 Get to know building material reuse retailers in the Twin Cities by participating in Hennepin County’s Salvage Crawl throughout May. Sometimes referred to as home improvement thrift stores, salvage retailers offer a wide variety of building materials, hardware, tools, and other home improvement items. From old growth lumber to vintage light fixtures to cabinets and everything in between, you’ll be sure to find both inspiration and quality materials for your next project.
How to participate
Visit as many of the 13 participating salvage retailers as you can between May 1 and 31 to be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Look for Hennepin County’s Salvage Crawl poster near the checkout counter at each retail location and scan the QR code to enter your information for a chance to win. The more retailers you visit, the more entries you will get into the drawing for prizes.
Hennepin County has healthy tree canopy grants available for tree plantings, ash tree removals, tree inventories, outreach, and more. Grants are available to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 9. Learn more and apply.
For more information, feedback on your project ideas, or help with your application, contact the Hennepin County forestry team at trees@hennepin.us.
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Funding and support available for habitat restoration and enhancement projects
Healthy forests, prairies, wetlands, bogs, and lakes provide habitat for diverse plant and wildlife species and offer many opportunities for recreation and connection to nature. If you’re interested in protecting land, water, habitat, or open space on property you own, Hennepin County may be able to help.
Hennepin County offers funding and assistance to improve habitat on permanently protected lands. Both private landowners and partner organizations are eligible to receive funding. Learn more about the process and how to get started.
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Hennepin County contaminated lands staff recently helped judge and present awards at the Minnesota Brownfields ReScape Awards, which recognize projects that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and exemplary results in revitalizing formerly contaminated land.
Mino-Bimaazdiziwin, which means the “The Good Life” in Ojibwe, was the large project winner in the community impact category. The project in Minneapolis created 110 affordable housing units and a wellness clinic and is home to the Red Lake Nation Embassy.
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Several other projects in Hennepin County were nominated for awards, including:
- Every Third Saturday, a veterans assistance services center
- The Market at Malcolm Yards, a food hall that preserved historic structures
- Nordeast Business Center, which supports 60 jobs
- The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center that offers housing, retail, office, and worship space
- Timber and Tie Apartments with 125 affordable housing units
- Viridium Apartments and North Loop Park, which includes 139 housing units and public park
Some of these projects received funding from the Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund or other contamination assessment grants. Learn more about funding the county provides to clean up contaminated properties.
Going plastic-free for a week
Star Tribune columnist Laura Yuen recently attempted to go plastic-free for a week with the support of Hennepin County recycling and waste reduction specialists.
Because plastics are so prevalent in our lives – from the phones we use to the chairs we sit in to the clothes we wear – Yuen quickly realized she needed to focus on avoiding single-use and new plastics. Yuen experienced some successes and setbacks and discovered that reducing plastic use required planning, strategy, communication, and a new mindset.
Read how her week went in the Star Tribune. Learn about support and challenges the county offers to help all residents go plastic-free and live a lower waste lifestyle.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Hennepin Energy Recover Center during Doors Open Minneapolis
Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open Saturday only)
 Join us for an educational Doors Open experience! The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) operates 24/7 to convert Minneapolis’ trash into energy, which provides electricity to 25,000 homes and heat to Target Field and downtown buildings. Learn how HERC works and discover actions you can take to reduce waste. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our facility and the waste-to-energy process. Learn more about Doors Open.
Closed-toe shoes are required (no sandals) to participate in the portion of the tour to see the waste pit and claw that feeds trash into the furnace.
Composting workshops
Get started with composting by joining a free online webinar or in-person workshop with a composting and recycling specialist from Hennepin County. Learn how to set up a compost pile, what materials you can compost, how to get the mix right, and more.
There is no charge for the workshops, but registration is required.
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Webinars:
- Wednesday, May 10 from noon to 1 p.m. Register.
- Thursday, May 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register.
In-person workshop:
- Saturday, May 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Powderhorn Park Rec Center in Minneapolis. Register.
2023 household hazardous waste collection events
Hennepin County is holding four community collection events for county residents to dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes safely and properly in 2023.
Events will take place Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:
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- May 12 and 13 at Minnetonka Public Works
- June 23 and 24 at Pillsbury Elementary School in Minneapolis
- August 11 and 12 at Henry High School in Minneapolis
- September 22 and 23 at the Hennepin County Public Works Orono Shop
Before you go, check health and safety guidelines and the list of acceptable materials.
Arbor Day events
Arbor Day on Friday, April 28 is a day to plant and celebrate trees. Many Arbor Day events are being held throughout Hennepin County over the next few weekends, including events in Crystal, Dayton, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, and St. Louis Park. See our list and map of upcoming events.
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 Trees and forests provide many benefits, including improving our air and water, making ourselves and our communities healthier, providing shade and reducing the urban heat island effect, providing wildlife habitat, saving energy, and increasing property values. Trees also play an important role in fighting climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Care for trees
The older the tree, the more benefits it provides. That’s why it’s important to take steps to keep mature trees safe and healthy.
Be aware of root zones when installing or expanding patios, decks, sidewalks, and driveways. Consider the location of mature trees when planning construction projects.
Learn if you have ash trees on your property and make a plan for how you are going to manage them from the threat of emerald ash borer. A healthy, mature ash tree may be worth saving, and treatment with an insecticide is an option to preserve ash trees of high value. May and June are the best time to treat ash trees.
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Planting trees for a changing climate
Minnesota’s changing climate is affecting what trees will thrive in our area. Planting a diversity of tree species will make our tree canopy less vulnerable to pests and disease and our communities more resilient to climate change.
If you’re thinking about planting a tree now, it’s important to plant trees that will thrive in the future. Be sure to plant the right tree for your planting location. Consider the mature height and spread of a tree when making your choice.
Consider trees of the following species for planting in Hennepin County:
- Bur oak
- Dutch elm resistant elm varieties
- Ginkgo
- Horse chestnut
- Kentucky coffeetree
- Northern catalpa
- Ohio buckeye
- Shagbark hickory
- Swamp white oak
- Turkish hazelnut
- Yellowwood
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