Green Notes September 2017

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green notes

Solid Waste Management Master Plan available for public review

2018 Solid Waste Management Master Plan

Hennepin County’s 2018 Solid Waste Management Master Plan outlines strategies the county will pursue to reach the goal of recycling 75 percent of waste by 2030 and sending zero waste to landfills.

A draft of the master plan and a survey to provide your feedback on your level of support for the proposed strategies are available through October 9.

The plan focuses on increasing organics recycling, building momentum for waste prevention and reuse, continuing to serve residents at home, work and on-the-go, expanding drop-off disposal and recycling options, diverting construction and demolition waste, and supporting the state’s environmental justice policy. Learn more about the master plan development process and next steps.

Businesses invited to participate in pilot recycling mentorship program

Business recycling mentors

Hennepin County is starting a pilot program with Environmental Initiative that will pair businesses with well-developed recycling programs with less-experienced businesses in the same industry. These business leaders will provide mentorship support to others to start and improve their recycling programs. Participating businesses will learn from their peers about the training needs, costs and best practices for starting organics recycling and reducing waste. Participating businesses will be recruited through December for projects that begin in January.

Research project seeks to uncover best practices for organics recycling education

The county is also working with a capstone team at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs to learn what corporate campuses are doing to educate staff on organics recycling. The research will uncover how the county can improve training and better share information on best practices for educating staff about organics recycling. The project will involve tours and a survey of businesses that have implemented successful organics recycling efforts in October and November, so let us know if you are aware of a business that collects organics recycling and would be interested in participating. The project will wrap up in December.

Get involved

Businesses interested in participating in either project should contact Mallory Anderson at mallory.anderson@hennepin.us or 612-348-3837.

Volunteer to protect the environment

Become a Master Recycler/Composter

Master Recyclers conducting outreach

Join fellow waste reduction enthusiasts and become an advocate for the three Rs in your community as a Hennepin County Master Recycler/Composter. These trained volunteers work to reduce waste generation and increase public awareness of opportunities to recycle and compost.

The fall course will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m. starting October 24 at Colin Powell Center in south Minneapolis. An optional field trip will be held on Friday, November 3. Learn more and apply.

Opportunities to become a Master Water Steward available through the county

Master Water Stewards

Volunteer to become a community leader in protecting water as a Master Water Steward. The program has openings in watersheds throughout Hennepin County.

Master Water Stewards is a program that certifies and supports community members to install pollution prevention projects that educate the community, reduce pollutants from stormwater runoff, and allow more water to soak into the ground before running into storm sewer systems. By focusing in their communities, stewards are creating real change in the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Apply now.

Grants available for natural resources protection and business recycling

Good steward natural resources grants

Rain garden

Grants are available for projects that implement best management practices to preserve and restore critical habitats, reduce erosion and reduce the amount of nutrients and sediment going into lakes, rivers and streams. Past grants have supported practices such as rain gardens, prairie plantings, shoreline restorations and drainage improvements. Government agencies, organizations and private landowners are eligible to apply. Applications are due November 5. Learn more and apply.

Business recycling grants

Businesses, organizations and institutions looking to improve recycling, start organics recycling or reduce waste can apply now for grants. Funding can be used to purchase recycling containers, start hauling services, or improve onsite recycling infrastructure. The business recycling grants program supports a wide range of projects – from small grants to purchase waste containers to grants up to $50,000 for larger infrastructure changes. Applications for over $10,000 are due by October 15, while applications for $10,000 or less will be accepted through November. Learn more and apply.

Contaminated land cleanup grants

Grants are available for the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites through the Environmental Response Fund. Grant funding can be used for a variety of activities that provide community benefit, including assessment and cleanup of groundwater and contaminated soil, and evaluation and abatement of asbestos and lead-based paint. Priority is placed on locations that establish affordable and moderately priced housing, are intended as public or green spaces, and promote economic development. Applications for are due November 1. Learn more and apply.

Hennepin County hazardous waste inspectors help bring federal charges against fraudulent recycling business

The owners of Luminaire Environmental and Technologies, Inc. in Plymouth were recently charged in federal court for alleged conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and falsifying documents for misleading customers about their recycling practices. Hennepin County hazardous waste inspectors conducted the initial investigation into Luminaire and worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in their development of the case.

According to the indictment, Luminaire purported to be a recycling and waste disposal business that charged customers a significant fee to pick up fluorescent light ballasts containing hazardous polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and transport them to the Luminaire facility to be properly removed and disposed. Instead of properly disposing of the hazardous materials, Luminaire allegedly removed or obscured labels from the containers holding the PCB-ballasts and sold them as scrap metal to nearby metal recycling facilities.

The indictment states that, in doing so, the owners charged customers a significant fee for work that was never actually performed and obtained additional profits by fraudulently selling the PCB-ballasts to scrap yards. The owners also falsely certified shipping manifests to conceal the true destination and disposal of their customers’ PCB containing wastes. As a result of the scheme, Luminaire fraudulently collected more than one million in fees and additional profits.

Field days provide hands-on opportunities to learn about the environment

NatureFest 2017

Hennepin County partnered with the Three Rivers Park District to offer NatureFest, an environmental education field trip for fifth grade students at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in Brooklyn Park. Over the course of three days in September, about 450 students from seven nearby schools had opportunities to learn fishing with the National Park Service, get in the Mississippi River to discover the bugs, fish and other animals that live in the water, use sweep nets to see what insects live in the prairie, and learn actions they can take to protect water. Now in its third year, NatureFest focuses on providing outdoor, environmental education experiences to students who don’t typically get such opportunities.

County staff also helped with planning, teaching and evaluation at the 20th annual Children’s Water Festival. This year’s festival engaged 1,500 4th graders from throughout the metro area in learning how water connects everything and everyone on Earth. 

Redeem your Choose to Reuse coupons by the end of October

Choose to Reuse repair

Hennepin County has partnered with more than 50 local reuse retailers that rent, repair, resell, consign and exchange used goods to offer coupons valid through October 31. Choose to Reuse coupons are a great way to put together a Halloween costume, prepare your winter wardrobe, fix your gear before putting it away for the season, or get a head-start on holiday shopping. Learn how to get coupons.

In the News

Medicine collection program continues to expand

Medicine drop box

Seven years ago, Hennepin County made its first foray into medicine collection with a successful one-day event that brought in 676 pounds of unused and unwanted medicines.

In an effort to prevent abuse and accidental poisonings and protect water, the county’s Environment and Energy Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office have been partnering ever since to expand the program, which now includes 11 permanent drop boxes available throughout the county. Demand for the program remains high – the county has now collected more than 100,000 pounds of medicine since 2010. Read more in the Star Tribune.

More Zero Waste Challenge families share their stories

The first round of Hennepin County’s Zero Waste Challenge wrapped up in August, and many of the participating families have shared stories of their journeys to a lower-waste lifestyle.

Emily Green said her teenage daughter motivated the family to join the challenge, which became a great bonding experience for their family. See their story on WCCO.

William Harrison started diverting his food scraps and compostable paper to organics recycling because of the challenge, while Monica Strelnieks started making her own laundry soap and using a more environmental friendly cat litter. Read their stories in the Southwest Journal.

Zero Waste Challenge vermicomposting

Sheri Selton went from throwing almost everything in the trash to knowing what to recycle and doing two kinds of composting – maintaining a backyard compost bin and indoor worm composting bins. She now recycles or composts 60 percent of her waste. And Cecilia Rosales, who didn’t have access to organics recycling service because she lives in an apartment building, had a big impact when she inspired the City of St. Louis Park to start an organics recycling drop-off program. Read their stories in MinnPost.

Green Tip: Keep leaves out of streets and storm drains to protect nearby lakes and streams

Como Lake neighbors leaf raking

As the wind starts to shake the red and yellow leaves out of the trees this fall, you may soon be starting to rake those leaves out of your yard or garden or sweep them off your patio or deck. While you’ve got your rake or broom in hand, take a moment to clean the leaves out of the public spaces around your home like your street and storm sewer.

Rake leaves to protect our water

Keeping leaves out of streets and storm drains prevents excess nutrients like phosphorous from getting into the local lakes and streams that the storm sewers empty into. Phosphorous in the water feeds algae blooms in the warmer months, negatively impacting aquatic life including fish and vegetation.

Instead of polluting water, leaves can be pick up and composted in your backyard or brought to a compost site.

Make it a neighborhood effort

You could make leaf cleanup a community event by getting your neighbors involved like the Como Active Citizen Network has done in St. Paul. In the neighborhood near Como Lake, an informal group of 100 neighbors serve as leaf ambassadors to their blocks, leading the way in keeping leaves out of streets and storm sewers, stenciling storm drains to inform neighbors that the water flowing into them drains directly to nearby lakes and rivers, and posting yard signs to encourage other to take action to keep water clean. Read their story on Clean Water Minnesota.

Adopt a drain

Another way to get involved is to join an Adopt-a-Drain program through your city if they offer it. Minneapolis residents can sign up here. Several other cities are starting programs, so check with your city to see what they offer.

Contact us

612-348-3777

environment@hennepin.us

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