 Hennepin County is proud to support Food Waste Prevention Week April 7 – 13, joining more than 700 partners across the country to crank up the volume on food waste.
Nearly 40% of all food in the U.S. goes uneaten. In Hennepin County, more than 2 pounds of edible food goes to waste per person each week. This costs a significant amount of money. The average family of four spends more than $2,500 a year on food we don’t eat.
Wasted food prevention target
 We’re already implementing programs and policies to support food waste prevention in many sectors, from raising awareness and motivating action among residents, to providing grants for food waste prevention grants to schools, businesses, and food security organizations, to working with businesses to comply with food recycling requirements, which can include food donation.
But we’re working to do more: we’ve established a target to cut the amount of discarded edible food in the county in half and are finalizing our Wasted Food Prevention Plan to provide a roadmap for reaching that goal.
Stop wasting food and money
Although wasted food happens across the supply chain, most food waste happens in our homes. But this is also good news, because it means everyone can have a big impact.
Follow along with Hennepin Environment on Instagram, Facebook, or X for tips throughout Food Waste Prevention week, and visit TrashorCash.org to see how to save food and money, get tips from local chefs, download helpful resources, and sign up for Fridge Check Friday email reminders.
Earth Day and Arbor Day are both coming up in April, and there are many events planned locally to celebrate our community and environment.
 Contribute to the Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge
The Mississippi River, and all the lakes, rivers, and streams in Hennepin County, make this a great place to live. We have been challenged by our downstream neighbor, Goodhue County, to participate in the Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge. Help us showcase the commitment to keeping the environment healthy by picking up litter in celebration of Earth Day.
Learn and connect at community events
Beyond participating in a cleanup, you can celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day by helping plant trees, joining a bike ride, planting for pollinators, learning about local sustainability resources, participating in a clothing swap, going on a nature hike, and much more! Explore all the opportunities on our Earth Day and Arbor Day events map.
Applications for the Green Partners program are being accepted now
 Hennepin County provides funding through Green Partners to organizations to educate, engage and motivate residents to become environmental stewards. Eligible organizations include schools and school districts, early childhood family education programs, nonprofit organizations, community groups, congregations, and park districts.
Three types of projects are awarded:
Environmental action projects
Accepting applications, due by 3 p.m. on April 3
Environmental Action projects must primarily engage adults. These projects focus on motivating adults to make environmental changes at home and on-the-go, focusing on one or two environmentally friendly actions.
Youth environmental education projects
Accepting applications, due by 3 p.m. on April 17
Youth environmental education projects engage youth in elementary and middle school in environmental education and outdoor nature experiences.
Youth environmental leadership projects
Accepting application in early April, due by 3 p.m. on May 1
Youth environmental leadership projects encourage environmental leadership and/or exposure to green jobs for young people in high school up to age 24.
Information meetings
An information meeting for youth environmental education and leadership projects will be held Tuesday, April 8 from 4 to 5 p.m. on Zoom. Register to attend.
Watch a recording (YouTube) of the information session for adult environmental action projects.
Contact us
For more information, contact the Green Partners program manager at greenpartners@hennepin.us or 612-596-6856.
Environmental Response Fund (ERF) grants are available for the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites, or brownfields. Grants are available to cities, local public entities including economic development agencies and housing and redevelopment authorities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.
Applications are being accepted until May 1. Prior to applying, contact brownfields@hennepin.us to discuss your project and funding needs.
 Vista 44 Apartments in Hopkins received Environmental Response Fund grants in fall 2020 and spring 2022 to clean up contaminated soil and install a soil gas vapor mitigation system. This formerly vacant property is now a residential apartment building that provides supportive housing for families.
Environmental Response Fund grants awarded in February
Hennepin County awarded seven grants totaling $2.1 million in February. The grants will fund asbestos abatement, vapor mitigation, and contaminated soil assessment and cleanup at properties in Medina and Minneapolis as well as continue support for a program to provide lead-based paint abatement in lower income households countywide.
Take our survey to help us prioritize natural resources for protection
 Do you have a favorite place to connect with nature in Hennepin County? Take our survey to help us prioritize areas for natural resource preservation and conservation. This survey is being conducted in partnership with Hennepin County, the University of Minnesota, and Three Rivers Park District.
You can submit one place per survey response, but we invite you to take the survey as many times as you want. We know that there are many special places in the county that are worth protecting.
2025 household hazardous waste collection events
 Hennepin County is holding four hazardous waste collection events in 2025 to give residents more convenient, local disposal options for unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes.
Events will take place Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:
- May 2 and 3 at the City of Minneapolis Equipment Storage building
- June 27 and 28 at St. Louis Park Middle School
- August 8 and 9 at South High School in Minneapolis
- September 19 and 20 at the Hennepin County Public Works Orono Shop
Before you go, check the website for safety guidelines and the list of acceptable materials.
Donate used building materials on April 19 in Orono
Saturday, April 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orono Public Works Facility
Open to residents of Orono, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, and Spring Park
 Have used or unwanted building materials and tools laying around? Don’t throw them out — donate! Donate usable building materials to Better Futures Minnesota, a local nonprofit that specializes in the reuse and resale of building materials, during the Orono spring cleanup event.
All materials will be vetted for quality and potential for resale. Please review guidelines before bringing your items. Items not accepted by Better Futures can be disposed of at the Orono event for applicable charges.
Rural conservation and funding open house
Tuesday, April 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Maple Grove Community Center
Pasture management presentation at 4:30 p.m.
 Get your questions about conservation or managing your farm and livestock answered at an upcoming open house with Hennepin County conservation staff. Dr. Kishona Martinson, University of Minnesota equine extension specialist, will also give a presentation about pasture management.
You can also sign up for the free soil health testing program and get free native seed packets and basswood tree seedlings. Pizza will be provided.
RSVP for the rural conservation and funding open house.
 While you’re sorting through your paper files for taxes or spring cleaning, be good to the environment by thinking before you shred paper.
Shredded paper should never go in your recycling cart because the small pieces cannot be processed by the machinery at recycling sorting facilities.
Decrease the amount of paper you need to shred by:
- Opting for paperless billing when it is offered. Get tips here: Hold the Mail (PDF)
- Cut out portions of paper with sensitive information on it, shred that, and recycle the rest of the paper.
- Cover information such as your name, address, and phone number with a black marker, then recycle.
Shredding events and services
After taking steps to reduce paper shredding, you may still have some confidential paper to shred. Bring paper to a shredding event or service or place it in the trash.
Community shredding events and services generate enough material to sell shredded paper directly to businesses who recycle it into new products, skipping the recycling sorting facility where shredded paper causes issues.
Shred Right offers shredding events, often in partnership with community organizations to support their efforts. More than 10 events are planned throughout the county in April and May.
Find an event near you and additional shredding services on the Green Disposal Guide.
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