Dispose of medicines at free drop boxes
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters
9401 83rd Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 Fourth Ave. S. in downtown Minneapolis
Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol
4141 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Medicines from households, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements and pet medicines, are accepted. Proper disposal of unused medicines is important to prevent abuse or poisoning and protect the environment. Learn more at www.hennepin.us/medicine.
Funding and project support available through the Green Partners Environmental Education Program
Funding, project support and free resources are available through the Green Partners Environmental Education Program for organizations to implement projects that empower residents to reduce waste, increase recycling, reduce toxicity, conserve energy and protect water quality.
The program offers flexible options for support and funding, as well as networking opportunities with other community organizations. Eligible organizations include youth groups, congregations, neighborhood groups, multicultural organizations, private and public schools and park districts.
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Applications being accepted for the spring 2012 Master Recycler/Composter course
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Become an advocate for the 3Rs in your community by becoming a Hennepin County Master Recycler/Composter. Participants receive training on waste prevention, recycling and composting through an extensive six-week course that features industry experts and field trips.
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Participants then commit to volunteer 30 hours on projects that reduce waste generation and increase public awareness of recycling and composting opportunities. Registration is open for the spring course, which will be held on Wednesday evenings, April 4 to May 9 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Louis Park City Hall. Optional field trips will take place on Friday, April 13 and Friday, April 27.
Hennepin County participating in national battery recycling pilot program
In January, Hennepin County entered into an agreement with the Corporation for Battery Recycling, a non-profit comprised of the five major primary battery manufacturers in the North American market (Duracell, Energizer, Kodak, Rayovac and Panasonic), to participate in a battery recycling program.
The Corporation for Battery Recycling is working with Hennepin County and five other foundation programs, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to develop an environmentally positive and economically sustainable non-rechargeable battery recycling program. Through the agreement, the Corporation for Battery Recycling is covering the costs of recycling non-rechargeable batteries collected through the county’s battery collection program. Data gathered from the foundation programs will be used to craft the model for the launch of a national program, scheduled for 2013.
Any type of household batteries – rechargeable and non-rechargeable – can be brought to Hennepin County battery drop-off locations for recycling. In 2011, 112 tons of batteries were collected at Hennepin County locations.
In the News
Changes to be implemented at public boat access on Lake Minnetonka to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species
To slow the spread of aquatic invasive species, Hennepin County will be installing educational signage developed using proven techniques to motivate behavior change this spring at the county-operated North Arm Public Boat Access on Lake Minnetonka. A University of Minnesota researcher, working with the county through the Hennepin-University Partnership, monitored behavior and interviewed boaters at the boat launch to understand the barriers and benefits to removing weeds and draining water from boats. Signs, prompts and other physical changes to the public access are planned to remind boaters of behaviors they should take and provide a location for them to do so. Read more in the Waconia Sun Patriot.
Events
Environmental Services staff available to give presentations or attend events for Earth Day
Is your organization planning an event for Earth Day? Staff from Environmental Services is available on Earth Day, or at any other time of the year, to give presentations, staff tables or share information on a wide variety of environmental topics. To request Environmental Services staff attend your event, email Anita Urvina Davis or call 612-348-6848.
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Green your events – technical assistance and recycling containers available
You can also add recycling to your event through Hennepin County’s Portable Recycling Container Loan Program. Up to 40 containers for recycling collection and up to 20 containers for organics collection are available.
Learn how to reduce waste and recycle more at upcoming classes at Hennepin County Libraries
Learn how you can help the environment by reducing waste and recycling more in an upcoming series offered at the Hennepin County Libraries. The classes will be taught by Hennepin County Master Recycler/Composter volunteers. Registration is required – register at the Hennepin County Library website.
Recycling at Home
What can and can’t be recycled? Where can you find new homes for your unwanted stuff?
- March 27, 7 to 8 p.m. at Linden Hills Library
- March 31, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Sumner Library. Class is bilingual, offered in English and Somali.
How to Hold Your Own Green Celebrations
Learn how you can greatly reduce the amount of waste created from entertaining with a little planning ahead.
- April 2, 7 to 8 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
- April 19, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at East Lake Library
The One-Can-a-Month Challenge
Learn how to reduce your household garbage down to one curbside-can a month.
- April 10, 7 to 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park Library
Rain barrels and compost bins for sale through the Recycling Association of Minnesota
The Recycling Association of Minnesota is selling rain barrels for $74 and compost bins for $59. Rain barrels and compost bins must be pre-ordered on the Recycling Association of Minnesota website. A pick-up event must be selected when ordering. Pick-up events are scheduled throughout the Twin Cities, including Coon Rapids, Elk River, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Rosemount and St. Paul.
Rain garden workshops
Learn how to help improve the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams by installing a rain garden, which use native plants to help manage storm water runoff. The workshops, offered by Metro Blooms, include an introduction to rain gardens and stormwater runoff management, and hands-on design assistance. Numerous workshops are scheduled throughout the county in March, April and May.
2012 Sustainable Communities Conference
Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24, 2012
Learn hands-on project ideas for energy conservation, community gardening, biking and walking, water quality, rain gardens, urban forestry, localized food production, the Minneapolis carbon reduction plan and sustaining local businesses. Hennepin County is sponsoring this event - stop by our table to pick up information about our programs!
Green Tip
Find disposal information for household items in the A to Z How-to-Get-Rid-of-It Guide
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Looking to get rid of your old electronics, appliances or mattresses? Have leftover paint or household, lawn and garden products?
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The A to Z Guide is an online, searchable directory that provides disposal options on a wide variety of common household materials. The guide will tell you if the item is accepted at our drop-off facilities, if the item is safe to place in the trash or accepted in curbside recycling, or if there are additional disposal options. |
