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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. I for one am enthusiastic to be a few weeks from the official beginning of spring; a fantastic time to consider new, more sustainable practices in our life to better our community and local environment.
In this newsletter:
- Opportunities until March 20 to comment on the county's draft Zero Waste Plan
- Information on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) coming to Hennepin County
- An update on the France Avenue Improvement plan
- Details on the superb TESTIFY exhibit at the Minneapolis Central Library; and
- The Fix-It Clinics updated schedule
As always, don't hesitate to reach out with questions, comments, or feedback.
My best,
Provide comments on the draft plan by March 20
The draft Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan (PDF) is available for the public to review and provide comments.
The plan outlines how we will accomplish our goals of creating a system where all materials are designed to become resources for others to use and preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated. The plan advances greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies outlined in the Climate Action Plan.
Provide comments by taking the survey, attending an online community meeting, or sharing your ideas or asking questions at BeHeardHennepin.org.
Next steps
We welcome your thoughts on the plan. Comments submitted by March 20 will be considered by the Zero Waste Plan team as the plan is finalized. In addition, a summary of the survey and verbatim comments will be shared with commissioners and back to the public when the final plan is shared with commissioners.
 NHANES mobile examination station
NHANES provides important national data on critical public health issues
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the most comprehensive survey of the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population, is coming to Hennepin County.
Each year, only 5,000 residents nationwide are chosen to participate in NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This year, Hennepin County is one of 15 counties selected to be part of this initiative.
Residents will have an invitation-only opportunity to participate in NHANES. Addresses are randomly sampled within the county. By selecting participants this way NHANES data can more accurately represent the U.S. population.
“NHANES serves as the nation’s ‘health check-up’ by going into communities throughout the country to collect health information,” said Brian C. Moyer, PhD, director of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). “The survey provides a wealth of important data about many of the major health and nutritional issues affecting the country.”
Since 1960, NHANES data has helped address critical health concerns, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Public health officials, legislators, and physicians use this information to develop health policies, design health programs, and expand the nation’s health knowledge.
"The NHANES survey provides uniquely valuable data to public health,” said Hennepin County Public Health Director Susan Palchick, PhD, MPH. “Survey findings are used by health departments nationwide, including ours. I urge you to participate if you are contacted, so that our community is well represented."
Beginning February 9, randomly selected households in the county will be sent one or more letters inviting them to be part of NHANES by completing a brief online questionnaire. Those eligible will be contacted by an NHANES representative to set up a telephone health interview. This will be followed by a health examination. Health examinations will take place at NHANES mobile examination center starting March 16.
While no direct medical care is provided, a report on physical findings is given to each participant, along with an explanation of those findings from survey medical staff. All information collected in the survey is kept confidential and individual privacy is protected by law.
Additional information
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a national survey that monitors the health and nutritional status of adults and children across the United States conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). WWW.CDC.GOV/NHANES
County Road 17, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and Edina
Hennepin County will be repaving France Avenue (County Road 17) between Excelsior Boulevard (County Road 3) in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park and 44th Street in Minneapolis and Edina. This project, which is anticipated to begin as weather permits, will extend the life of the roadway and improve ride quality for all people.
The county is also collaborating with Metro Transit on France Avenue between 44th Street and 50th Street West (County Road 21) in Edina and Minneapolis in advance of bus rapid transit.
As part of Hennepin County’s repaving project on France Avenue (County Road 17) between Excelsior Boulevard and 44th Street, striping options were considered to meet the current and future needs of people using this corridor. County staff completed a comprehensive review to evaluate all needs and constraints along France Avenue.
As a result of the county’s evaluation and the feedback from public engagement, county staff recommend striping revisions along France Avenue:
- Narrower vehicle lanes to enhance safety
- Painted medians
- Ground-in durable striping
Although on-road bike lanes were considered as an option, width constraints pose a challenge to a continuous bike facility along the corridor and on-road bike lanes are not in the final design. In addition, current use and upcoming transit enhancements with Metro Transit’s upcoming E Line Arterial Bus Rapid Transit project led to prioritizing accessibility and mobility for people walking and taking transit along the corridor.
Learn more here.
The groundbreaking TESTIFY exhibit returned to Hennepin County Library - Minneapolis Central on February 1, 2023. The Diane and Alan Page collection is home to Americana from slavery to today.
Located in the skyway-level Cargill Gallery, the exhibit will be on display through March 29 accompanied by a series of in-person and online programs and events.
Events included a curated storytelling slam, and recurring Tuesday evening events based on social justice and creating change. For more information and a list of events visit the Hennepin County Library website.
We offer financial and technical assistance to entities throughout the county to reduce waste and improve recycling. These grants help entities comply with recycling requirements and do their part to contribute to our climate action and zero waste goals. Our grants for businesses, organizations, schools, and multifamily properties all launched at the beginning of the year.
For businesses and nonprofit organizations
Two types of grants are available for businesses and nonprofit organizations. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until November 13 or until all funding has been awarded, whichever comes first. Visit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.
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:
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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:
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.
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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:
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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.
Learn more:
For schools
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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.
Successful organics recycling program in Minneapolis serves as national and local leader
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.
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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.
Visit Reuse Minnesota at upcoming home remodeling shows
Stop by the Reuse Minnesota booth at the upcoming home remodeling shows in Minneapolis to learn about building material reuse and, grant funding available from Hennepin County and watch hands-on repair demonstrations.
March 1 – 5 at the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
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Bring your small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more to this February’s Fix-It Clinic, co-hosted by Hennepin County and ASI! Guests will receive free guided assistance from handy volunteers to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix their items. All sorts of things from antique radios to zippers have been fixed at previous clinics, which also teach repair skills, build community connections, and reduce waste.
No pre-registration required. Items must be carry-in-sized. Bring any parts and supplies that might be helpful.
This event is family friendly! See www.hennepin.us/fixitclinic for more info and for dates and locations for other Fix-It Clinics around the county.
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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