Create meals, not waste: Join the Stop Food Waste Challenge
We love food, which leaves us wondering: why do we waste so much of it? About 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain. That’s like leaving the grocery store with five bags of food and dropping two of them in the parking lot. It’s hard to believe, but we do it every day.
Take action with the Stop Food Waste Challenge
Making simple changes and working to adopt new habits can have a big impact. Creating and following a meal plan, keeping track of and using up the food you buy, understanding date labels, and learning how to properly store and process food can all significantly reduce the amount of food waste you generate.
Hennepin County’s online Stop Food Waste Challenge will help you learn more about food waste, commit to taking action, and provide you support and resources along the way.
Taking steps to reduce food waste is one of the most effective things you can do to reduce the amount of waste you generate and address climate change.
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Sign up now
You can sign up for the challenge now. Once you sign up and create your profile, you can browse the categories and actions, check off the actions you already take, and select up to five one-time actions and five daily actions to make progress on during the four-week challenge. The challenge has more than 40 actions to choose from in five categories.
The challenge will go from September 14 through October 11. Once the challenge starts, log in to report what actions you take, see the impact of your actions, and connect with others.
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Spread the word
Encourage others to join by downloading the media kit (DOCX), which includes a sample newsletter article, email message, social media post, and graphics.
Adopt a lower waste lifestyle: applications being accepted for the Zero Waste Challenge
Ever wonder how you create so much trash at home? Many people are interested in taking steps to prevent waste and recycle more but aren’t sure where to start. Joining Hennepin County’s Zero Waste Challenge is a great way to learn more and get hands-on help.
The county is looking for 50 households to participate in the eight-month-long challenge that takes an in-depth look at the goods we buy and waste we create to uncover opportunities to recycle more and reduce waste.
Participating households:
- Receive personalized coaching and support from a county waste reduction and recycling specialist to assess the waste generated in their homes, develop a customized waste-reduction plan, and make low-waste lifestyle changes.
- Attend a series of virtual educational workshops and discussions on waste-reduction topics such as low-waste shopping, preventing food waste, and backyard composting.
- Receive bi-weekly waste reduction tips and get access to supplies and educational materials.
- Connect with other households striving to live lower waste lifestyles.
The challenge will run from mid-September 2020 to mid-May 2021. Interested households should complete the online application by Monday, September 7.
Spread the word
Download a flyer (PDF) or media kit (DOCX) with a sample newsletter article, social media posts, graphics, and photos.
Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. While we look forward to holding in-person Fix-It Clinics again when possible, one-on-one virtual repair sessions with Fix-It Clinic volunteers are now available.
To get assistance, complete the virtual repair assistance intake form. The form gathers basic information about the item in need of repair. Once your form has been reviewed, you will be connected with a volunteer via email, and then you will set up a time to meet virtually.
You will need a laptop, tablet or phone and Internet connection that allows for video conferencing. You will likely need some common tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, and a flashlight. It's helpful to have a second person in your household helping you aim the camera and assisting with disassembly and repairs.
For more information, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us.
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Hennepin County is gearing up for the fifth annual countywide bike and pedestrian count, taking place Tuesday, September 8 through Thursday, September 10. The count helps the county better understand how our streets, sidewalks and trails serve people walking, biking and rolling.
The county’s goal this year is to recruit enough volunteers to cover more than 30 sites in 19 suburban locations. Volunteers will count the people they see walking, biking or rolling from 4 to 6 p.m. on any of the three dates of the count. Learn more and sign up online. Contact Emily Kettell at emily.kettell@hennepin.us with any questions.
Tips for recycling and disposing of packaging waste
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.
If you are working with audiences on recycling and waste issues, share the tips below to help them deal with the current influx of packaging waste. See the Green Disposal Guide for additional 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.
Water + Us survey offers insights into American’s connection to and concern about water
The Water Main, affiliated with American Public Media, recently published Water + Us report with findings of the first nationally representative survey designed to measure Americans’ knowledge, connection, concern, and action related to water issues. The report offers helpful insights for anyone educating about water issues and engaging audiences in taking action to protect water.
Some key findings:
- Everybody cares about water, which hasn’t always been true.
- Americans don’t have deep knowledge of water issues, and the knowledge they do have varies greatly. People generally know more about the natural environment and hydrological cycle than water topics related to infrastructure and human activities.
- Virtually everyone said they feel some sort of connection to water. Many feel connected to a specific lake, river, or ocean, and most people spend time recreating on or near water. Most people feel it’s important for children to learn how to protect water, and most adults said they were interested in learning more about water and water issues.
- People share high levels of concern for water, including both immediate concerns about affordability and drinking water safety and future concerns about the nation’s water resources.
- The majority of people are taking some action to protect water in their daily lives, but the reported actions don’t match the scale of our water issues. People report taking actions focused on their individual impact on water, but they aren’t as engaged in collective or community-scale action.
Read the full Water + Us report (PDF) to learn more about these key findings.
Downloadable handouts and educational materials now available
Minnesota environmental educator's relief fund
Recognizing that many positions in environmental education are seasonal, part-time or temporary and may be some of the first positions cut or furloughed, the Minnesota Naturalists’ Association (MNA) has created a fundraiser to give grants to educators who are struggling to make ends meet. Learn more about this effort and apply for a grant if you are in need.
Farm-to-school grants available for schools and food vendors
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering mini-grants to schools and food vendors to respond to the disruptions COVID-19 has caused in traditional farm-to-school markets.
Grants of up to $5,000 are available to schools to begin, diversify, or increase their purchases from Minnesota producers. Grants of up to $5,000 are also available to food vendors to purchase equipment to increase their ability to make food sales to schools in Minnesota. Applications are due by August 28, 2020. Funding will be prioritized to support Minnesota’s emerging farmers, including Black, Indigenous, farmers of color, beginning farmers, women, and veterans.
Grants available to help food shelves and meal programs purchase refrigerators and freezers
Hennepin County has funding available through the business recycling grant program to help food shelves and meal programs buy freezers and refrigerators. The grant funding must be used to increase capacity or help capture food that would otherwise go to waste. Grants of up to $10,000 are available, and applications will be accepted through late November.
Refrigerators and freezers must be Energy Star-certified. Grant funding cannot be used to manage the volume of food that is already coming in or to replace existing equipment. See page 5 of the business recycling grant guidelines for more details.
Staff are available to help develop grant proposals and provide technical assistance. Contact Nany Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us for assistance.
Minnesota Association for Environmental Education seeking nominations for environmental education awards
Do you know an outstanding environmental educator, naturalist, or classroom teacher who is bringing nature learning to diverse audiences? Or a passionate student who has been working on promoting environmental stewardship? Have you witnessed hard work and perseverance as educators adapt to distance learning?
The Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE) is seeking nominations for their annual Environmental Education Awards Program. Learn more and submit your nominations by August 31.
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Minnesota Association for Environmental Education virtual conference: engage with nature - connecting with citizen science
Focus on Minnesota-based science during MAEE’s annual conference! The conference will feature a virtual keynote from Carrol Henderson and six citizen science projects to choose from, including Monarch Conservation, Carp Tracking, Pesky Plant Tracker, Citizen Water Monitoring, iNaturalist, and Worm Rangers. Keynote presenter Carrol Henderson will take us on a dive into the history of local citizen science, as well as give us some perspective from his personal experience as a renowned hero for Minnesota wildlife.
How will it work
First, registrants will pick one or two projects during online registration. Next, they will get trained in their project by a facilitator via online videos, factsheets and more. Then, it’s time to go out in the field and partake in some citizen science!
Through early October, participants will be connected with each other and the facilitator via Slack. The final virtual meet up will be on Saturday, October 10. The half-day, online conference will be an opportunity for people to learn, network, and connect with one another over local science. Learn more and register.
North American Association for Environmental Education virtual conference: scholarships available
49th Annual Conference: October 13 through 16
17th Annual Research Symposium: October 8 through 10
In today's challenging climate, the focus of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) virtual 2020 conference and research symposium is positive change. The conference will explore the ways in which environmental education informs and inspires and how it can advance equity and inclusion, build human capacity, influence attitudes, and galvanize actions to ensure equal access to nature and create healthier communities and a healthier environment for all.
This year, NAAEE is offering special scholarships to anyone who needs financial help, no questions asked. During your registration process, you can request a scholarship that will bring your registration fee down to $150, $80, or $25 – whatever you can afford. Learn more and register.
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