 Get LESS!
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Have you ever considered that having LESS would actually help you to have MORE? In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, about 6 pounds of waste is produced per person each day. That is enough waste to fill Target Field more than 25 times every year!
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The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board launched a new campaign in October that aims to encourage residents to reduce waste by getting less. By reducing the amount of stuff we buy, have and eventually throw away, we end up with more time, more space and more money. Hennepin County has contributed to the campaign by purchasing additional commercial airtime. Watch for the ads on Comcast cable channels.
Organics collected for recycling in public spaces at Target Field
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In September during the last nine home games of the Minnesota Twins’ 2011 season, the Twins and Hennepin County implemented a pilot project to collect organic waste from some public spaces at Target Field. Organics, which includes food waste and food-soiled paper products, is recycled into compost – a valuable resource that can be used in landscaping and road construction projects.
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This is the first time that containers for organics have been available in public spaces at the ballpark. Organic waste has been collected for recycling in the kitchens and other non-public spaces at Target Field since April 2010. The Twins and the Target Field foodservice provider, DNC SportService, have also donated more than 7,500 pounds of food since June 2011 for local charities through a partnership with Rock & Wrap it Up Inc.
Hennepin County provided technical assistance and signage to help the Twins implement this project. County staff also conducted waste audits after each of the final home stands to assess the success of the organics recycling program. Information from the waste audits will be used to assess the feasibility of the program and identify improvements for the 2012 season.
Medicine collection events results
Hennepin County Environmental Services and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office provided residents the opportunity to safely dispose of unused medicines at four collection events in 2011 and one collection event in 2010.
During the events, about 2,300 participants dropped off about 6,000 pounds of unwanted medicine, including about 400 pounds of controlled substances. The events were supported by North Memorial Partnership for Change and volunteer pharmacists from the U of M Medical Reserve Corps and Walgreens.
Proper disposal of medicine is important for health, safety and environmental reasons. To learn more about medicine disposal and event participants, surveys were distributed at the events. According to survey results:
- The average age of participants was 63 years old.
- 83 percent of participants cited protecting the environment as the most important reason for using the medicine collection program.
- The most common reasons for getting rid of the medication were that it was expired or out of date or they no longer needed it.
- Prior to the events, 37 percent reported storing their medicine, 37 percent put it in the trash and 20 percent flushed it.
Hennepin County recycling and waste reduction specialist named Recycler of the Year
Nancy Lo, a waste reduction and recycling specialist with Hennepin County Environmental Services, was named the Recycler of the Year at the Recycling Association of Minnesota’s annual conference in October.
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Choose to Reuse this holiday season
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Are you getting started on your holiday shopping? Save some money and help the environment by shopping reuse!
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Through November, Hennepin County is encouraging residents to shop reuse by offering Choose to Reuse Today coupon books with discounts at 80 participating reuse retailers. Get the coupon book today to find great deals at the numerous thrift stores, rental shops and other reuse retailers. Coupon books are available at participating retailers, Hennepin County libraries, Hennepin County Service Centers and all Three Rivers Park District locations. Coupon books can also be downloaded.
Grants and Funding Available
Funding available for hands-on environmental education projects for urban youth
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Hennepin County is soliciting proposals for new environmental education programs that provide hands-on, experiential outdoor learning opportunities for inner-city youth.
Eligible projects may include but are not limited to:
- Gardens for produce, rain gardens, butterfly gardens and/or restoration.
- Water quality and/or quantity monitoring.
- Outdoor education regarding fish and wildlife, plant and animal lifecycle, biological inventories and assessments.
- Community-based environmental education and outreach.
- Any other outdoor learning opportunities with an environmental focus.
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Funding for this program is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Visit the program web page or see the Request for Proposals for more information.
Funding available for community-based energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
The Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) is seeking applications for seed grants to support community-based energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Project funding can be used for technical assistance services, which includes labor costs for consultants, design professionals, installation and student labor.
The goals of the seed grant program are to:
- Encourage the implementation of community-based energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
- Provide a forum for community education about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and their economic, ecological and community benefits.
Applications are due by November 15, 2011. Visit the MN CERTS website for more details, applications, project planning tools, past seed grant recipients, frequently asked questions, and dates and times of upcoming informational conference calls.
In the News
Hennepin Energy Recovery Center recognized for being a good neighbor
The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) was recently awarded a Waste-to-Energy Excellence Award at the Gold level from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and an Award of Honor in the category of Public Landscape Design from the American Society of Landscape Architects – Minnesota. The awards recognize changes and improvements that have been made to both HERC’s operation and appearance to increase the facility’s efficiency and to ensure the facility continues to be a valuable asset to the surrounding community. Read more in Recycling Today.
Events
Quarterly networking meeting for congregations
Hennepin County and Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light are holding a networking meeting for green congregations to learn about the importance of reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in homes and congregations.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Beth El Synagogue, 5224 W. 26th St., St. Louis Park.
Car seat recycling event in Linden Hills
Car seats will be accepted for recycling at Settergren’s Ace Hardware in Linden Hills on November 15 – America Recycles Day. The store is located at 2813 West 43rd Street in Minneapolis. Car seats dropped off at this event will be recycled through a new Recycling Association of Minnesota program called REseat, which employs local vocational center clients to dismantle and recycle the old car seats.
Participants will make a $10 donation to RAM for every car seat recycled, and will be receive a $10 voucher from Settergren’s Ace Hardware that can be used on any purchase of $25 or more.
Green Tip
Properly dispose of yard waste
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As you begin raking leaves and preparing your yard for winter, make sure you know how to properly dispose of your yard waste. Remember, it is illegal to dispose of yard and tree waste in the trash.
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Here are some tips for properly managing your yard waste.
- Use curbside pickup or drop-off sites. Contact your city recycling coordinator or waste hauler or check www.hennepin.us/yardwaste for options.
- If you bag your yard waste, make sure you use compostable bags.
- Start composting in your backyard and turn yard and food waste into a nutrient-rich soil additive. Leaves can be added to the pile as “brown” material to maintain the proper balance with “green” food waste.
- Prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer by taking ash tree waste to the nearest disposal site (within the quarantine area of Hennepin and Ramsey counties).
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