Work groups recommend actions to accelerate the county’s path to zero waste
Hennepin County is developing a Zero Waste Plan aimed at preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated.
Zero Waste Plan work groups comprised of community members and industry stakeholders recently wrapped up their work of refining and recommending actions for inclusion in the Zero Waste Plan. This concludes phase two of the plan development process. The work groups elevated more than 60 actions for inclusion in the plan.
The work groups formed around seven themes: equity and access, policy, neighborhood solutions, advancing circularity, systems and infrastructure, green streams, and blue streams.
More than 160 people registered to join a work group. Each work group had at least 20 members that included a balance of community members, staff from businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local government, and waste experts.
Learn more about the work group process and results.
 Next steps
The solid waste consultant is now analyzing the elevated actions to determine their technical and economic feasibility and environmental and social benefits. Part of this analysis will include recommending additional actions, if needed, to address any remaining gaps to ensure a comprehensive Zero Waste Plan.
The Zero Waste Plan development process and proposed actions will be presented to the county board in November. Broad public engagement to gather feedback on the recommended actions will occur in January and February 2023.
Information about ways to give feedback will be shared on beheardhennepin.org and through Zero Waste Plan email updates.
Hennepin County is recruiting residents to become Minnesota Water Stewards in 2023. Minnesota Water Stewards is a program that certifies and supports community leaders to prevent water pollution and educate community members to protect our waterways.
Learn what it takes to become a Water Steward by attending an information session. Information sessions are virtual and will run 45 minutes to an hour. Register for an upcoming session:
- Tuesday, November 1 at 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 15 at noon
- Tuesday, November 29 at 5 p.m.
You can submit an application after you attend an information session. Applications are due November 30.
For more information, contact Alex Van Loh at avanloh@freshwater.org.
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Artists encouraged to join Art for Water
Are you an artist with a strong connection to water? Inspire others to appreciate and protect the health of our waters by joining Art for Water.
Artists accepted into the program will attend monthly online classes from January to April 2023 to gain deeper knowledge of water science. Artists will then be given a $1,300 stipend to design and implement a public art project or performance that inspires behavior change related to water health.
Apply by November 30. For more information, contact Alex Van Loh at avanloh@freshwater.org or Christina Schmitt at christina.schmitt@hennepin.us.
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A confluence of motivations inspired Jodi Taitt to install a 465 square foot rain garden in her front yard this year. She’s been a longtime advocate for Meadow Lake in New Hope, promoting actions people can take to protect water quality. She wanted to capture stormwater at home to keep it out of Meadow Lake using a rain garden that would have curb appeal and interest neighbors. Plus, installing a garden that takes up much of her front yard means she’d have less turfgrass to mow, a task she hates.
Although it’s been dry this year, Taitt will be ready when the rain comes again. She took her project to the next level with help from a 2020 Hennepin County Good Steward Grant, the City of New Hope, Fortin Consulting, Metro Blooms, and other partners.
 A curb cut and filter box in the design allows street runoff to be redirected into Taitt’s rain garden, capturing and filtering an estimated 3,800 gallons of water during a typical 1-inch rainfall.
But perhaps the biggest benefit to Taitt has been talking about the rain garden’s benefits with neighbors. “We have walkers routinely come through here, and I’ve had more opportunities to talk about stormwater runoff, impervious surfaces, and what can we do just by planting these plants than I have as secretary of the lake association,” Taitt said.
Applications for Good Steward grants due November 15
Hennepin County Good Steward grants are open for applications through Tuesday, November 15.
Grants are ideal for smaller, community-based or single applicant projects, and grant funding may be used for environmental or engineering consulting fees, materials, supplies, labor and inspection fees. Typical projects include constructing rain gardens, stabilizing stream banks, restoring native vegetation, installing vegetated filter strips or implementing other best management projects.
Access application materials and submit applications through the Hennepin County Supplier Portal. Watch an online workshop (YouTube) for more information on the grant program, eligibility, and how to submit a grant application.
We are looking to change the name of the Master Recycler/Composter Program to make it more accessible and to better reflect the role these volunteers play in our community. And we need your ideas!
Master Recycler/Composters (MRCs) are trained on waste prevention, recycling, composting, and effective communication skills through a six-week course taught by industry experts and community leaders. Once training is complete, participants commit to volunteering 30 hours putting their skills to work on projects and activities that prevent waste, improve recycling, and provide community education and engagement.
Submit your ideas for renaming the program through our online form by November 13. A set of finalists will be chosen by staff and returned to the community to vote on the program name.
We all have a shared responsibility to do more to combat climate change, protect our local environment, and make our communities healthier. The county’s climate action website has articles with tips and resources for taking action at home and in your community, including the following new articles focused on climate education and engagement.
Join a community science project to investigate climate change impacts in your area
Volunteering your time to a community science project leads to better environmental data and improved understanding of environmental issues and climate change impacts.
Some community science projects focus on tracking changes in habitat, wildlife, and phenology - or seasonal changes - to improve our collective understanding of climate impacts. Others involve taking action to address local concerns about water pollution, habitat preservation, and climate change.
Find a community science project that is right for you and your family and get involved in giving back to your community.
Explaining the science of climate change
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When talking to others about climate change, you may wonder if it’s necessary to have a common, baseline understanding of how climate change works.
Grounding climate education, communication, and conversations in some basic climate science can help put people in a productive place to think about climate solutions. Metaphors and analogies have proven to be effective at helping people understand the complexities of climate science.
Learn how to effectively explain climate science using metaphors like the heat-trapping blanket, too much carbon, ocean as the climate’s heart, and climate as the foundations of our lives.
Teaching about climate change
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Teaching about climate change can seem complicated, but educators don’t need to generate curriculum themselves. Many educational resources already exist, including full curriculum programs, individual activities, downloadable games, and digital interactive tools.
Our list of climate curriculum and resources was recently updated. These resources are available to both formal and informal educators looking to incorporate lessons and activities on climate change and climate action into their classrooms and programs. Most of the resources are available at no cost. Explore the updated list of available resources.
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Hennepin County hosts the Natural Resource Interactive Map to make imagery, land cover information and classifications, and water resource data available to the public. The map allows users to review details related to specific parcels, print and share maps, and draw and measure.
The county is gathering feedback to inform map improvements. Complete a survey to provide input on the presentation of natural resource layers and suggest ways to improve user experience. The survey takes about three minutes to complete and will be open until November 30.
During the four household hazardous waste collection events Hennepin County hosted in 2022, more than 3,100 households safely disposed of 154,500 pounds of hazardous waste. This averages to 50 pounds of hazardous waste collected per participating household!
The county offers collection events throughout the spring, summer, and fall to provide residents a convenient, local option for disposing of household hazardous waste. Event locations and dates for 2023 will be announced in the spring. Hazardous waste can be disposed of year-round at county drop-off facilities.
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Fix-It Clinics
At a recent Fix-It Clinic, Jim and Beatrice Voss watched as Fix-It Clinic volunteer Dave Blackburn unscrewed their rattling fan and peered into its insides. With a few hundred hours of Fix-It Clinic volunteer work under his belt, Blackburn was up to the challenge of repairing it.
“It's about taking apart things, daring to fix them, and staring until you see something wrong," he said.
The free Fix-It Clinics are held monthly on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend to get help with their broken stuff and learn valuable repair skills. Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for:
- Saturday, November 12 at the Saint Louis Park Recreation Center
- Saturday, December 10 at the Eden Prairie Community Center
- Saturday, January 14 at Southdale Library in Edina
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Moving can be a stressful and busy time. Luckily, our recently updated reducing waste when you move booklet (PDF) contains tips and resources to help you reduce waste and stress while moving. The booklet contains details about the following steps to take while moving:
- Give yourself enough time to sort through your things, dividing them into “keep” and “get rid of” categories.
- For things you are getting rid of, donate or sell them if they are in good condition (see our donation opportunities brochure (PDF)) and property dispose of the rest (search the Green Disposal Guide to find options).
- When packing, try to find boxes and packing materials from your community by posting on online neighborhood or sharing sites, checking with local stores, and saving up boxes you get from deliveries. Use soft items like pillows, blankets, and towels as packing materials.
- Clearly label boxes with what room they will go in and an inventory of what’s packed inside. Keep fragile items safe by packing them in sturdy boxes and wrapping them with soft packing materials. Pack an “open first” box with essentials for the first few days to avoid having to buy duplicates.
- When unpacking, give away your moving boxes and supplies and properly dispose of any waste left behind. This includes bringing any hazardous waste to a drop-off facility or collection event.
- Make your own green cleaning products to keep everyone safe and save money.
- Find out how recycling and organics recycling works in your new community. Make recycling easy and convenient at home by placing recycling containers wherever you generate recycling, including the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and office. Order free recycling guides, magnets, and labels for your home.
- Give yourself time to settle into your new place to make the best decision about additional items you need. Visit local reuse retailers or check online sale or sharing sites to find new-to-you items for your home. Visit Choose to Reuse to find local reuse retailers.
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