins and avoiding impulse buys or marketing tricks that lead to overbuying can all help reduce the amount of food discarded from households. A variety of free shopping apps for smart phones can help, including: ziplist.com, cozi.com, foodplannerapp.com and groceryiq.com.
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Understand expiration dates: “Sell by” and “use by” dates are not federally regulated and do not indicate safety, except on certain baby foods. Rather, they are manufacturer suggestions for peak quality. Many foods can be safely consumed after their “sell by” and “use by” dates.
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Buy and eat imperfect products: Consumers can support more complete use of our food supply by being willing to purchase fruits and vegetables with variations in size, shape or color.
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Freeze unused ingredients: Food can remain edible for longer when frozen, so freezing fresh produce and leftovers can save food that might otherwise not make it onto the dinner table before it goes bad.
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Serve smaller portions and save leftovers: Uneaten meals can be saved as leftovers for later in the week or frozen and eaten later.
For more information, see the NRDC report.
Some food waste is inevitable, and the good news is that all Hennepin County residents will soon have access to organics recycling. On February 11, 2014, the Hennepin County Board approved the following strategies to boost recycling:
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Withdraw request to increase of waste processed at HERC: The county will withdraw its request for a permit modification from the City of Minneapolis and for approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to increase the amount of waste processed at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC).
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Require organics recycling: The board directed changes to the county's residential recycling funding policy that will require the City of Minneapolis to provide organics recycling service to its residents by January 1, 2015, and will set a schedule for the remaining cities to add organics recycling. The county also will contract with Specialized Environmental Technologies and Full Circle Organics to compost organic waste collected in Hennepin County.
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Pursue additional funding for recycling: The board called upon the Minnesota Legislature and the governor to stop diverting funds collected through the state solid waste management tax to the state general fund and direct these funds to their original intent– supporting local governments in implementing waste reduction, recycling and organics recovery programs to meet the state waste management goals. In 2013, less than one-quarter of the $70 million collected by the solid waste management tax went to counties and municipalities for recycling programs, making it difficult for local governments to fund new recycling efforts.
Congratulations to the following MRCs on completing their payback hours:
- Tammy Larsen (fall 2012) assisted at several low waste events including the Get Lucky 7K, the Minneapolis Marathon and the Minneapolis Bike Tour.
- Marie Eff (spring 2013) helped the Midtown Farmers Market launch their organics recycling program.
- Lauren Culbert (spring 2013) worked with the NE Farmers Market to improve their waste reduction efforts.
- Emily Barker (fall 2012) coordinated the organics collection at the Do It Green Gifts Fair, helped residents understand their compost options at the St Louis Park open house and talked to attendees about waste reduction at several events.
Working on your payback? Remember to report your hours!
 A revamped hennepin.us launched recently with some exciting changes. The new site is accessible on any device – desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile. Information is written in plain language and organized with the user in mind. And a new search engine will bring you better and faster results.
MRCs will find links no longer work anymore. Use the following links to report hours, find payback opportunities and view class presentations, the MRC manual and archived quarterly newsletters:
www.hennepin.us/mrcpayback
www16.co.hennepin.mn.us/forms/MRC-volunteer-hours
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Applications due March 15
 Hennepin County is offering grants of up to $50,000 to help businesses, non-profit organizations and institutions start or improve programs to divert recyclables and organics (food and non-recyclable paper) from the trash. Most businesses and non-profits in the county—from large office buildings to churches, restaurants and apartment buildings—are eligible to apply. Funding can help with the purchase of recycling containers, equipment and hauling services and minor improvements to loading docks and waste enclosures. Learn more and apply.
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 Spring is right around the corner, which is a great time to start composting in your backyard and collecting rainwater for reuse!
The Recycling Association of Minnesota has scheduled event sales this spring throughout the Twin Cities in Coon Rapids, Minneapolis, Roseville, St. Louis Park and St. Paul. You must preorder rain barrels or compost bins for pickup on an event day.
Available products
Compost bins, $55: Composting is an easy way to recycle your food and yard waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Kitchen pails for collecting food scraps will also be available.
Rain barrels, $69: With many cities enforcing watering bans, rain water can be applied anytime and is naturally soft, devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals making it great for plants, lawns and gardens.
Learn more and place your order.
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What's in our trash?
A waste composition study recently completed by the MPCA found that organics, plastics and paper make up the majority of Minnesota’s trash. Learn more on Channel 12, the Star Tribune and MPR.
Rule change may boost organics recycling
A rule change coming from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency next year may boost organics recycling by making organics composting facilities easier and less expensive to establish. Read more in the Star Tribune.
How well does Minnesota recycle?
WCCO Good Question tackles: How well does Minnesota recycle?
Medicines collected in 2013
In 2013, 15 tons of medicines were collected in drop boxes throughout the metro area, including 7 tons collected in Hennepin County’s six drop boxes. Read more in the Star Tribune.
Fix-It Clinics
The critical role that volunteer fixers play in making Fix-It Clinics a success was recently featured in the Star Tribune. Kare 11 also did a feature on the Fix-It Clinic at the Bakken Museum.
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