District 3 stories: Kira Berglund

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Learn more about how Hennepin County works for you, the District 3 team conducts a profile series with employees of the county who live in the district. Each month we spotlight a different person from varying departments and occupations.  Find out about the day-to-day aspects of occupational fields and work environments at the county, and how each person’s work affects your life.

Kira Berglund

Kira Berglund

Oak Hill Neighborhood

St. Louis Park

Manager, School recycling program

Describe your work.

I work for Hennepin County’s Environment and Energy department on the Waste Reduction and Recycling team. I manage our school recycling program, which focuses on helping schools reduce waste by collecting recycling and organics (primarily food waste). We give grants to K-12 schools on a yearly basis to help them implement waste reduction programs. I also give presentations to students and staff to teach them about the importance of reducing, reusing, recycling and composting.

In addition to the school recycling program, I work with businesses and non-profits through our business recycling grants program. These grants also offer support to organizations to start or improve a recycling or organics program.

During the warmer months, I organize compost bin distribution events around the county. We sell cedar frame compost bins with wire mesh sides to residents to help them start composting in their backyards. The compost bins are available at our Brooklyn Park drop-off facility year-round. We hold events in the spring and fall in other parts of the county to better reach residents.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

Supporting grant projects can be challenging when there are staff changes at the organization that received a grant. Sometimes it can be difficult to find another person to lead the project, but if the administration is supportive, it usually works out. The timeline may need to be adjusted though.

What do you find most enjoyable?
I enjoy teaching people how to reduce waste in their own lives, whether it’s at school, at work, or at home. Many kids and adults don’t know or think about what happens to our waste. It’s important to inform people that they can make a difference by choosing to recycle, starting an organics program, or composting in their backyards.

What is one thing everyone should know about the work you do?
Approximately 80 percent of the waste at schools is recyclable or compostable, so there is a great opportunity to divert waste from the trash at schools.

Learn more about school recycling programs in Hennepin County.