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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
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.
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 You’ve probably wondered how you create so much trash at home. Reducing waste is a great way to lower your impact on the environment and simplify your life by having less stuff to deal with, but it can be hard to figure out what actions to take and how to fit them into your life.
If you’ve ever wanted to reduce the amount of waste you create, Hennepin County’s new Zero Waste Challenge is a great way to learn more and get hands-on help. The county is looking for 50 households to join others in taking a year-long look at the goods we buy and waste we create to uncover the opportunities and challenges to increasing recycling and reducing waste.
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Participating households will:
- Get customized coaching and hands-on help from staff and trained volunteers to make low-waste lifestyle changes.
- Have access to workshops and classes on a variety of waste reduction topics and get supplies and educational materials as needed.
- Track and report the amount of waste their household generates weekly for a year.
- Make their best attempt to take action to reduce the amount of waste they create.
The results and lessons learned will be used to develop future waste reduction programs. The program starts September 15, 2016, and ends September 15, 2017. For their efforts, participating households will receive a $350 stipend. Apply to participate by August 26.
For more information or to ask questions about the program, contact Carolyn Collopy at carolyn.collopy@hennepin.us or 612-596-0993.
 What is better than buying something new? Finding something cool to reuse! Like a one-of-a-kind set of dishes or a classic edition of a favorite book. The wedding dress worn only once, now half the price, or a baseball glove ready for another season. Sounds like a deal – because it is.
Choose to Reuse coupons will help you get great deals on quality products while supporting local businesses and protecting the environment. Coupons are valid August 1 through October 31 at more than 50 local retailers that rent, repair, resell, consign and exchange used goods.
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You have several options to get Choose to Reuse coupons:
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Download the Chinook Book App (Google Play or iTunes). Choose to Reuse coupons will load right onto your smartphone!
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Order the print version of the Choose to Reuse coupon book
- Pick one up at participating retail locations, Hennepin County Service Centers, Hennepin County libraries and all Three Rivers Park District locations.
 Do you recycle everywhere you can at home? About half of home recyclables never make it to the recycling bin.
We do well recycling kitchen items, but our bathrooms, laundry rooms and home offices have lots of recyclables we throw out. So it’s time to refresh your laundry room, revamp your bathroom or rethink your home office by adding a bin, bag or basket to collect recycling.
Rethink your recycling habit by using convenient recycling bins and signage and mixing in a little fun. Get tips and order free labels and supplies.
Spread the word by downloading campaign materials. For more information, contact Alisa Reckinger at alisa.reckinger@hennepin.us or 612-348-4788.
 Hennepin County is selling compost bins to help you start composting your fruit and vegetable scraps and yard waste in your backyard. Bins are 3’ x 3’ x 3’, made of cedar and wire mesh, and cost $45.
Pre-order a compost bin for pick up at a distribution event scheduled for:
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- Wednesday, August 10 from 5 - 7 p.m. hosted by the Extension Master Gardener Program at the Hennepin County Service Center, 479 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie
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Saturday, August 27 from noon - 2 p.m. at the Story Garden, 3506 Humboldt Ave N, Minneapolis
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Tuesday, September 20 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Harvest Moon Co-op, 2380 W. Wayzata Blvd, Long Lake
Compost bins are also for sale at the Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park during regular facility hours; no pre-order needed.
For more information, contact Kira Berglund at kira.berglund@hennepin.us or 612-596-1498.
 Several upgrades were recently completed at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) to reduce air emissions and increase efficiency. HERC is a waste-to-energy facility in Minneapolis that burns garbage to generate energy.
Reducing nitrogen oxide emissions
A new system to control nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) was installed. NOx is an air pollutant regulated under the Clean Air Act because it reacts with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to create ground-level ozone, or smog. Although most of the NOx emissions in Hennepin County come from exhaust from transportation and only one percent comes from HERC, reducing NOx emissions from the facility presented a good opportunity to reduce air emissions at HERC.
The new system involves injecting a mixture of urea, a non-hazardous substance, and water into the furnace where it forms ammonia. The ammonia reacts with NOx to form nitrogen and water. The system reduced NOx emissions from HERC by 25 percent.
Improving the operation of mechanical systems
Additionally, a number of the mechanical systems at HERC were recently refurbished. These improvements will increase efficiency of the facility's operations by more completely extracting energy from waste, improving the quality of the ash that remains after the waste is burned, and allowing more metal to be recovered from the waste and recycled.
For more information, contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@hennepin.us or 612-348-5906.
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A new buffer initiative aimed at protecting Minnesota's waters was signed into law in 2015 and requires that buffers along public waterways be in place by November 2017.
A buffer is vegetated land adjacent to a stream, river, lake or wetland. Buffers help slow the flow of water and filter out phosphorous, nitrogen, and sediment, which are all pollutants that degrade water quality. The buffer initiative will reduce erosion and pollution from runoff by establishing about 110,000 acres of buffers along Minnesota waterways.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently released buffer maps that show which waters are subject to the new requirements. Landowners can use these maps to determine if buffers are needed on their property.
For more information, contact Randy Anhorn at randy.anhorn@hennepin.us or 612-348-2027.
Hennepin County offers grants to businesses to increase recycling
 Do you know a business that wants to start recycling? Or maybe improve the recycling program they already have and add organics recycling? Hennepin County is offering grants of up to $50,000 for businesses to start or improve programs to divert recyclables and organics (food and non-recyclable paper) from the trash.
Most businesses and non-profits in the county — from large office buildings to small churches, restaurants and apartment buildings — are eligible to apply. These grants can help with the purchase and installation of containers and equipment, hauling service charges, and minor improvements to loading docks and waste enclosures.
Hennepin County has staff available to answer questions about the grant application, review project ideas, evaluate potential costs and savings, and offer resources to start and improve recycling and organics recycling programs.
Learn more and apply. For more information, contact Andre Xiong at andre.x.xiong@hennepin.us or 612-543-1316.
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Grants awarded to improve recycling in schools
 Hennepin County recently awarded 15 grants totaling more than $182,000 to schools and school districts to reduce waste and improve recycling and organics programs. The grants will fund projects taking place at 11 charter schools, 14 public schools, and 2 private schools.
Some schools will improve or start recycling by adding containers in classrooms, offices, hallways and on the school grounds. Many of the schools will start or improve organics recycling in the cafeteria by adding sorting tables and signage racks. Other schools are reducing waste by installing water bottle refill stations or replacing foam trays and plastic utensils with compostable or reusable ones.
Learn more about the projects awarded.
For more information, contact Kira Berglund at kira.berglund@hennepin.us or 612-596-1498.
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Grants awarded to clean up contaminated properties
Hennepin County recently awarded nine Environmental Response Fund grants totaling more than $1 million to fund cleanup at contaminated sites where the added environmental costs hinder site improvements or redevelopment.
The grants will fund a variety of environmental cleanup measures, including contaminated soil assessment and cleanup, contaminated groundwater monitoring, and asbestos and lead-based paint abatement. The cleaned up properties will be redeveloped for a variety of uses, including affordable and market-rate housing, commercial space, public recreation facilities, and parks.
Grants were awarded for projects in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Richfield and St. Louis Park. Learn more about the projects awarded.
For more information, contact John Evans at john.evans@hennepin.us or 612-348-4046.
Projects underway to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species
Earlier this year, Hennepin County awarded grants for projects that will prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Now that it’s summer, the grantees are making progress on increasing education, enhancing early detection efforts, and supporting research.
New method tested to prevent the spread of zebra mussels
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and University of Minnesota are studying a new method to control populations of zebra mussels. Researchers are testing the use of a copper-based product on zebra mussel larvae in Lake Minnetonka with the hopes that targeting the youngest zebra mussels will reduce the overall population. Read more in the Star Tribune.
Aquatic invasive species outreach brought to Minneapolis Parks
 The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board recently completed a portable bike and trailer that will be used to educate the public about aquatic invasive species prevention. The trailer is designed to look like a boat and includes interactive features to engage park visitors and event participants.
The bike and trailer were used at a sailing regatta on Lake Harriet in July along with a zebra mussel sniffing dog from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and aquatic invasive species inspectors from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The 48 boats registered for the regatta were inspected for aquatic invasive species before being launched into Lake Harriet. Three boats were found to have zebra mussels and were stopped before entering the lake.
Volunteers trained to look for aquatic invasive species
Hennepin County and Fortin Consulting held two aquatic invasive species early detection workshops in June. Participants from throughout the county learned about aquatic invasive species of concerns and where and when to look for them. The workshop focused on aquatic invasive species that are not widespread in the county and where early detection efforts may help to minimize the spread and reduce management costs. In the next month, a limnologist from Fortin Consulting will be going out with volunteers on lakes to show them how to look for aquatic invasive species.
For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.
40 rain gardens installed with the help of a Natural Resources Good Steward Grant
The Longfellow Community Council Neighborhood installed 40 rain gardens to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and pollutants getting into the Mississippi River. The neighborhood received a Hennepin County natural resources grant to offset the costs of onsite consultations, design, materials and volunteer coordination to help property owners build rain gardens in their neighborhood. View a timelapse video of a rain garden being installed.
The Hennepin Energy
Recovery Center is part of the solution to our waste problem
More than 1 million tons of waste are generated by residents
and businesses in Hennepin County every year. Add up all this waste and it’s
enough to fill Target Field 11 times. About 46 percent of the waste generated
in the county was recycled or composted in 2015. Although the recycling rate
has slowly and steadily increased in recent years, we have a long way to go to
reach our goal of recycling 75 percent of waste by 2030.
In a recent editorial in MinnPost, Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Higgins explained that despite our progress in reducing waste and increasing recycling, we still have a problem with waste. Burning the trash that remains after recycling and composting to generate energy at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis is part of the county’s comprehensive waste management system to prevent waste or reduce, recycle and compost it.
In addition to being an important component of a comprehensive waste management system, a recent article in POWER Magazine explained that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found waste-to-energy to be the only electricity generating technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions as it generates energy. This is because trash sent to a waste-to-energy facility is kept out of landfills. Decomposing waste in landfills emits methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas.
All Minneapolis recycling customers can now participate in organics recycling
 The City of Minneapolis completed the roll out of their organics recycling program in June. All Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling customers who signed up to participate should now have their green organics recycling carts.
To get started with organics recycling, see home set up tips and learn what materials are accepted. Customers who are not participating can sign up now. Learn more on KSTP.
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Envisioning the future of environmental education for youth
 Connecting youth to the natural world, helping them learn about environmental issues, and working with them to develop solutions is critical to prepare them for a world with increasingly complex environmental challenges.
Help Hennepin County understand how we can best support environmental education efforts by joining in a conversation to uncover the benefits of, barriers to, and effective strategies for engaging youth in environmental education.
Join the conversation
Each meeting will be the same, so you only need to attend one:
- Tuesday, August 23 from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr in Minnetonka
- Thursday, September 15 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, 2522 Marshall St NE in Minneapolis
- Thursday, September 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brookdale Library in Brooklyn Center
Anyone interested in providing programs or services to youth, preparing them for the future, or protecting the environment is encouraged to attend. We are hoping to engage both current and potential partners in these conversations, and a diversity of perspectives and experiences will enhance the dialogue.
RSVP
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Learn more and RSVP.
Contact Alisa Reckinger at alisa.reckinger@hennepin.us or 612-348-4788 with any questions.
Sustainable agriculture demonstration field day
Wednesday, August 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Patnode Dairy Farm, 23301 County Rd 50 in Corcoran
Join the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Extension at the sustainable agriculture demonstration field day to learn about using cover crops to improve productivity, water-holding capacity, and soil health. Lunch will be provided.
RSVP by August 8 to Daryl Patnode at 763-464-6540 or patnode4@gmail.com or Karl Hakanson at 612-624-7948 or khakanso@umn.edu.
Fix-It Clinics
 Have broken stuff lying around your home? 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.
Curious about how it all works? Watch volunteer fixers Gary and Howard on Fox 9 helping reporter Jeff Passolt troubleshoot and fix items.
Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
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- 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
- Saturday, October 8 from noon to 4 p.m. at the St. Louis Park Rec Center
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.
Collection events are held Thursday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The remaining 2016 hazardous waste collection events are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
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- August 4 – 6 at Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis
- August 18 – 20 at 340 27th Ave NE in Minneapolis
- September 15 – 17 at the City of Minneapolis Public Works Garage, 3607 44th St E in Minneapolis
- October 13 – 15 at the Shorewood Public Works Site, 24200 Smithtown Rd in Shorewood
Get more details including directions to each event and a list of materials accepted.
 Do you recycle everywhere you can at home? It’s likely you
may not be recycling as much as you can from every room, so follow these tips to
rethink your recycling routine:
- In every room: Add a bin or bag to collect
recycling, and label containers so that everyone know how to sort their
recycling. Order free labels and supplies.
- Refresh you laundry room: Recycle detergent
bottles, dryer sheet boxes, and more.
- Rethink your home office: Recycle mail, papers,
boxes, and more.
- Revamp your bathroom: Recycle shampoo bottles,
toothpaste boxes, and more.
Get more tips and resources at
www.hennepin.us/recycleeverywhere.
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