 August 2025
About 30% of the 48,000 homes in Carver County were built before 1980. Many older homes are now being remodeled or torn down, creating a large amount of leftover building materials.
To help keep these materials out of landfills, Carver County launched the Building Material Reuse Program in partnership with Home Again Furnishings and Nordic Waste, with support from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The program makes it easier for residents to reuse materials and reduce construction waste.
Here’s how you can get involved.
ReClaim It store
Located inside Home Again Furnishings in Waconia. This location accepts and sells salvaged building materials. It also hosts free material swaps four times a year.
Drop-off site in Norwood Young America
In partnership with Nordic Waste, this site allows residents to drop off or pick up usable building materials for free. Two more sites are planned for 2026.
Deconstruction & reuse grants
If you're planning a remodel, you may qualify for a micro grant to help with careful material removal (deconstruction) or to purchase reclaimed items. Learn more about reuse grants
August 9, 2025, at Waconia Regional Park
Starry Trek is a statewide event focused on searching for one of Minnesota's newest aquatic invasive species, starry stonewort (and other invaders). Team up with us and hundreds of your fellow Minnesotans across the state to learn about and find aquatic invaders.
Volunteers will meet at Waconia Regional Park where they will receive a brief training on how to identify starry stonewort and other target aquatic invasive species and how to follow the search protocols. Groups are then sent out to nearby priority lakes to follow the
protocols and bring back any suspicious organisms.
Starry Trek is a free event, and no experience or special equipment is required. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound that in high amounts reduces water quality and poses a human health risk. Currently, there are incredibly high levels of nitrate in Carver County. Carver County needs your help monitoring the water near you to know where to focus improvements.
The Nitrate Watch is a program through the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA). It provides free nitrate sampling kits to various communities. Carver County has partnered with IWLA, and sampling kits are now available for you and can be ordered online. You can sample streams, lakes, well water, etc. The data collected will help us better understand nitrate levels across the County.
Big Plastics = Big Problem
Think that broken laundry basket or cracked storage tote is recyclable? It’s a common mistake—but large, bulky plastic items don’t belong in your curbside recycling cart.
While they may have a recycling symbol on them, these items are made from a mix of plastic types that aren't accepted in most curbside programs. On top of that, their size and shape cause big problems at recycling facilities. They can get stuck in sorting equipment, damage machinery, and create dangerous conditions for workers.
Here are a few examples of bulky plastic items to keep out of your recycling bin:
- Plastic lawn furniture
- Laundry baskets
- Large storage bins or tubs
- Toys and play structures
- Cracked buckets or bins
So, what should you do with them? Try to reuse or donate – If the item still works or can be fixed, consider giving it a second life. As a last resort, place it in the trash – It's better to landfill it than contaminate the recycling stream.
Not sure if something is recyclable? There’s an easy way to find out! Use the Betterbin app to search specific items and get recycling instructions tailored to your hauler and location.
Both Carver County Water Management Organization and Carver County Environmental Services will be hosting Minnesota GreenCorps members starting in October. The application for members is now open! Our members will be working in stormwater and forestry, and waste reduction and recycling.
Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide AmeriCorps program coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, with a mission to preserve and protect Minnesota's environment and strengthen communities. MN GreenCorps members serve full-time at local governments, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions throughout the state. Members address critical environmental issues and help communities build resiliency while gaining green job skills and networking with environmental professionals.
There are 58 positions statewide and the service term is October 8, 2025, through September 4, 2026.
Carver County Environmental Services and the City of Chanhassen are excited to announce the Environmental Academy will return in 2025!
This free educational program is designed for community members who want to better understand local environmental topics and take a more active role in protecting natural resources in Carver County. Whether you're a curious resident, a neighborhood leader, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, the Academy offers a unique, hands-on learning experience.
The 2025 Academy will build on the success of past events hosted by the City of Chanhassen Environmental Commission. Carver County is proud to partner with the City to expand and grow the program in the coming year.
Participants can expect: Engaging sessions led by local experts. Tours of facilities like the new SMSC Dakota Prairie Organics Recycling Facility. Practical tools for sustainability at home and in the community. Opportunities to connect with fellow residents and local leaders.
Dates and registration details will be announced soon. To stay updated, follow RecycleCarver and The City of Chanhassen on Facebook or sign up for email alerts through Carver County Environmental Services.
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