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Dear Neighbors and Friends,
As we move into August, our community and country move closer to two immensely consequential and individual civic engagement responsibilities: completing the census, and making a vote plan.
Readers will see below that census takers will begin canvassing in Hennepin County on August 11; please note some options for if and how you'd like to be engaged around the 2020 census.
As for a vote plan, Minnesotans can sign up on the MN Secretary of State’s website to have absentee ballots for the August primary and November general elections mailed to you directly. This only takes a few minutes – I urge you to do it right now, if you are able.
While Hennepin County elections staff are doing everything they can to make election day as safe as possible, there are still inherent risks to voting in-person during this pandemic. Requesting an absentee ballot is an easy way to protect yourself, your neighbors, and our volunteer election judges, many of whom are elderly and at higher risk from COVID-19 than the general population.
The county board continues to respond to circumstances in our community with the welfare of all residents in mind. Below are the previous week's allocations to promote housing stability, expand shelter options, and support small businesses hard hit by the pandemic. The pace of county news has leveled, so this newsletter will be published every two weeks going forward.
Be well,
The county board approved $1.2 million in CARES Act funding to establish an affordable housing stabilization fund.
The funding will provide properties, owners, and tenants with outreach, education, and assistance to prevent evictions and mortgage foreclosures. This includes the creation of a virtual tenant resource navigation tool, individualized housing resource navigation, and support for tenants in Housing Court.
The county board approved $3.5 million in CARES Act funding to provide low-barrier emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Funds will be used to support an emergency shelter at 2012 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis, which the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) is acquiring and rehabilitating. The emergency shelter will follow CDC guidance to add sheltering capacity to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It will also address the overrepresentation of Native Americans among people impacted by COVID-19.
This investment is in collaboration with the City of Minneapolis and the Walz/Flanagan administration, and we are grateful for their partnership.
Read Star Tribune coverage here.
Read my July 9 comprehensive recap of Hennepin County housing and shelter efforts to-date here.
Hennepin County is announcing the availability of $10 million for a new application round of emergency funding for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Eligible small businesses with between one and 50 employees may apply for grants of up to $15,000 to support emergency relief and costs associated with reopening under public health guidelines.
Applications will be accepted Thursday, July 30 at noon through Wednesday, August 12 at noon.
Priority will be given to those businesses that have received $5,000 or less in COVID-19 related emergency relief funding from local, county, and state sources.
Eligible businesses that have received a prior Hennepin County Small Business Relief Fund grant can apply for additional funds up to a combined total of $15,000 for eligible expenses. The minimum grant amount is $2,500.
Learn more here.
 On August 11, enumerators (also known as census takers) will begin going to households to help those who have not yet completed the census.
If you do not want someone to come to your door, you can still complete the census:
- Online: my2020census.gov
- Toll-free: 1-844-330-2020
- Text questions to 662020
Census takers will continue visiting households until October 31 and individuals can also continue to complete the census on their own until this date.
Let’s make sure our community is seen and heard. Be counted now, so we have the resources we need for education, healthcare, housing and other vital services for the next 10 years.
To help keep voters safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 of 125 polling places in Minneapolis are moving for the 2020 primary and general election. The changes will help protect people living in residential facilities and provide more space to keep voters a safe distance from elections staff and each other.
Registered voters will receive a postcard in the mail indicating their new polling locations. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s polling place finder can also provide voters their new polling places. These locations will be the same for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections. All voters choosing to vote in person on Election Day should check the online polling place finder or call 311 to verify their polling place.
Though polling locations will be open for the primary and general elections, the City encourages voting early by mail to minimize direct contact with others.
Read more.
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Reducing waste and taking action on climate change
Hennepin County’s annual Recycling Progress Report (PDF) provides an update on our efforts to meet our goals of recycling 75% of waste and sending no waste to landfills by 2030.
In 2019, county residents and businesses discarded about 1.45 million tons of solid waste. This includes everything put into recycling, organics recycling, and trash. That is about a 3% increase over 2018, or about 40,000 tons more.
The county’s recycling rate, which includes conventional recycling and organics recycling, was 49%, about the same as in 2018. The remaining waste was managed as trash, with 22% going to waste-to-energy facilities and 29% to landfills. A greater proportion of garbage was sent to landfills in 2019 due to the closure of the Great River Energy Elk River Resource Recovery Project at the beginning of the year.
The report reflects on 50 years of waste management in Hennepin County – from open dumps and burn barrels in the 1970s to the development of recycling, organics recycling, hazardous waste management, and waste prevention programs throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Looking ahead to the future of environmental protection in Hennepin County, core services developed over the past 50 years to reduce and responsibly manage waste will continue. We are also focusing on making progress on our current priorities, which include taking action on climate change, expanding organics recycling, reducing food waste, and striving for zero waste.
Read a summary of the 2019 successes and download the report.
For more information, contact Ben Knudson at ben.knudson@hennepin.us or 612-596-1176.
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Hennepin County’s first online Zero Waste Challenge wrapped up in June. During the challenge, 427 participants took more than 2,300 actions. Participants reported composting over 1,000 pounds of waste, avoiding 1,400 pounds of waste through waste reduction actions, and avoiding over 600 plastic items.
The top 10 most common actions that participants committed to were:
- Decluttering
- Stopping wish-cycling
- Reducing junk mail
- Completing a waste audit
- Recycling paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass
- Planting a garden
- Recycling plastic bags
- Finding local recycling drop-off centers
- Making green cleaners
- Recycling more organics
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The next online challenge will focus specifically on reducing food waste.
Food waste is a big problem in the U.S. – about 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain. Food waste costs a lot. The average family of four spends $1,800 on food they’ll never eat and just end up throwing away. Wasted food also wastes a ton of resources, including all of the water and energy that goes into growing and transporting it. Wasted food has such a big impact that reducing the amount of food we waste is one of the most important things we can do to address climate change.
Surprisingly, consumers are the biggest contributor to the food waste problem. But that’s also good news. We have the power to significantly reduce the amount of food that goes to waste and save ourselves money by making changes at the grocery store and right at home in our kitchens.
The next online challenge will provide helpful resources and effective strategies to reduce food waste. Registration will open at the end of August.
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Composting is a great way to reduce your waste and add nutrients back to your soil. Learn how to make compost in your backyard! This webinar will cover how to set up and maintain a compost pile.
There are two opportunities to participate:
- Wednesday, August 19 from noon to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, September 10 from 5 to 6 p.m.
The is no charge to sign up, but space is limited and registration is required. Register here.
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With an increase in online shopping while people are spending more time at home, staff at Hennepin County drop-off facilities and recycling centers throughout the Twin Cities have seen an increase in packaging waste. Many of the materials that come with online orders can be recycled, but there are some steps you need to take to make sure they get recycled properly.
Follow the tips below, and see the Green Disposal Guide for recycling and disposal information for common household items.
Cardboard
Cardboard boxes can be recycled in your recycling at home. Empty and flatten boxes before putting them in the recycling. If you have a lot of boxes, check with your hauler to see if they can be placed alongside your recycling cart. Cardboard is also accepted at Hennepin County drop-off facilities.
Plastic film, air pillows, bubble wrap
Plastic film, air pillows, and bubble wrap can be recycled in drop-off bins for plastic bags and film. They are not accepted in your recycling at home. Plastic bags and film must be clean and dry, and plastic air pillows should be deflated. Find locations and check what can be recycled at plasticfilmrecycling.org. Some locations are not currently accepting plastic bags and film for recycling, so be sure to check before bringing in your items. Plastic bags and film are also accepted at Hennepin County drop-off facilities.
Paper used for packing
Paper used for packing can be put in your recycling at home. Ideally, the paper would be folded or flattened instead of balled up. This will help ensure it is properly sorted at recycling sorting facilities.
StyrofoamTM
StyrofoamTM is not recyclable. Reuse StyrofoamTM for future packaging and mailing needs or put it in the trash.
Shipping envelopes
Shipping envelopes that are made entirely of plastic can be recycled at locations listed on plasticfilmrecycling.org. They are not accepted at Hennepin County drop-off facilities. Envelopes made of a mix of materials, like paper and bubble wrap, should go in the trash.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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