Applications are being accepted for the 2019 round of school recycling grants. Applications for grants of up to $50,000 are due by Thursday, February 28.

Eligible recipients include both public and non-public K-12 schools in Hennepin County. Funding can be used to start or improve recycling, organics recycling, and waste reduction programs at schools.

The commercial sector generates more than half of the total waste in Hennepin County, and nearly two-thirds of the waste created at businesses and nonprofits is recyclable. A strong recycling program conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, can help your bottom line and demonstrates your organization’s commitment to sustainability and the community.

The county provides funding and assistance for businesses, institutions, and nonprofit organizations to prevent waste and start or improve recycling and organics recycling programs.

The first application due date of the year for larger, competitive grants of up to $50,000 is February 15. Applications for smaller grants primarily for recycling containers are accepted at any time. Learn more and apply.

The Hennepin County business recycling program now offers specific funding for multifamily housing properties, including apartment buildings, townhomes and condos. Apply anytime for grants of up to $10,000 primarily for recycling containers. The first application deadline of the year for larger projects over $10,000 are due by February 15. These grants are in addition to the staff assistance and educational resources the county already offers for multifamily recycling.

Grants for recycling containers are available to improve public access to recycling while away from home. Grants are available to public entities, including cities and park districts, to begin or expand recycling and organics recycling at parks, recreation centers, sports venues, events, public buildings, and along business districts. Applications are due by Thursday, February 21. Learn more and apply.

The county recently released a report from an observational study that evaluated efforts to redesign public accesses on lakes using research theories about motivating behavior change. The redesign prompts boaters to take proper actions to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

The research shows that redesigning accesses can be an effective tool to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Public accesses redesigned to emphasize aquatic invasive species prevention actions had half the violations rates while self-inspection rates increased by one-third.

The medicine drop box at Southdale library will be permanently removed on February 1. The box is being removed because the courts are moving out of the county facility, and federal law prohibits collection boxes like this one at locations where there is not a law enforcement presence.

There are more than 30 other medicine drop boxes available throughout the county. The four closest drop boxes to the Southdale location are:

More than one-third of our trash is organic materials like food, napkins, and paper towels that can be composted. This makes organics recycling an easy way to reduce your trash, protect the environment, and make a difference!

Robbinsdale residents with city recycling and garbage service can now sign up for organics recycling pick up. Organics recycling is an additional cost of $6 per month. The organics recycling program will begin in 2019 once enough people have signed up, so residents should spread the word and encourage friends and neighbors to sign up as well.

A new organics recycling drop-off site recently opened at St. Anthony City Hall. The drop off site is open 24/7. Learn more.

Learn about organics recycling options available throughout Hennepin County.

The buildings were extremely dilapidated and were starting to become unsound, which created a physical safety hazard to people potentially entering the structures. Environment and Energy worked to clean up the buildings prior to demolition. Removal of the buildings went smoothly, and the process included notifying and accommodating neighboring Edison High School and the community. The buildings' concrete floors were left in place to contain the contaminated soils. The site will continue to be managed by the Resident and Real Estate Services’ Forfeited Lands Unit until additional funding or a developer is found to conduct soil cleanup for site redevelopment.

Get household items fixed for free, learn valuable repair skills, and keep usable stuff out of the trash at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic.

At Fix-It Clinics, residents bring in small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more and receive free guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix their items.

Salty water is a growing problem in Minnesota that affects aquatic life and our drinking water, according to the latest blog post from Clean Water MN. Using salt on sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and roads can help improve safety, but too much salt can pollute our water and harm pets and wildlife.

“There’s no salt on the market that isn’t harmful to the environment,” says Kate Johnson, a Minnesota GreenCorps member with the City of Rogers. Melting snow and ice carries salt into our lakes, rivers and streams, permanently polluting our water.