A message from your CRA program coordinator, Kaitlin Keller
The Community Recycling Ambassador program began in 2011 with a class of 27 original students. The program has now grown to now include 879 trained ambassadors who have contributed more than 12,400 volunteering hours over the years!
After originating the program in Hennepin County in 2011 and teaching every class through 2019, Carolyn Collopy passed the torch on to me in 2020. It has since been my honor to be your program coordinator the past four and a half years. Together we have guided this program through COVID, launched virtual and hybrid classes, held eight trainings, and added over 300 of you into the CRA community!
And now, it is time once more for another transition. As of July 29, I will be moving to a new role here at the county. My last day as the CRA program coordinator is Friday, July 26. Until the CRA coordinator position is filled, please direct communications to Amy Maas (amy.maas@hennepin.us or 612-348-6848).
I appreciate you all so much, and am forever grateful for all the time, energy, and passion you give toward recycling and waste reduction work. Thank you for a wonderful four and a half years.
-Kaitlin
We are offering new nametags to reflect the updated program name of Community Recycling Ambassadors. To get your new or replacement nametag, please complete the nametag request form.
Nametags will be mailed throughout the year, with the last date to request a new nametag being August 31, 2024.
 Community Recycling Ambassadors summer refresher: Reduce wasted food 🍕🍎
Thank you to those who attended the 2024 summer refresher! We had a great turn out, and lots of good questions and discussion about food rescue and reducing wasted food.
If you were unable to attend, you can find the event recording, slides, and other resources available on the CRA webpage.
Watch the recording of the summer refresher. Enter the passcode: Refresh2024!
 Minimizing food waste is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce waste and fight climate change. The Stop Food Waste Challenge (stopfoodwaste.ecochallenge.org), offered by Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties, engages residents in learning easy, practical skills that will help them prevent wasted food, save money, provide for their families, and create a healthier environment.
This summer, recruit your workplace, neighborhood group or other organizations to be partners, or recruit friends and family and create your own team! Any time spent recruiting participants or serving as a team captain can be used as volunteer hours.
Don't miss out! The challenge starts on August 1.
Table at Minneapolis Farmer’s Markets
Multiple dates and locations
Connect with farmers market customers about how they can use their food to save money and the planet! One to two CRAs are needed to staff a table and provide resources about reducing wasted food. Training and materials provided.
There are several dates available to volunteer:
- Thursday, July 25 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Eastside Food Co-op in Minneapolis
- Sunday, July 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Market in the Valley Farmers Market in Golden Valley
- Sunday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to noon at Eastside Food Co-op in Minneapolis
- Saturday, August 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fulton Farmers Market
- Wednesday, September 4 from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at Nokomis Farmers Market
- Sunday, October 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kingfield Farmers Market
To sign up, contact Jenny Kedward at jenny.kedward@hennepin.us, 612-348-7546
 Support Heritage Park Neighborhood's National Night Out
Tuesday, August 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sumner Field Park, 901 North Aldrich Avenue, Minneapolis
Two to six CRAs are requested to help monitor waste stations and answer waste questions at Heritage Park Neighborhood's National Night Out event. Contact maggie.brown@usi-inc.org to sign up.
Zero Waste Educator at Mill City Farmers Market
Multiple dates through October
750 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis
Help educate Mill City Farmers Market (MCFM) visitors about compostable plastics, manage composting stations, and collect data for the Zero Waste program! Shifts are 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each Saturday of the outdoor season.
Volunteer perks include:
- Ability to use MCFM’s drop-off bin for home compost (exclusive for volunteers)
- Volunteer three or more times per year and receive $15 in tokens to spend at the market
- Volunteer six or more times per year and choose a complimentary MCFM t-shirt, tank top, canvas tote bag, or hat
Learn more about MCFM's Zero Waste program and sign up for a shift.
Support lending events with the NE Minneapolis Toy Library
Multiple dates through August
2510 Cleveland Street Northeast, Minneapolis
Support lending events with the Minneapolis Toy Library at their Northeast location. Volunteer tasks at lending events include returning toys to shelves and miscellaneous toy inventory tasks. Volunteers may be interacting with families and potentially using the point of sale system. Find an opportunity and sign up online.
Support the Minnesota State Fair Eco Experience
Thursday, August 22 through Monday, September 2
MN State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul
The MPCA Eco Experience team is excited to offer volunteer opportunities for Community Recycling Ambassadors at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair! Volunteers get a free ticket to the fair, volunteer hours, and a chance to educate a wide-ranging segment of the public on recycling in Minnesota. Although this takes place in St. Paul, this opportunity does count toward volunteer hours.
If you have volunteered at the Eco Experience before:
- Visit the Volunteer Information Center: https://www.volgistics.com/vicnet/57409/login
- Log in using your credentials from last time you volunteered.
- Sign up for the shift that works for you!
If you have not volunteered at the Eco Experience before:
- Fill out this application on the Volunteer Information Center: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/143073641
- When you submit your application, you will see this message: "Your application has been submitted. You will receive a confirmation at the email address provided with additional information about how to sign-up for shift(s). Remember your email address serves as your username, and password you submitted on the staff form is used for logging into the Volunteer Information Center."
- Check your email for instructions on how to sign up for a shift.
If you have trouble signing up, email Kelly Amoth, kelly.amoth@state.mn.us
Volunteer at the Minnesota State Fair Waste Audit
Saturday, August 24 from 1 to 5:45 p.m.
The State of Minnesota and Rotary International are teaming up with the Minnesota State Fair to conduct a State Fair-wide waste audit! The goal of this audit is to identify opportunities for the MN State Fair to reduce their waste and improve their recycling and reuse programs.
Teams will sort waste, visit bins, and observe and talk to vendors about their front and back of house operations. Results from this audit will be put into a report with recommendations for the MN State Fair to pursue for future events. Although this takes place in St. Paul, this opportunity does count toward volunteer hours.
There are three volunteer positions available:
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Waste sort team - 25 volunteers needed. Waste sort team members work together to separate waste collected in State Fair trash and recycling bins into separate bags of different categories. This information will be extremely helpful in making suggestions to the State Fair on what they can do to reduce waste and increase recycling. Bags and gloves are provided.
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Front of house waste audit team - 10 volunteers needed. Front of house waste audit volunteers will walk in teams of two and review the status of curbside collection bins for trash and recycling across the fairgrounds. These teams will also visit the sales counter at as many vendors as possible to identify and document products handed out to customers (such as cups, boats, etc.) and those additionally available (such as napkins, straws, silverware, sauce packets, etc.).
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Back of house waste audit team - 20 volunteers needed. Back of house waste audit volunteers will walk in teams of two and visit select vendors across the fairgrounds to identify and document products used and disposed of in back of house areas. This includes food scraps, packaging, cleaning products, and all disposal of waste products, such as trash, recyclables, and specialty items like used cooking oil. Conversations with vendors will be necessary.
Volunteers receive a free ticket to the MN State Fair. Sign up for a shift.
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