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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
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 Hennepin County’s drop-off facilities in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington now accept needles and sharps at no charge from residents. Safely managing and disposing of needles, lancets and syringes safely is important to prevent injury and disease transmission.
Sharps should be stored and transported in a rigid, puncture-resistant, plastic container with a screw-on lid. Examples include empty laundry detergent bottles with screw-on lids or a sharps disposable container purchased from a pharmacy. Glass containers should not be used. Watch a video about safely handling and disposing of sharps for disposal.
Learn about additional options for disposing of sharps, including through healthcare providers and mail-back programs, and guidelines for bringing them to a drop-off facility in the Green Disposal Guide.
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 The Golden Valley Police Department, in partnership with Hennepin County and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, recently opened a medicine drop box at their location at 7800 Golden Valley Rd in Golden Valley. The drop box is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Properly disposing of medicines is important to prevent poisoning and abuse and protect the environment. There are now nine medicine drop boxes located throughout the county. All types of medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements and pet medicines in all forms are accepted at the drop boxes.
For more information, contact Ryan Gastecki at ryan.gastecki@hennepin.us or 612-348-8994.
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 Earlier this month, Hennepin County received a silver-level "Bicycle Friendly Business" award from the League of American Bicyclists. This designation recognizes the county’s efforts to create a more welcoming atmosphere for employees who bike. Biking to work is a great way to feel healthier and happier while also protecting the environment.
The county provides a variety of resources for employees who bike to work, including secured bike parking, reimbursement for biking expenses, and education and encouragement events like Bike to Work Day and bike maintenance and winter biking classes. Learn more about the bike commuting resources from Hennepin County.
This past fall, Hennepin County also received a silver-level "Bicycle Friendly Community" award from the Bicycle League for efforts to create an inviting bicycling environment for residents and visitors.
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 In May, high school and middle school teams competed in regional Envirothons, which are natural resources competitions that test students’ knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife. A team from Hopkins High School advanced from the regional competition to the Minnesota State Envirothon and finished in third place at the state level. Hennepin County provided transportation funding for the Hopkins High School team to attend the regional competition.
Hopkins has been competing in the Envirothon since 2008 and has had teams advance to the state competition every year since 2009. After the metro-area Envirothon was cancelled this year, the dedicated teams traveled to Spicer, Minnesota to compete in the regional competition. Congratulations to the participating students!
For more information, contact Stacey Lijewski at stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us or 612-348-9938.
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Students start recycling program at their school with Hennepin County recycling grant
Two students from Maranatha Christian Academy in Brooklyn Park recently received a $9,000 grant from Hennepin County to start a recycling program at their school. The grant funding will be used to purchase recycling bins, signage and educational materials. Before applying for the grant, the students started a recycling and composting club to identify ways to improve recycling. In addition to diverting waste from the trash, the students hope this project will raise awareness among students at the school about ways they can protect the environment. Learn more about Hennepin County's school recycling program and watch the story on Channel 12.
Fix-It Clinics
 Get free, guided assistance from handy volunteers on disassembling, troubleshooting and repairing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic.
Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, July 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at Minneapolis Community & Technical College in the H Building (Helland Center)
- Sunday, August 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Champlin Ice Forum
- Saturday, September 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Whittier Rec Center in Minneapolis
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.
Hazardous waste collection events
 Hennepin County organizes collection events to give residents more convenient local options for disposing of household hazardous wastes. Materials accepted include unwanted automotive wastes, household, lawn and garden products, batteries, mercury-containing items and more.
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Collection events are held Thursday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Upcoming hazardous waste collection events are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- July 7 – 9 at Jenny Lind School in Minneapolis
- August 4 – 6 at Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis
- August 18 – 20 at 340 27th Ave NE in Minneapolis
Get more details including directions to each event and a full schedule of events for 2016.
Water festival learning for the classroom: A Project WET workshop
Tuesday, August 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, 2522 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis
Classroom teachers, formal and non-formal educators, and youth leaders can learn activities and get resources to teach about local environmental issues and protecting water resources at this indoor/outdoor workshop. Attendees will experience how Project WET learning stations from the Metro Children's Water Festival are taught and receive Project WET lesson plans, a Project WET 2.0 Guide, watershed game training, and a make-and-take activity box. CEUs and optional graduate credit through Hamline University is available. Lunch will be provided. The workshop costs $25. Learn more and register by July 18.
For additional information and scholarship opportunities, contact Stacey Lijewski at stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us or 612-348-9938.
Do it Green! Summer clothing swap
Saturday, July 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mount Olive Church, 3045 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis
Bring in items that are no longer right for you and trade them in for "new" ones. This is a great opportunity to update your wardrobe without spending a penny! Bring as many items as you'd like, and take home as many items as you'd like. Any leftover items will be donated to charity. This event is open to the public and all styles, sizes, and types of clothes, shoes, and accessories are welcome. Clean/washed items are greatly appreciated. Learn more.
Minnehaha Creek cleanup
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is holding its 10th annual cleanup this year on Sunday, July 24, and volunteers now have three cleanup locations to choose from: Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Lake Hiawatha Park in Minneapolis. The expansion to Minnetonka provides opportunities to clean the creek all the way from the creek’s headwaters near the Gray’s Bay Dam to Minnehaha Falls 22 miles downstream. This year’s goal is to collect 4 tons of trash. Learn more and register to volunteer.
Share the River Nordeast
Wednesday, July 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, 2522 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis
 Join the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization for a family-friendly evening of community, canoeing and ice cream! Stop by for a free introductory canoe ride on the Mississippi River, then grab some free ice cream and check out the other exhibits at the stormwater park and learning center. In addition to learning to paddle on the river, participants will have opportunities to learn about the Mississippi River’s history, water quality, plants, animals and more, and share their ideas for river programming in the north and northeast Minneapolis. Learn more.
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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued two air pollution health advisory alerts in the Twin Cities
during June, mostly due to increased ozone levels. Individuals at risk during
air pollution advisories include those with pre-existing respiratory or
cardiovascular conditions, elderly, children, and those participating in
outdoor activities requiring extended or heavy exertion. But even individuals
who are otherwise healthy may experience health effects when ozone levels
increase. Be air aware by taking the following actions:
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Sign up for air quality alerts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- Fill up your gas tank after dark: Gasoline emissions evaporate as you fill up your gas tank and contribute to the formation of ozone. In the summer, fill up after dark to keep the sun from turning these gases into air pollution.
- Use hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment: Gasoline-powered engines like those on lawnmowers often have no pollution control devices.
- Limit recreational backyard fires, especially during an air pollution health advisory. Burning wood is among the major sources of air pollution.
- Encourage your workplace to become an Air Aware Employer. The Air Aware program gives employers tools to empower their employees to improve air quality and protect their health.
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