Waste prevention grants

Areas of focus include replacing disposables with reusables, preventing food waste, and innovative research and development projects that prevent waste. Up to $50,000 is available for each project.

Learn more:

• 2023 business waste prevention grant guidelines (PDF)  
• Business waste prevention grant flyer (PDF)

Bin and compostable bag grants

Free resources and assistance are available to small businesses and nonprofit organizations to start or improve recycling and organics recycling. Applicants may select up to $3,000 worth of containers and compostable bags from the county's product list. 

Learn more:

• 2023 business recycling bin and compostable bag grant guidelines (PDF) 
• Bin and compostable bag grant flyer (PDF)

For multifamily properties

Two types of grants are available to multifamily properties. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until November 13 or until all funding has been awarded, whichever comes first. Visit the multifamily recycling web page to learn more and apply.

Bin and compostable bag grants

Applicants may select up to $3,000 worth of bins and compostable bags from the county's product list to start or improve recycling and/or organics recycling.

Learn more:

• 2023 multifamily bin and compostable bag grant guidelines (PDF) 
• Multifamily bin and compostable bag grant flyer (PDF)

Recycling grants

Grants are available to improve recycling and reduce contamination, prevent waste, or start organics recycling for composting. Areas of focus can include organics hauling service, construction of waste enclosures or chutes, management of bulky waste, and waste prevention. Up to $20,000 is available for each project.

Learn more:

• 2023 multifamily recycling grant guidelines (PDF) 
• Multifamily recycling grant flyer (PDF)

For schools

Waste reduction and recycling grants

Grants are available for K-12 schools to start or improve programs to reduce waste and keep recycling and organic materials out of the trash.

Grant funding can be used for staff time and supplies including recycling and organics recycling containers, sorting stations, reusable foodservice ware, and bulk condiment dispensers.

Schools with at least 50% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch may apply for grants of up to $25,000 by Wednesday, March 15. All schools within the county may apply for grants of up to $15,000 beginning Monday, April 3. See the school waste reduction and recycling grant flyer (PDF) for more information.

School recycling grant program evaluation

The school recycling grant program was evaluated in 2022, resulting in some updates to the program and the eligible expenses. Changes include allowing funding for staff time, updating eligibility, and making organics program changes. See details about the grant program evaluation and changes.

Volunteer in your community and gain knowledge in waste prevention, recycling, and composting by becoming a Community Recycling Ambassador (formerly known as Master Recycler/Composter).

Community Recycling Ambassadors learn effective communication skills through a free, six-week course taught by industry experts and community leaders. They then commit to volunteering 30 hours putting their skills to work on projects and activities that minimize waste and provide waste reduction, recycling and composting education.

The spring 2023 class will be held every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. from February 15 through March 22. This is a hybrid class with the option to join virtually via Zoom or in-person at the Northeast Recreation Center in Minneapolis.

Apply for the spring class by Sunday, February 5.

The Plastic-Free Challenge starts tomorrow! This is your chance to commit to actions that help create a plastic-free world, and get support, motivation, and resources to help form new habits.

By taking steps to avoid packaging and reduce use of single-use plastics, you can help:

• Keep our lakes and rivers clean: Plastic waste and litter threatens the health of our environment, our iconic wildlife, and ourselves.
• Protect the health of your family and future generations: Plastics in our environment don’t go away. Instead, they break down into microplastics that are found almost everywhere with largely unknown health impacts.
• Address climate change: Most plastics are made from oil and gas – fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
• Create change in your community: Our actions have a greater impact when we share them with others, and the challenge will provide opportunities to connect with and encourage your family, friends, favorite businesses, and community to also take action.

The Hennepin County board recently approved contracts totaling $225,000 with two deconstruction organizations to make the practice more accessible and affordable. Minneapolis-based nonprofits Better Futures Minnesota and the Birch Group both use deconstruction to systematically dismantle building structures to maximize the recovery of materials for reuse and recycling.

While about 85% of materials in a typical demolition project could be salvaged and kept out of landfills, only about 30% of building materials are currently reused or recycled. The expansion of deconstruction service organizations in the Twin Cities illustrates growing interest in reusing and recycling building materials.

The county has partnered with Better Futures Minnesota since 2011 to support its mission of diverting materials from landfill and providing housing and employment support to recently incarcerated men. The Birch Group is woman and Black led organization established in September 2021 with the mission of normalizing deconstruction and providing opportunities for people with employment barriers.

Under these agreements, up to 40 buildings will be fully or partially deconstructed and markets for reusable and recyclable building materials will be created or expanded. By diverting building materials from the trash and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the materials we consume, these partnerships are also helping to support the county’s zero waste and climate action goals.

For more information, contact Olivia Cashman at olivia.cashman@hennepin.us.

This 1-hour class digs into construction and demolition waste and discusses alternatives to standard demolition like deconstruction and building material salvage. Learn about real-life solutions and how to connect with local salvage organizations.

Homeowners planning a renovation project, contractors, and anyone interested in creating a more sustainable future are welcome to attend. Real estate agents can get 1 hour of continuing education for attending. Learn more and register. 

Retailers in the Twin Cities selling vintage and used home furnishings have seen interest in their businesses grow and become increasingly mainstream. They say COVID-19, social media, and a younger generation of consumers who are environmentally conscious and looking to support the local economy are all driving this increased popularity. Hennepin County’s Choose to Reuse website includes retailer spotlights, tips for green remodeling and decorating, and a directory to help you find reuse retailers. Read more in the Star Tribune.

Don’t trash it, fix it! That’s the motto of Hennepin County Fix-It Clinics, the popular events where residents can bring in broken household goods and learn how to repair their items with the guidance of skilled volunteers. People bring in a variety of items to get fixed, including clothing, small appliances, lamps, electronics, home décor, toys, and more. Some of the most memorable items have sentimental value, and older items are often better made and very repairable.

The clinics are family-friendly, and Fix-It Clinic organizer Nancy Lo said it’s a great opportunity for kids to see the inside of common household items and explore how they are made. Clinics are held monthly. Learn more on Fox 9.

Minneapolis is commonly recognized as a national leader when it comes to organics recycling. More than half of residents have now opted into the program, and participation has steadily increased from the 32% of residents who signed up when the program started in 2016. The city is known for collecting good-quality material with low rates of items that cannot be composted. A recent article in Waste Dive highlights the city’s ongoing education and targeted outreach in areas with lower participation.

Minneapolis’ organics recycling program is an early example of a service that is now being expanded countywide. Starting in 2022, all cities in Hennepin County with a population of over 10,000 were required to offer organics recycling service to residents, while smaller communities must at least offer a drop-off option. The county also requires many foodservice businesses to have food waste recycling. Getting food waste out of the waste stream, increasing local capacity to process organic materials, and preventing food waste are key strategies toward meeting the county’s zero waste and climate action goals.

Recently, a local MPR photojournalist’s efforts to clear a storm drain of snow and ice to address a street flooding issue went viral, according to a feature on Kare11, helping to highlight the effort thousands of Minnesotans put in to keep our storm drains clear year-round.

Nearly 20,000 storm drains have been adopted throughout the state by more than 10,500 people – and about half of those participants and drains adopted are in Hennepin County! In 2022 alone, Adopt-a-Drain participants report collecting 125,000 pounds of debris, protecting our lakes, rivers, and streams from pollution.

While the busiest times for drain cleanup are spring and fall, plenty can be done in winter to keep our roads and sidewalks safe and protect local water resources.

Here are some tips:

• Manually clear drains of snow and ice with a shovel – never use salt! Keeping them clear reduces local flooding, minimize puddles, and prevents debris from flowing into lakes, rivers, and streams.
• Avoid or minimize salt use on sidewalks and driveways. Shovel first, select the right product for the right conditions, and consider using sand or gravel for traction instead.
• Cleanup leftover salt and sand so it can be reused later and to prevent it from washing into storm drains – remember that anything that goes into the storm drain flows directly into local bodies of water.