Emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest that attacks and kills ash trees, is the biggest current threat to our tree canopy. There are over 1 million ash trees in Hennepin County, and 100 percent of them are threatened by the emerald ash borer. Most residents live within 15 miles of an infested ash tree, which means you should be taking steps now to determine if you have ash trees on your property and how you are going to manage them.

Our new decision guide for managing ash trees (PDF) outlines the following steps to help you determine if you have ash trees and decide how you are going to manage them:

Rain barrels capture water running off your roof and store it to use later in your garden, reducing the amount of water flowing into our storm sewers and helping you conserve water during drier times. This is a win for the environment and your garden. Rainwater capture and water reuse have become an increasingly important way to manage our water resources, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Rain barrels can be purchased at home and garden stores or you can make your own. There are also examples of larger rainwater capture systems throughout Minneapolis, including the cisterns at Target Field Station that capture rainwater that is reused inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, preventing runoff from flowing into the Mississippi River. Learn more in the Southwest Journal.

Food is being wasted at an alarming rate – 40% of all food in America is wasted. And consumers are the largest source of it, more than grocery stores and restaurants combined. But there's good news: we can do something about it. Let’s save the food!

Every Tuesday in July, visit Hennepin County Environment and Energy staff at the farmers market at the Hennepin County Government Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will have a kitchen display where you can learn how to store foods to make them last and other tips to fight food waste.

Our educational display aimed at promoting literacy and recycling is once again rotating through various Hennepin County libraries this summer and fall. The display follows the story of Recyclo, a superhero who teaches youth about the power of recycling all while fending off villains like the evil Lord Waste-A-Ton and Garbage Giant.

The display teaches youth that there is value in recycling. The glass, paper, metal, and plastics that you put in the recycling bin can be transformed into new products to be used again and again. The display has interactive elements for both pre-readers and learners in upper elementary grades, and kids can pick up their own copy of the Recyclo activity book (PDF).

More than one-third of our trash is organic materials such as food, paper towels, and napkins that could be composted. In July and August, we’ll be visiting farmers markets in cities that recently started offering organics recycling drop-off programs to help residents learn how organics recycling works. We’ll have free starter kits available to the first 50 households who sign up for the organics recycling drop-off.

Find us at the following farmers markets:

As a fitting start to National Pollinator Week in June, Misty Hoffman, an interior designer for Hennepin County and amateur bee keeper, relocated a swarm of honeybees that were starting to become a danger on the south plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center. Hoffman carefully worked to capture the queen bee in a hive box to ensure the rest of the hive would follow. The bees are now residing safely in an apiary in Wisconsin. Read about the rescue in the Star Tribune.

Bees and other pollinators are a cornerstone of healthy ecosystems and our food supply. Approximately one-third of the food we eat is directly or indirectly derived from honey bee pollination, according to the American Beekeeping Association. Bees and other pollinators are in serious decline from habitat loss and pesticide use in landscaping and agriculture.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suggests the following steps for protecting pollinators.