Attend the next Hennepin County Natural Resources Partnership Meeting, we're hiring recycling specialists, recycling best practices guide now available and more

Green Partners

NOVEMBER 14, 2014


Green Partners provides updates about environmental education resources, tools, programs, grants and events to our environmental education partners.


IN THIS ISSUE


ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESOURCES

Hennepin County has the following free environmental education resources available to partners.

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Hennepin County Environmental Education & Outreach Team

Angie Timmons

Alisa Reckinger

Christina Schmitt

Mary Karius

Patience Caso


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Hennepin County Natural Resources Partnership meeting

Hennepin County recently started the Hennepin County Natural Resources Partnership to provide a forum for a more holistic and collaborative approach to managing and protecting our land and water. Everyone is welcome to attend, especially those from cities, watersheds, agencies and organizations involved with or interested in natural resources management and protection.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, December 2 from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library. The meeting will include presentations and discussions on the following:

  • Betsy Wieland from the University of Minnesota Extension will provide an overview and historical perspective of the Extension Service, describe the topics that they research and teach about, and discuss opportunities for connecting and partnering with the Extension Service.
  • Karl Hakanson, an Extension Service educator in agriculture production systems in Hennepin County, will give an overview of best management practices to reduce pollution from agriculture runoff and discuss how to facilitate widespread adoption of these practices.

RSVP is encouraged but not required to Stacey Lijewski at stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us.


We’re hiring: Recycling specialists

Hennepin County is hiring two recycling specialists to provide outreach and assistance to businesses and multi-family properties to encourage new and expanded recycling and organics recycling efforts. These are temporary (2-year), full-time, benefit-earning positions. The positions close at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 17.

Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested! Learn more and apply (listed as Recycling Technician).


Get your clean energy project moving with assistance from Metro CERT

Energy Accelerator

 

Is your community looking for assistance to move an energy efficiency or renewable energy project forward but aren’t sure where to start? The new Clean Energy Accelerator program from Metro CERT (Clean Energy Resource Teams) offers technical assistance to take community-based clean energy projects from an idea to completion.

The program offers two levels of assistance – rapid and deep – based on the complexity and length of the project. Community-based organizations and institutions in the Twin Cities are eligible to apply. Applications for deep assistance are due by Monday, November 17, and applications for rapid assistance are accepted on a rolling basis through May 31, 2015.


Volunteer to protect water as a Master Water Steward

Take advantage of the final opportunity to take the program for free

Master Water Stewards

Want to protect clean water in a lake or stream you care about? Gain the knowledge, skills and network you will need by becoming a Master Water Steward. Stewards receive intensive training from industry professionals on how to solve environment problems and protect lakes, rivers and stream from pollution. They also develop a network with like-minded peers with an emphasis on creativity and collaboration. Armed with their knowledge, stewards implement pollution prevention and water quality improvement projects in their community and educate neighbors on clean water issues.

Tuition is free and is limited to residents of cities in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. The program is a partnership between the Freshwater Society and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and has received funding from the state Clean Water Fund and the Hennepin County Green Partners Environmental Education Program. Applications are due by December 20.


Master Recycler/Composter volunteers available to do outreach at events, implement recycling projects

Master Recyclers Fall 2014
Fall 2014 Master Recycler/Composters celebrate their course completion.

The latest class of Hennepin County Master Recycler/Composters recently completed their training, adding to the network of volunteers that are trained in waste reduction, recycling and composting. Master Recycler/Composter volunteers can assist with design and implementation of waste reduction and recycling plans, staff booths at events, and create educational resources and displays.

If you have a project or event that could use Master Recycler/Composter volunteers, contact Carolyn Collopy at carolyn.collopy@hennepin.us or call 612-596-0993.


Celebrate America Recycles Day by taking the pledge to recycle more

America Recycles Day

Since 1997, communities across the country have celebrated American Recycles Day on November 15. America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States. You can get your business, organization or neighborhood involved by hosting your own American Recycles Day event or taking the pledge to recycle more. Learn about the programs and resources that Hennepin County offers to improve recycling at www.hennepin.us/recycling.


Events

Grant writing workshop

The Institute for Strategic Funding Development is holding a two-day grant writing workshop at the University of Minnesota on November 19 – 20.

The workshop will cover writing persuasive proposals, identifying relevant funding sources, developing and organizing results-oriented proposal ideas, preparing and writing content to effectively meet proposal guidelines and more.
Learn more and register.

 

Green gifts fair

Green Gifts Fair

Find eco-friendly gifts that will help your friends and family live more sustainably, learn ways to reduce waste during the holiday season and support local green businesses at the Do it Green! Green Gifts Fair on Saturday, November 22 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.

Shop more than 80 local vendors for green, recycled, upcycled, fair-trade and organics gifts, participate in hands-on activities to learn about reducing your environmental impact, bring your old holiday lights for recycling, and enjoy live music and an eco-fashion show. Be sure to visit the Hennepin County table while at the fair to learn about alternative, less-waste gift wrapping ideas.

 

Prepare for the holidays at upcoming Fix-It Clinics

Fix-It Clinic

Fix-It Clinics provide an opportunity for residents to receive free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix their broken household items.

In addition to small household appliances, lamps, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more, Fix-It Clinics are a great place to repair broken holiday decorations or fix a favorite item for family or friend as a gift. This is a great way to get ready for the holidays while saving money and reducing waste.

Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for:

  • Sunday, December 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Brookview Community Center in Golden Valley
  • Saturday, January 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Eden Prairie Library
  • Saturday, February 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Longfellow Park Recreation Center in Minneapolis

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.


Environmental education resources

Business and organization recycling best practices guide

Business recycling

Nearly two-thirds of the waste created at businesses and non-profits is recyclable. Having a strong recycling program demonstrates your organization’s commitment to sustainability and the community, can help your bottom line, conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, a new Minnesota state law requiring most businesses to recycle will go into effect in 2016.

Hennepin County has a new Business Recycling Best Practices Guide available to help businesses and organizations implement successful and sustainable recycling programs. The guide includes information and tips on assessing your current situation, developing your action plan, and setting up, kicking off and troubleshooting your program.

Hennepin County has a variety of free resources available to help start or improve recycling programs, including grants, signage and educational materials, professional staff assistance, and a recognition program.

For more information, contact Andre Xiong at andre.x.xiong@hennepin.us or 612-543-1316.

 

Updated yard waste information

Yard waste

Yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves and branches, is a valuable resource that can add nutrients back into yards or be recycled into compost. Yard waste is prohibited from household garbage.

Updated information about disposing of yard waste in Hennepin County, including expanded information on city-specific programs, is available at www.hennepin.us/yardwaste. Order printed copies of the yard waste flyer at www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform.

 

New articles from Rethink Recycling

Rethink Recycling develops newsletter articles and social media posts monthly on recycling topics. The November 2014 article focuses on curbside recycling made easy. Download this and other articles.


Green Partners project highlight

The following project is being funded through the Green Partners Environmental Education Program. For more information about Green Partners grants, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.

 

Eden Prairie Early Childhood Family Education engages families in taking action to protect the environment

Eden Prairie ECFE
Parents and children at Eden Prairie Early Childhood Family Education learn to make less-toxic, homemade cleaners.

Eden Prairie Early Childhood Family Education is engaging children and their parents in raising environmental awareness and taking action to protect the environment for the sixth year with help from a Hennepin County Green Partners grant. The program covers a range of environmental actions, including composting, recycling, saving energy and using less-toxic cleaners, by focusing on different actions for different age groups. Both parents and children involved have learned actions that they implement at home as a family. Read more in the Sun Current.