 In September, the county awarded 12 business waste prevention grants totaling over $165,000. Grant projects will take place in five cities.
The grants will:
- Help businesses reduce waste by purchasing reusable items like dishes, cups, and cleanroom gear.
- Support creative reuse projects that turn recycled plastics and salvaged goods into useful products.
- Teach people useful skills like sewing and mending so they can fix things instead of throwing them away.
- Make eco-friendly upgrades like fixing water systems or collecting pottery waste.
Review a full list of awarded grants and project details.
 Hennepin County offers free help to small businesses and nonprofits to improve recycling and start organics recycling programs. Participants get up to $3,000 worth of containers and compostable bags. Over 200 businesses and nonprofits have received bins and bags since 2020.
Start the application process by submitting a business recycling information online request form.
 Let It Go zero waste event. Photo courtesy of ZIRAN.
ZIRAN (Zone for Integrated Resources and Alliances with Nature) recently hosted the Let It Go Swap and Flea Market in partnership with MinnSea Academy and with funding from their Hennepin County zero waste grant. The zero-waste event, held outside Greenwood Elementary in Plymouth, brought together nearly 400 community members and 50 vendor families to celebrate sustainability, cultural exchange, and community connection.
At Let It Go 2025, families could donate gently used items, swap goods, and reduce waste. ZIRAN’s mission to foster harmony between people and nature was reflected in every detail, from the zero-waste setup to the multilingual signage. Read about the event on ZIRAN’s website or watch a highlight video (YouTube).
Hennepin County awarded six Community Zero Waste Grants totaling $450,000 in 2025. The grants expand funding and support for community-centric solutions in order to make progress toward a zero-waste future, eliminate racial disparities, and advance equity in the solid waste management system.
 Over four days at the beginning of October, we welcomed more than 250 5th graders from four schools to NatureFest, an environmental education field trip offered in partnership with Three Rivers Park District. The field trip is offered for free to 5th grade students and schools who don’t get many outdoor and environmental education learning opportunities. Everyone was excited to be back at the newly reopened Mississippi Gateway Regional Park in Brooklyn Park.
While at NatureFest, students put on boots and waded into the river with nets to collect insects and learn what they tell us about the river’s health. They learned how to fish, met some of Three Rivers’ live animal ambassadors, and learned how to collect scientific data like a wildlife biologist. And they played a game to experience what it takes to survive and explored the connections between plants and animals, including people, in an ecosystem.
Many teachers expressed what an incredible opportunity this was for their students, and several students shared that this was “the best field trip ever!”
Don’t let your pumpkins go to waste
 When you clean up from Halloween, don’t let your pumpkins go to waste! Compost them by putting them in your organics recycling cart or backyard compost bin. Check with your city before bringing them to an organics recycling drop-off – some may not be able to handle a large volume of pumpkins. You can also leave them out for the birds and squirrels to enjoy.
Pumpkins are great fuel for compost, which is used to improve soil. Before composting, remove all candles, candle wax, paint, and other decorations.
You can also check to see if your city is offering any special drop-off events. Here are a few upcoming events
Yard sign recycling drop off: November 12-26
 Hennepin County is offering special drop off for yard signs after the 2025 election season wrap ups. Check with the campaign or organization first to see if they are collecting yard signs for reuse.
If the yard sign can’t be reused, drop off for recycling yard signs will be available at five locations from November 12-26. The signs will then be brought to Choice Plastics, where they will be turned into pellets and then recycled into new material.
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Hennepin County drop-off facilities in Bloomington (1400 West 96th Street) and Brooklyn Park (8100 Jefferson Highway), open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill, required
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Minneapolis North Transfer Station (2710 Pacific Street North) Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, collection container will be outside the gate
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Minnetonka/Hopkins Recycling Center (11522 Minnetonka Blvd.), open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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St. Louis Park Recreation Outdoor Center (3700 Monterey Drive), open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., collection container will be inside the front entrance by the service counter
Find more information and guidelines on the Green Disposal Guide.
Thanksgiving holiday hours at the drop-off facilities
 The Hennepin County drop-off facilities, located in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park, will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27. The facilities will be open normal business hours on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29.
135 people opted to swap not shop for holiday decor at Hennepin County’s first Swap-It event
 Boo! Three ghosts nabbed at the Swap It: Holiday decor event
Things moved fast during Hennepin County’s first Swap-It event in October. Before the doors opened at the Brookdale Library, residents lined up carrying plastic totes of fall and winter holiday decor – the theme for this event.
The 135 attendees prevented 889 pounds of materials from ending up in the trash, with 750 pounds of items swapped and 139 pounds donated to event partner Arc’s Value Village. Watch more about the event on CCX Media.
Hennepin County is contracting with Reuse Minnesota to offer a series of Swap-It events in 2026. The next event will be on February 28, 2026, at the Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka with the theme of kitchen gadgets. Get details about future events, including materials accepted and volunteer opportunities.
Over 170,000 pounds of household hazardous waste collected at 2025 events
 Hennepin County hosted four household hazardous waste collection events in 2025. More than 3,200 people disposed of 170,886 pounds of hazardous waste - an average of 52 pounds collected per household. This included over 4,000 pounds of batteries, which is important because batteries thrown in the trash or recycling can cause fires.
The county offers collection events throughout the spring, summer, and fall to provide residents a convenient, local option for disposing of household hazardous waste. Event locations and dates for 2026 will be announced in the spring.
Household hazardous waste can be disposed of year-round at county drop-off facilities. Learn more about drop-off facilities and what they accept.
Good steward grant funds pollinator garden at Edgewater Park in Mound
 A recent planting of more than 1,600 native pollinator-friendly plants at Edgewater Park in Mound was made possible by a $5,250 Natural Resources Good Steward Grant. Grantee Tyler Pieper, the City of Mound, and community volunteers led the effort. In-kind contributions of soil preparation, donated materials, and volunteer time totaled more than twice the grant amount. This project will support local pollinators and improve natural habitat in the park. “There’s going to be a sort of seasonal fireworks display at Edgewater, with each row blooming at different times — one in spring, another in summer, and another in fall,” said Pieper. Read more in the Laker-Pioneer.
 Creatures like dragons, unicorns, and merpeople are used to being called myths. But recycling? That’s for real.
Your recyclables go on an epic journey after they leave your home. For America Recycles Day on November 15, Hennepin County is teaming up with six other metro counties to spread the word about this quest to become something new.
Milk jugs and detergent bottles are recycled in Paynesville, Minnesota and get turned into decking and landscaping products. Glass bottles become new food and beverage bottles and jars in Shakopee.
Your paper and cardboard? They get made into new boxes and packaging in Becker, Minnesota! And the metal cans you recycle go on a grand adventure – some become new cans while others become parts for cars and appliances.
Order free resources, including a recycling guide flyer (PDF) or magnet and container labels, to make sure you are recycling the right things in the right way.
Recycling exists! Learn more about the journey at RecyclingExists.com.
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