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Carolyn Collopy, Master Recycler/Composter Coordinator
Email
612-596-0993.
MRC Program
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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 We generate 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and the start of the new year, according to the U.S. EPA. That's about one million extra tons of waste per week.
Consumption is a major focus this time of year, with many retailers making 20 - 30 percent of their annual earnings during the holidays. However, a survey found that 70 percent of Americans would welcome less emphasis on gifts and spending during the holiday season.
There are many ways to give and celebrate without contributing to increased waste generation. Below are a few tips for low-waste gift giving, entertaining and decorating.
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Gift giving
- Simplify and buy fewer gifts. Exchange names with friends and family to reduce the number of gifts you purchase.
- Consider the gift-giving philosophy of buying “something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read,” or replace some gifts of “stuff” with gifts of activities such as a ticket to a play, sports event or gift card to a restaurant.
- Check secondhand stores before buying new, or re-gift something you no longer use.
- Choose quality over quantity.
- Wrap gifts with recyclable paper that you already have, like the comics section of the newspaper, brown paper bags, or kids art.
- Instead of using tape, tie your gifts with a cotton string or reusable ribbon.
- Ditch the disposables and opt for reusable gift bags, a fancy box, a decorative handkerchief or scarf, or a small towel or blanket.
- Instead of giving gifts, do something together such as going out to eat or taking a trip.
Entertaining
- Plan meals and buy only what you need, serve just enough, use what is left and compost what you can’t use. Send leftovers home with your guests or freeze them. If a recipe makes too much, cut it in half or freeze half for later.
- Use reusable plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. You can look for extra sets of dishes and utensils at secondhand stores and garage sales. You could also borrow extras from a friend or family member, or even ask your guests to bring their own of whatever you lack.
- If you cannot use reusable place settings, make sure everything is recyclable or compostable and dispose of them properly. If you don’t have organics recycling service at home, take your compostable items to a drop-off. Avoid unnecessary items like straws and stir sticks in drinks.
Decorating
- Choose LED string lights, which last longer and cost less to use than other options. Strings of lights can be recycled at Hennepin County’s drop-off facilities if they no longer work.
- If you buy and decorate a tree, consider a planted tree or organic free-range trees over trees that have been farmed with pesticides and painted. Free-range trees help with forest restoration and can be found at select local nurseries. Once done, compost the tree at a drop-off site or in your backyard. Be sure all of the decorations have been removed. Stick to reusable, recyclable or compostable adornments. Note: trees collected after the holidays by the City of Minneapolis are not composted, they are delivered to HERC.
- Make your own centerpieces from fresh flowers, house plants, seasonal produce or greenery.
Educational resources for a green holiday
If you're looking to educate others this holiday season, Hennepin County has some fun educational resources and activities. Topics covered include green gifts, green wrapping paper, and green parties. Below is a list of available resources. Find more at www.hennepin.us/environmentaleducation.
 Staff presented findings of the county’s waste sort study during the November 15 county board meeting. The waste sort, conducted in May with trash from three Minneapolis neighborhoods, provides a greater understanding of what is in the trash and what can realistically be recovered.
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Key findings from the study
- Organics recycling has the largest potential for improvement. Organics recycling includes both food waste and compostable paper, which made up about 25 percent of the trash.
- Residents are doing a good job recycling, but there are still opportunities to improve. We could be recycling more paper and cardboard, and plastics recycling still causes confusion.
- There are also opportunities to improve recycling of materials that cannot be conveniently recycled at home. This includes clothing, plastic bags, electronics, mattresses and scrap metal.
- There are no current reuse opportunities or recycling markets for many materials found in the trash, such as diapers and pet waste. Reducing the amount of waste generated in the first place is the most impactful waste management practice, and there is considerable potential to improve waste prevention.
Planning for progress
In 2015, 46 percent of waste generated in Hennepin County was diverted to recycling or organics recycling. Although recycling has increased steadily over the past five years, there’s still a lot more we can do to increase recycling and reduce waste.
In 2017, Hennepin County will develop a solid waste master plan in response to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Master Policy Plan. Together, these plans will provide statewide and county-specific strategies to meet 2020 goals and lay the foundation for achieving a long-term vision. The data from this waste sort, along with an extensive public engagement process, will inform the development of the county’s master plan.
For more information
Six more certified MRCs!
Congratulations to the following MRCs on completing their payback hours:
- Alison Luedtke (spring 2014)
- Amanda Wadeson, (fall 2015)
- Anne Kraft (spring 2015)
- Maggie Mountain (spring 2012)
- Melissa Seeley, (fall 2012)
- Steve Plachinski (fall 2014)
Working on your payback? Report your hours!
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 email carolyn.collopy@hennepin.us an update of what you are up to, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Fix-It-Clinics
 MRCs are needed to help check people in at upcoming Fix-It Clinics. Duties involve greeting residents, weighing their items and entering those weights along with descriptions of the items into a Google spreadsheet. Here are upcoming dates:
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- Saturday, January 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka
- Sunday, February 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at Arc’s Value Village in New Hope
- Saturday, March 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at Burroughs Elementary School
- Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center
- Saturday, May 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bloomington Center for the Arts
For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
Toys for Tots drive
Toys for Tots drive and tabling event on Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hmong International Academy.
We can send you supplies for the event. The focus of the table will be on recycling and organics.
Please email Angie Ziobro at angela.ziobro@hennepin.us if you are available.
Food waste reduction outreach
Two MRCs are needed to help staff a table on reducing food waste on Saturday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lunds & Byerlys in Uptown.
You will be educating shoppers on how to waste less food by asking them to sign a pledge card and handing out food-storage guides. If interested, please email Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us
Monitor waste stations at Holidazzle
Help out Holidazzle in Loring Park this holiday season! Enjoy taking part in a Downtown Minneapolis holiday tradition that blends activities for all ages with great local foods, beverages and gift shopping.
Waste monitors are needed December 22 - 23. Shifts are available from 5 - 9 p.m. on Thursday and 5 - 10 p.m. on Friday. Shifts are set up in three-hour increments. Volunteers will receive a Holidazzle hat and should dress for outdoor weather conditions. For more information, contact Brooke Nieson at mdcintern@downtownminneapolis.com.
Learn about payback opportunities
Hennepin County and many of our partners are often looking for MRCs to assist with outreach and waste management at events and for special projects. There are two ways to be notified of payback opportunities:
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