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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. Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.
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 On October 17, the Hennepin County Board renewed a partnership with Project for Pride in Living Enterprises, Inc. (PPL) and approved up to $250,000 in funding to support the expansion of their mattress recycling program. The partnership diverts waste – PPL has recycled 29,906 mattresses since the program launched in 2009 – and provides training and employment for people who might otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. PPL’s mattress recycling and other recycling programs have supported 14.5 new full-time positions. With the additional funding being used to expand and improve the efficiency of the mattress recycling program, PPL expects to recycle 45,000 mattresses and create six new full-time jobs in 2012 and 2013.
Mattresses are accepted for recycling at the Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park for $15 per mattress or box spring. Mattresses are also accepted as part of the curbside recycling program in Minneapolis.
For more information, email Carolyn Collopy or call 612-596-0993.
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 On September 26, 1,300 fourth and fifth graders from 11 metro counties attended the 14th annual Children’s Water Festival where they learned first-hand the importance of water. Students explored a variety of water-related topics through stations and presentations on basic water science, the importance of wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, how to measure water quality and other water-related environmental issues.
The Children’s Water Festival is organized by 11 counties and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Hennepin staff provides planning, volunteers and materials for presenters.
For more information, email Stacey Lijewski or call 612-348-9938.
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On October 17, the Hennepin County Board renewed a joint powers agreement for the inspection of above-ground and underground tanks with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MCPA). The agreement enables the county to continue to conduct inspections to verify compliance with tank regulations and locate abandoned tanks that may pose a threat to land and water resources.
Since the agreement was last amended in 2005, more than 780 tank facility inspections have been conducted by Hennepin County. More than 100 enforcement cases have been referred to the MPCA to correct leak detection, corrosion protection and overfill protection violations, which pose a serious risk of environmental contamination. County inspectors have also identified 58 unregistered underground storage tanks, including 25 abandoned tanks and 26 tanks that were still being used even though they hadn’t been upgraded to existing standards.
For more information, email Bruce Forness or call 612-348-8690.
The Hennepin County Drop-off Facilities will be closed to residents on the following holidays:
- Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, 2012
- Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, 2012
- Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25, 2012
- New Year's Eve, Monday, December 31, 2012
- New Year's Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The president of Electronic Salvage Industries, LLC in Hopkins pleaded guilty to unlawful handling of hazardous wastes in July and, two weeks ago, was sentenced to community service, fines and restitution of $5,000.
In August 2011, Hennepin County hazardous waste inspectors found crushed glass from television sets and computer monitors in a roll-off box that was to be dumped at a landfill. It is illegal to discard television sets and computer monitors with cathode ray tubes in the trash because they contain a large amount of lead, which can pollute air and water, harm wildlife and pose a threat to human health if disposed of improperly. Testing conducted on the nearly two tons of waste in the roll off box found lead in concentrations of 22 times the state limit.
For more information, email Mike Risse or call 612-348-5790.
In the News
Recycling materials like cans, bottles, paper, milk cartons and food waste has saved Excelsior Elementary nearly $10,000 in garbage disposal costs in 2011 and 2012. Fifth-grade members of the school’s environmental club help make recycling a success by teaching younger students how to separate their waste. Hennepin County has provided funding and technical assistance to the Minnetonka Public School District, which Excelsior Elements belongs to, to implement and improve recycling and organics recycling program. Learn more on WCCO.
 Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens, and most teens that abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends. Instead of storing unused, unwanted or expired medicines in your home, bring them to a Hennepin County medicine disposal drop box. Learn more about prescription drug abuse and medicine disposal options on Kare11.
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 Discounts are available at about 80 reuse retailers through the Hennepin County Choose to Reuse Coupon Book, which is valid through November. Pick up a Choose to Reuse coupon book at participating retail locations, Hennepin County Service Centers, Hennepin County Libraries and all Three Rivers Park District locations, or download a copy. Learn more on Kare11 and Channel 12.
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Recycling in Minneapolis is going to get easier with a transition to one-sort recycling, in which all recyclables are placed into one cart, beginning this fall. All homes in Minneapolis will have one-sort recycling by the end of 2013. Hennepin County has partnered with Minneapolis to implement one- and two-sort recycling pilot programs and has developed promotional materials and signage for the one-sort roll out. Learn more on Kare11 and MinnPost.
Events
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Have broken household goods or clothing in need of repair? Hennepin County is holding Fix-It Clinics in which volunteer fixers offer free guided assistance to help attendees fix and repair their broken household items.
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Fix-It Clinics are being held on the following dates:
- November 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center
- December 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. at The Mill in Minneapolis
Bring in any carry-in-sized household items in need of repair. Items brought in to previous clinics include DVD players, clothing and fabric items in need of repairs or alterations, fans, hair dryers, laptop computers, radios, toasters, sewing machines and many more.
Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working, and general tinkering are needed to make this initiative a success.
For more information or to volunteer, email Nancy Lo or call 612-348-9195.
Kick off the holiday season at Do It Green! Minnesota’s 7th Annual Green Gifts Fair on Saturday, November 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Shop from more than 70 local, eco-friendly artists and businesses, catch the eco fashion show, cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities, and learn how to entertain green this holiday season. You can also pick up a copy of the free Do It Green! Directory, the only directory of green businesses and organizations in Minnesota. During the event, be sure to stop by Hennepin County’s table to learn more about greening your celebrations.
The next Green Partners Quarterly Networking Meeting is Thursday, November 29 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at French Regional Park in Plymouth.
The meeting will be an opportunity to:
- Learn about planning and implementing zero-waste events.
- Participate in an interactive group sorting activity to learn more about recycling plastics.
- Collaborate and network with fellow environmental educators to share information and stories about project successes and challenges.
Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by November 26 to Patience Caso at patience.caso@co.hennepin.mn.us or 612-348-9352.
When snow and ice start to accumulate on Minnesota roads, parking lots and sidewalks, one of the more common reactions is to apply salt. But salt contains chloride – a water pollutant that can harm aquatic ecosystems.
Hennepin County and the City of St. Louis Park are hosting a free workshop for homeowners to learn about:
- Proper deicer selection.
- Appropriate application rates.
- Best snow removal methods.
- Environmental impacts of salt use.
The workshop is being held Thursday, November 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Louis Park City Hall in the Community Room.
Green Tip
 Grass clippings and leaves left in the street end up in storm sewers that flow directly into nearby lakes and streams. Clippings and leaves contain phosphorus and other nutrients that are significant sources of water pollution. The pollutants – especially phosphorus – can cause excess algae growth that negatively impacts other plants and wildlife, can be unsafe for pets and can degrade recreational opportunities.
Keep leaves and grass clippings out of storm sewers by using them for compost, bringing them to a yard waste drop-off site or checking to see if your hauler offers curbside pick-up. You can also help organize a community cleanup. The Freshwater Society has a toolkit for community cleanup organizers that includes step-by-step instructions, recruitment and promotional materials and a reporting form to track your group’s impact.
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