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Carolyn Collopy, Master Recycler/Composter Coordinator
Email
612-596-0993
MRC Program
Payback opportunities
Hours reporting form
MRC Facebook group
MRC files
Thank you for your continued efforts to help Hennepin County reduce waste and recycle more! We’re glad you’re part of our outreach and education team!
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 You are invited to our first ever Hennepin County Environment and Energy volunteer appreciation night!
When people see the triangular chasing arrows on a product, they often mistakenly think it means they can recycle it. Instead of indicating recyclability, the chasing arrows can mean many things.
On plastics, the chasing arrows indicate what type of plastic the packaging is made of, while on other materials it may mean that a product is made with recycled content or is recyclable in areas with markets for the material. There are no standards for recycling labels on products, which causes confusion for consumers and results in unrecyclable items being recycled.
 How2Recycle is trying to limit the confusion by working with manufacturers to develop and use labels that provide useful information to the consumer about whether a product is recyclable. The goal is to increase uniformity as more major manufacturers add the labeling system to their products. Learn more.
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Recycle in every room
 Remembering to recycle everything from every room in your house can sometimes be challenging, especially when you’re just trying to get the laundry done or get ready for work.
Hennepin County’s 2015 Recycle Everywhere campaign offers tips, tricks and hacks to make recycling a habit in every room of your home. All it takes is equal parts recycling bins to trash bins, some education and even a little fun.
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Order supplies to expand your recycling habit
Free resources to expand your recycling habit, including recycling labels, a bag for collecting recyclables and a recycling guide, can be ordered online. Order enough for your household or a larger quantity to distribute at events, at work or to other communities that you are involved with.
We also have a newsletter article, social media posts, logo, images and recycling tips factsheet available to help you spread the word.
 Minneapolis residents who have signed up for the city's curbside organics recycling program began receiving their carts this week. The program is being rolled out in two phases, with 25 percent of customers receiving their carts through September 2015 and the rest in spring 2016. Residents can find out what phase they are in by checking the organics recycling roll-out map.
As of August 6, 2015, 29 percent of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling customers have signed up to participate in the program. Residents who have not signed up can do so by calling 612-673-2917 or emailing
SWRcustomer@minneapolismn.gov.
Spread the word
If you would like resources to help promote the Minneapolis organics recycling program, contact Kellie Kish at kellie.kish@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-3536.
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 Why do you choose to reuse? Maybe you have kids that outgrow their stuff constantly, or you want unique fixtures for your house projects without breaking the bank, or you want to find the clothes you love to wear while sticking to your budget. Whatever your reason, Hennepin County is encouraging you to choose to reuse for all your shopping needs by partnering with over 50 reuse retailers to offer coupons with discounts from August through October.
Get your free coupons now on your smart phone through the Chinook Book app or by picking up a book at participating retail locations, Hennepin County Service Centers, Hennepin County libraries, many city buildings, and Minneapolis Park Board and Three Rivers Park District locations. To download the free Chinook Book app, go to the app store and create an account in the Twin Cities Market.
Spread the word
Get coupon books to distribute or flyers to promote the mobile app by contacting Kristin Pierskalla at kristin.pierskalla@hennepin.us or 612-348-4787.
A newsletter article, social media posts, and images are also avaliable to help you promote Choose to Reuse.
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Moving can create a lot of waste. Instead of trashing your old stuff, unwanted household items, such as furniture, clothing and household goods, can be donated to a local reuse retailer or given to someone else who could use them.
If you live in an apartment building or townhouse, encourage your property manager to participate in Hennepin County’s new move-out and bulky waste reuse pilot program.
Here’s how it works:
- Properties receive a container for collecting reusable materials.
- Residents fill the container with items they no longer want, such as chairs, clothes, dishes, coffee makers and lamps.
- When the container is full, your designated reuse partner is called for pick-up.
There is no cost to participate. For more information, contact Kirsten Wahlberg at kirsten.wahlberg@hennepin.us or 612-348-6846.
Congratulations to the following MRCs on completing their payback hours:
- Jessica Mehlhoff (spring 2014) wrote articles about recycling for her neighborhood association newsletter.
- Lauri Kraft (fall 2014) planned and coordinated several low-waste events and made presentations to school kids about waste diversion.
- Greg Michels (fall 2013) staffed many shifts at the Pearl Park organics drop-off and assisted at several events including the May Day Festival.
- Michelle Howard (fall 2014) talked to residents about waste diversion at several events including the South Minneapolis Housing Fair, the Seward Sustainability Fair and the Do-It Green Clothing Swap.
MRCs have reported a total of 4,274 hours volunteering in their communities since 2011, including 522 hours logged in 2015. Great job!
Working on your payback? Many of you are doing great things in your communities to further waste reduction in Hennepin County (thank you!) but have not reported any hours. Please use our online form to report your hours or feel free to email carolyn.collopy@hennepin.us an update of what you are up to, and we’ll take care of the rest.
There are several ways to get notified of payback hours:
The following factsheets and brochures have recently been created or updated. Order these pieces and more to help with your education and outreach activities through the online literature order form.
Updated: Reducing waste and recycling during your move
 Moving can be a busy time during which you have to make a lot of decisions about the stuff that you have. Giving yourself enough time to sort through your things before you move will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and allow you to find the best reuse, recycling and safe disposal options. The updated Reducing Waste and Recycling During your Move factsheet provides tips and resources for reducing, reusing, recycling and disposing of a wide variety of materials people commonly need to deal with when moving. Tips for being green when packing and moving in are also included.
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New: Green Cleaning Recipes in English and Spanish
 According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only a fraction of registered chemicals have gone through complete testing for human health concerns. You can protect your health and the health of your family, pets and the environment by making your own cleaning products with simple, less-toxic ingredients. Many common household products, such as baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar and liquid dish soap, can make effective and inexpensive cleaners. See the updated Green Cleaning Recipes brochure in English and Spanish for recipes to use throughout your home.
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New: How to identify and reduce hazardous chemicals
 Many products we have in our homes contain hazardous materials that can harm the health of our families, pets and the environment if not properly used, stored and disposed. Reading the label is the easiest way to identify and reduce hazardous products in our homes. The new How to Identify and Reduce Hazardous Chemicals in your Home brochure contains information on signal words to look for on labels, hazard levels of common household products, safe storage and disposal tips, and simple steps to reduce hazardous chemicals in the home.
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New: How to get rid of it guide
 Understanding how to get rid of items properly can be confusing. The new How to Get Rid of It Guide provides an overview of how to recycle, reduce, reuse, dispose of yard waste and safely store and get rid of hazardous wastes. Information about the Hennepin County Drop-off Facilities is also included.
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Bloomington moves to organized trash collection
In June, the City of Bloomington decided to begin a system of organized trash collection as soon as spring 2016. Bloomington’s recycling and trash hauling is currently handled by about seven companies, each with three trucks that pick up from residents. The city’s decision will move toward a five-year contract with only one waste hauling company. Read more in the Star Tribune.
More than 31,000 Minneapolis residents on board for organics recycling
Minneapolis began rolling out citywide curbside organics recycling this week. By recycling food scraps, non-recyclable paper and compostable products into compost, this program provides an easy way for residents to reduce waste and make a difference. Residents can sign up to participate by calling 612-673-2917 or emailing SWRcustomer@minneapolismn.gov. Read more in the Star Tribune.
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