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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
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Hennepin County recently awarded 74 grants totaling more than $1.5 million to businesses, cities, organizations and other partners throughout the county for a variety of projects that will protect and preserve the environment.
Business recycling grants
 Awarded 42 grants to businesses and organizations to start or improve recycling and organics recycling programs. Of the grants awarded, 35 will be used to improve existing recycling or organics recycling programs, five will start recycling, 17 will start organics recycling and one will reduce waste by purchasing reusable service ware. Learn more about the grant projects.
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Contaminated land clean up grants
 Awarded nine grants for the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites, including soil, groundwater, asbestos and lead-based paint cleanup and abatement. Cleaned up properties will provide for the renovation or construction of 131 affordable housing units, development of a new daycare facility and improvements at a park. Learn more about the grant projects.
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Environmental education grants
 Awarded grants to 11 organizations to implement projects that will engage and empower residents to take action to protect the environment. Projects will engage more than 3,800 residents, and many projects will work with youth and hard-to-reach audiences. Learn about the grant projects.
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Natural resource protection grants
 Awarded four grants for projects that will preserve, protect or improve natural resources and water quality. Best management practices that will be installed include bio-retention ponds, rain gardens and permeable pavers. Learn about the grant projects.
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Public space recycling grants
 Awarded eight grants for projects that will add more than 100 recycling containers in parks, recreation centers, and along business districts, provide education and outreach, and evaluate best practices for providing recycling service. Six of the projects will begin collecting recycling for the first time. Learn more about the grant projects.
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Applications due February 27
 Know a school that could use a boost to start or improve their recycling program? Hennepin County has funding available to public and non-public, K – 12 schools for projects that implement or improve recycling and organics recycling programs.
Learn more about the grant program and get feedback on project ideas at an information meeting:
- Wednesday, February 4 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Brookdale Library in Meeting Room C
- Thursday, February 5 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Southdale Library in the Ethel Berry Room
Also, check out our updated Best Practices Guide for Organics Recycling in Schools for ideas for how to start organics recycling.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on February 27.
For more information, contact Katie Cezo at katie.cezo@hennepin.us or 612-348-6848.
 On May 7, 2015, teams of high school and junior high school students will compete in the 21st annual Metro Area Envirothon, a problem-solving natural resources competition that test the students’ knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife. During the event, teams of five students complete hands-on activities and give presentations on current environmental issues.
Junior high and senior high school teams compete in different categories. The top three teams from the metro competition advance to the state Envirothon.
Hennepin County has funding available to cover the registration fees and the cost of buses for teams competing in the 2015 Envirothon.
For more information, contact Stacey Lijewski at Stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us or 612-348-9938.
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 Hennepin County is recognizing its 2014 Environmental Partners for their efforts to recycle and divert organic waste from the trash through composting, sending food scraps to local farmers to feed animals, or by donating edible food. By having strong recycling programs, these 40 businesses help conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the local economy.
Do you know a business with a great recycling program? Getting recognized as a Hennepin County Environmental Partner is easy. Businesses fill out a short application and have their recycling efforts verified by county staff during a site visit. Once verified, businesses receive recognition decals and are listed in the Environmental Partners Directory.
For more information, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
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Funding is available through the Community POWER program for projects that educate and actively engage residents in the Twin Cities to change their behavior to reduce waste. Non-profit organizations and schools are eligible to apply. Applications are due by March 27, 2015.
An information meeting is scheduled for Thursday February 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Roseville Library in the Community Room.
For more information, email communitypower@rethinkrecycling.com.
In the News
According to a national survey, 198 communities in the U.S. offer curbside collection of food scraps, representing 2.74 million households in 19 states. This includes 14 cities in Hennepin County where organics recycling is available to some or all residents. Although the availability of organics recycling has been growing steadily, interest in these programs outpaces program availability. Economics, logistics and politics can make implementation difficult. Read more in BioCycle Magazine.
Minnesota set a new goal last year for metro counties to recycle and compost 75 percent of solid waste by 2030, and organics recycling programs will be an important part of reaching that goal. Listen to John Jaimez, an organics and recycling specialist with Hennepin County, and Tim Farnam, a source reduction specialist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, discuss the state goals and what counties and cities are doing to expand organics recycling opportunities on MPR.
Events
Saturday, February 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Midtown Global Market
 Update your wardrobe and clean out your closet without spending a penny! Bring in clothing items you no longer want and trade them in for new ones at the Do it Green! Minnesota clothing swap. All styles, sizes, and types of clothes, shoes, and accessories are welcome.
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Fix-It Clinics offer an opportunity to get free, guided assistance from volunteers on disassembling, troubleshooting and repairing your small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more.
Upcoming clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
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- Saturday, February 14 from noon to 4 at the Longfellow Park Recreation Center in Minneapolis
- Saturday, March 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Pearl Park Recreation Center in Minneapolis
- Saturday, April 18 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Brookdale Library in Brooklyn Center
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.
 Tuesday, February 24 from 10 a.m. to noon (optional networking from noon to 1 p.m.) at the St. Louis Park Library
Learn about strategies for engaging youth in environmental education at the next Green Partners Networking Meeting.
This meeting will feature:
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- A presentation on Hennepin County’s youth engagement strategy
- Panel discussion on youth engagement featuring staff from Hennepin County’s River Watch program, the Boys & Girls Club Voyageur Environmental Center and Spark Youth Action Labs
- Opportunity to network with fellow environmental educators
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.
Green Tip
 Minnesotans threw away more than 271 million pounds of textile waste, including clothing, shoes, curtains and bedding, in 2012, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s recent waste composition study. That’s about 50 pounds per Minnesota resident.
Although some clothing is donated for reuse, 85 percent ends in the trash according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of textile waste you generate:
- Donate and buy used clothes. Search for local reuse options in the Choose to Reuse Directory, visit a local thrift store, or check out the growing number of online options.
- Resist the latest fashion trends and stick to timeless, durable clothes.
- Attend or host a clothing swap, such as Do it Green! Minnesota’s upcoming clothing swap.
- Learn how to repair and repurpose your clothing and other textiles. Experienced sewers are available at every Fix-It Clinic to help with mending or to provide guidance on sewing projects. You can also bring items to a tailor or clothing mending shop, and reuse worn-out textiles as rags.
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