Reduce waste, support local businesses, and win prizes
Join fellow treasure hunters and DIY enthusiasts this May to shop at local salvage retailers and win prizes. Participate in Hennepin County’s Salvage Crawl and get to know 12 home improvement thrift stores in the Twin Cities. See the list of retailers and interactive map.
Salvage retailers offer a wide variety of building materials, hardware, tools, and other home improvement items. From old growth lumber to vintage light fixtures and everything in between, you’ll be sure to find both inspiration and quality materials for your next project.
To participate, visit retailers between May 1 and 31 and check in using the QR code on the Hennepin County Salvage Crawl poster near the checkout counter.
Kick off the Salvage Crawl with the Reuse Ride
Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 Get ready to ride bikes to explore local salvage retailers. The ride is free, but we ask participants to RSVP. Get more event details, bike and shopping route, and RSVP.
Not a biker? No worries! Feel free to meet us at the salvage retailers using your own transportation. Everyone is welcome!
Arbor Month is celebrated throughout May to recognize the many benefits that trees provide. Trees improve our air and water, make ourselves and our communities healthier, reduce the effects of extreme heat, and provide wildlife habitat.
 Community forestry 2024 accomplishments
Hennepin County has a climate-action goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030, and we’re well on our way! About 470,500 trees have been planted so far by county foresters, cities, park districts, partners, and residents.
Hennepin County foresters were busy throughout 2024. Highlights of their work include:
- Planted nearly 2,000 gravel bed trees and shrubs and over 30,000 seedlings throughout the county.
- Planted 72 different species of trees to maximize tree canopy diversity and resiliency.
- Removed 115 infested or diseased trees on private property for homeowners with low incomes.
- Held a tree sale where residents purchased over 8,000 seedlings.
- Funded 17 Healthy Tree Canopy grants totaling about $434,000. Grants were awarded to 13 cities, 2 affordable housing providers, and 10 schools and nonprofits. More than 920 trees will be planted or treated through these grant projects.
Learn more in the 2024 community forestry annual report (PDF)
Celebrate Arbor Month
We need everyone’s help to meet our tree planting goal and maximize the benefits trees provide.
See our Arbor Day resources to get our recommended trees list, information on emerald ash borer and managing ash trees, and tree planting and care instructions.
You probably waste more food than you think — and it's costing you
 Nearly 40% of all food in America is wasted – much of it coming from our homes. Although many of us are careful about what we spend at the grocery store, we may not be aware of how much the food we waste costs us. According to new data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an average family of four spends about $3,000 a year – or $50 a week – on food that goes to waste.
Hennepin County’s food waste prevention specialist, Jenny Kedward, was recently featured on MPR’s Marketplace sharing the county’s Trash or Cash campaign and tips for wasting less food. Read the story for tips and resources from nationwide experts.
2025 household hazardous waste collection events
 Hennepin County is holding four community 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 safety guidelines and the list of acceptable materials.
Fix-It Clinics
 Get help with your broken stuff and learn valuable repair skills at free Fix-It Clinics.
Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more.
Clinics are held on the second weekend of most months from noon to 4 p.m., with the last items accepted at 3:30 p.m. Events are first come, first served; no pre-registration required.
Upcoming clinics are scheduled for:
- Saturday, May 10 at Westminster Church in Minneapolis
- Saturday, June 14 at Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka
- Saturday, July 12 at St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis
- Saturday, August 9 at Eden Prairie Community Center
About one-third of what we throw away is organic materials like food, napkins, paper towels, and certified compostable products that can be put to better use as compost.
When you participate in organics recycling, your food scraps and compostable products become part of the organics recycling cycle that creates valuable compost that improves soils, reduces erosion, and decreases the need for chemical fertilizers.
The organics recycling cycle
- You separate your food scraps, coffee grounds, paper towels, and certified compostable products into a certified compostable bag in your home.
- You put your bagged organics into your organics recycling cart at home or at a drop-off site.
- Your hauler picks up your organics recycling and brings it to a commercial composting facility. There, the organics are mixed with yard waste to get the right mix of carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. The materials are then laid out in piles, aerated to introduce oxygen, and left to compost and cure. In just a few months, bacteria have worked to heat up the pile and break down materials to create nutrient-rich compost.
- Compost is used in gardens, at farms, and in landscaping projects to add nutrients to the soil to help plants grow.
Learn about organics recycling programs and what's accepted
For International Compost Awareness Week coming up May 4 – 10, learn about organics recycling programs available and how you can start participating. If you’re already signed up, brush up on what is accepted to make sure you’re composting the right materials.
|
