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ABOUT GREENNOTES
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. New signage prompts boaters to check for invasive species
Environmental Response Fund Grants approved
Funding awarded for environmental education projects
Recycle at your events
Environmental Services Director named Solid Waste Manager of the Year
Board endorses long-term plan for medicine collection
Proposal to allow the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center to operate at capacity
In the News:
- Waste audit at Lake Harriet
- Three Rivers Park District looks to purcase pristine woodland property
- Properly dispose of mercury
Events:
- HHW collection events
- Wetland display at Do It Green! Resource Center
Green Tip: Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species
Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.
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New signage reminding boaters to check for aquatic invasive species installed at Lake Minnetonka
 The signage includes clear instructions and flashing red and yellow lights to remind boaters of the actions they need to take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Additional infrastructure changes include a place to pull over and check your boat without feeling rushed and a place to compost unwanted bait and weeds.
The county collaborated with a University of Minnesota researcher through the Hennepin-University Partnership for a year to study behavior patterns, including interviewing boaters to see what motivates them to check their boats properly, and develop effective communications. Additional research will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the project, and more sites may be selected for similar signage. |
Environmental Response Fund grants approved
On June 26, the Hennepin County Board awarded eight grants totaling $1.3 million for the evaluation and cleanup of contaminated sites through the Environmental Response Fund (ERF).
Grants were awarded to projects in Brooklyn Center, Golden Valley, and six sites in Minneapolis. The projects will clean up contaminated soil, renovate or create affordable rental housing, manage storm water, allow commercial development of vacant properties, and clean up asbestos and lead-based paint. The awards will assist in the renovation or construction of 532 affordable housing units. Find out more about the projects awarded in this grant round.
The ERF program, funded by a county mortgage registry and deed tax, provides grants for environmental assessment and cleanup of sites that present a threat to human health or the environment, provide community benefit from the cleanup and lack funding from other sources. Priority is placed on projects that are intended as public or green spaces, establish affordable and moderately priced housing and promote economic development. Since ERF was established in November 2001, 288 grants totaling $41.2 million have been awarded. There may be only one additional of round ERF grants because the legislation that provides the authority to collect funds for this program expires January 1, 2013, and the Minnesota State Legislature failed to pass legislation to extend the expiration date. Find out more about the future of ERF.
Funding awarded for environmental education projects
 Hennepin County is funding 13 organizations in the spring 2012 round of the Green Partners Environmental Education Program to implement projects that empower residents to reduce waste, increase recycling, reduce toxicity, conserve energy and protect water quality.
Four organizations were awarded up to $12,000 in the Branch Group to implement innovative environmental education projects. Nine organizations were awarded up to $5,000 in the Root Group to implement environmental education projects based on an existing resource. An additional six groups are receiving project support, activity supplies and/or transportation for an environmental education field trip through the Seed Group. Learn about the participating organizations and their projects.
Proposals for the fall 2012 Green Partners Branch and Root groups funding round will be due in November. Groups can apply anytime for Seed Group project support.
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Recycle at your events – technical assistance, recycling containers and online toolkit materials available
Event planners and coordinators seeking to achieve low- or no-waste events can receive free, customized assistance from Hennepin County. Staff can help you create waste reduction plans, educate vendors, train volunteers and provide collection options.
Director of Hennepin County Environmental Services named Solid Waste Professional Manager of the Year
Carl Michaud, the Director of Hennepin County Environmental Services, has been named the Solid Waste Professional Manager of the Year by the American Public Works Association. The award recognizes outstanding career achievements of solid waste management professionals with a focus on exceptional management, operation, and maintenance of public-sector, solid waste operations.
In his 24 years with Hennepin County, Michaud has worked in all aspects of municipal solid waste management and developed programs in waste reduction, recycling, composting, curbside recycling and household hazardous waste management, as well as overseeing operations of a transfer station and a waste-to-energy facility.
Board endorses plan to address long-term unwanted medicine collection
The document supports the concept that those who benefit from the manufacture, sale and use of pharmaceutical drugs have the greatest responsibility to ensure their proper and safe disposal, including funding expansion of existing disposal programs and creating new ones.
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Until federal regulations change, only law enforcement officials are authorized to collect prescription drugs that are controlled substances. Hennepin County has installed medicine disposal drop boxes at Sheriff’s Office locations.
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Proposal submitted to allow the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center to operate at capacity
Sending additional waste to HERC would increase the amount of energy recovered and metals recycled, and would reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. In 2011, 360,000 tons of garbage generated in Hennepin County was disposed of in landfills.The additional waste is a small fraction of all the waste generated in the county - 40,000 tons of waste represents less than 3 percent of the total amount of waste generated in the county. This is waste from homes and businesses that have already separated out recyclables.
Processing waste at HERC is just one component of the county’s integrated solid waste management system. The county’s top priority is to help residents and businesses reduce, reuse and recycle even more than they already do. Strategies that the county will implement to meet our new recycling goals are outlined in the recently updated Solid Waste Management Master Plan.
The draft permit modification application and air emissions modeling report were submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in early June. Once the MPCA determines that the permit modification application and air emissions modeling report are complete, the environmental review process, including scheduling a public comment period, will begin.
In the News
Waste audit conducted at Lake Harriet to identify ways to improve recycling
 On June 25, hundreds of pounds of trash thrown away by visitors to Lake Harriet Regional Park was sorted to identify how much of the trash could potentially be recycled or composted.
Staff from Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Parks and Rec Board, the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency participated in the waste audit. The waste audit is part of the Minneapolis Park Board’s Sustainable Parks Initiative, which includes a commitment to increase the amount of recycling and reduce the amount of garbage collected in Minneapolis parks and recreation centers. Hennepin County is helping the Minneapolis Park Board in this effort by providing recycling signage and educational materials for use in parks and recreation centers and is partnering with the Park Board to provide portable recycling containers for use at events. Learn more in the Star Tribune and on KSTP. |
Three Rivers Park District looking to purchase pristine woodland property in Minnetrista
 Nearly 130 acres of pristine woodlands on the shores of Little Long Lake in Minnetrista are for sale, and Three Rivers Park District is interested in buying and preserving the land. The Camp Kingswood property includes old-growth forests and a floating tamarack bog, borders one of the cleanest lakes in Hennepin County and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife. Hennepin County natural resources specialists have worked to improve the camp’s natural resources for 15 years, including removing invasive species, stabilizing an eroding hillside and restoring 25 acres of former farmland to native prairie. The county and the Minnesota Land Trust also established a 44-acre conservation easement on the property last year, which places restrictions on development to preserve natural resources. Read more in the Star Tribune. Properly dispose of mercury and mercury-containing items at a drop-off facility
Events
Household hazardous waste collection events
Hennepin County is providing residents with convenient, local disposal options for their household hazardous wastes at upcoming collection events.
Collection events are held Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
- July 26 – 28, City of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College of Technology
- August 16 – 18, City of Minneapolis, Pillsbury School parking lot
- September 13 – 15, City of Shorewood Public Works
Materials accepted include household, lawn and garden products, electronics, mercury-containing items and auto wastes.
Learn about wetlands at the Do It Green! Minnesota Resource Center
 During July, a photo and educational display from Hennepin County will be featured at the Do It Green! Resource Center in the Midtown Global Market. The display highlights the importance of wetlands and the valuable work done by volunteers through the Wetland Health Evaluation Program. Hennepin County and Do It Green! Minnesota are partnering to present displays on environmental topics throughout 2012.
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Green Tip
Help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species this summer
 If you are spending time boating or fishing this summer, do your part to protect Minnesota’s waters by taking the following steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species:
1. Remove any aquatic plants and animals from the propeller and underside of your boat, trailer and other equipment every time you move your boat from one body of water to another.
2. Drain water from bilge, livewell, motor, ballast tanks and portable bait containers before leaving water accesses or shoreline property. Keep drain plug out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft.
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3. Rinse, spray, or dry your boat and other water recreation equipment to kill or remove harmful species that were not visible at the boat launch. Some aquatic invasive species can survive more than two weeks out of water, so it is important to do one or more of these before transporting boats and equipment to another body of water.
4. Compost unwanted bait or dump it in the trash.
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