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ABOUT GREENNOTES
GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
Please take a few moments to read our stories. Share your feedback and ideas for protecting the environment. Take the Recycle Half Challenge
Community POWER grants awarded
Hands-on environmental education project video
Public hearing on Hennepin County Ordinance Seven
In the News:
- Signage prompts boaters to check for invasive species
- Properly dispose of unwanted items
- Cuts to environmental funds concerns developers
- Interchange Project will use waste heat from HERC
- Inner-city youth introduced to fishing
Events:
- Household hazardous waste collection events
- Organics pilot at Uptown Art Fair
Green Tip: Go green during National Night Out
Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.
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Take the Great Hennepin County Recycle Half Challenge
 Could you recycle half of all your waste? Hennepin County residents, businesses and organizations create enough waste each year to fill Target Field 11 times, but only 38 percent of that waste is recycled.
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 Help us reach our goal of recycling half of all the waste produced in Hennepin County by 2015. To help you get to half, we’ve made recycling easier - you can now recycle more of what you buy, including plastic cups and containers (like cottage cheese containers, yogurt cups and party cups) as well as milk, juice and broth cartons.
Ready to take the challenge? Visit www.RecycleHalf.com to sign up for the Great Hennepin County Recycle Half Challenge. You can also watch a "recycling intervention," test your recycling knowledge, challenge your friends, and learn more about how to reduce, reuse and recycle at home, work and play. |
Grants awarded for waste and toxicity reduction education projects
Community POWER (Partners on Waste Education and Reduction) grants have been awarded to 20 organizations to support projects that reduce waste and toxicity. Community POWER is a program of the six-county Twin Cities metro area Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB). The following organizations will be implementing projects in Hennepin County:
- The New American Academy will implement a project to reduce the amount of toxic products used in East African homes in the Eden Prairie school district and surrounding southwest communities.
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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis will educate staff and congregation members about reducing, reusing and recycling at church, home and in their community.
Hands-on environmental education at Patrick Henry High School
Public hearing on Hennepin County Ordinance Number Seven – Hazardous Waste Management
The amendments incorporate two hazardous waste rule packages adopted by the state since the last ordinance amendment in 2006. The amendments also include administrative changes providing for regulatory relief comparable to that allowed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency under their program management decisions, updated facility financial assurance standards, and clarifications of existing requirements and standards.
In the News
Signage prompts boaters to check for aquatic invasive species
 Hennepin County has installed signage and made infrastructure changes at the county-operated North Arm Public Boat Access on Lake Minnetonka as part of a pilot project to encourage boaters to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Changes implemented include installing signage with clear messages and flashing lights, providing a space to pull over and check boats, and providing a space to compost weeds and unwanted bait. Learn more on KSTP, MPR, and the Star Tribune.
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Properly dispose of unwanted appliances, mattresses and other household items
Illegally dumping unwanted appliances, mattresses, garbage and other household items poses a threat to public safety and the environment. Appliances, electronics, mattresses, scrap metal and many other household items are accepted at Hennepin County Drop-off Facilities. Disposal options for items not accepted at the drop-off facilities, like garbage, furniture and concrete, can be found by searching the A to Z How-to-Get-Rid-of-It Guide. Learn more on Channel 12.
Cuts to environmental cleanup funds concerns developers
The Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund provides grants for environmental assessment and cleanup of sites that pose a threat to human health or the environment, provide community benefit from the cleanup and are unlikely to be funded by other cleanup grant programs. The state statute that provides the authority to collect the county mortgage registry and deed tax that funds this program expires on January 1, 2013, and the Minnesota State Legislature did not approve legislation to extend the expiration date. The discontinuation of the program’s funding source has caused some developers to reconsider the feasibility of certain projects. Learn more on KSTP and Channel 12.
The Interchange Project will use waste heat from the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center for snow melt
Groundbreaking for the Interchange Project, a transportation hub and community gathering place located next to Target Field, was held on July 9. The Interchange will connect the Hiawatha and Central Corridor light rain lines, the Northstar Commuter Rail, numerous bus lines, and walking and biking trails. Plans for the Interchange Project include installing a snowmelt system in which warm glycol will be pumped through tubing installed into the concrete on the plaza to melt snow in winter. The snowmelt system will use heat from the adjacent Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) that would otherwise go to the cooling towers. Read more in MinnPost.
Inner-city youth introduced to fishing
 On July 12, Environmental Services staff mentored inner-city youth participating in the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation’s Hooked on Fishing event. The event, a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, introduces at-risk youth to fishing as an example of a healthy and safe activity. The participants, many of whom had never caught a fish, spent the day leaning how to fish and touring Lake Minnetonka. Learn more on WCCO. |
Events
Household hazardous waste collection events
 Hennepin County is providing residents with convenient, local disposal options for their household hazardous wastes at upcoming collection events. Collection events are held Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
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- August 16 – 18, City of Minneapolis, Pillsbury School parking lot
- September 13 – 15, City of Shorewood Public Works
Materials accepted include household, lawn and garden products, electronics, mercury-containing items and auto wastes.
Organics recycling pilot at the Uptown Art Fair
Green Tip
Go green during National Night Out
National Night Out is a great opportunity to showcase how reducing waste and recycling at events can help protect the environment. Take the following steps to make your National Night Out and other community events low- or no-waste:
- Provide recycling bins. Be sure to clearly label recycling and trash bins – download and print our event recycling signage.
- Collect food waste and food-soiled paper for composting. After the event, bring the organics to the Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility or coordinate with neighbors who have backyard compost bins.
- Serve beverages in reusable or recyclable containers and use reusable tableware and silverware. If you don’t have enough, ask your neighbors to bring their own.
- Encourage attendees to use local food for potluck items, such as from a farmer's market or their own backyard garden. If you’re providing food, look for local food and avoid wasteful packaging.
- Provide condiments in bulk.
- Use decorations that can be reused. Recycle any banners or signs at the end of the day.
- Reduce paper use by communicating information about your event electronically as much as possible.
- Communicate your efforts to go green to event attendees, and provide information about what they can do. Order environmental factsheets at www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform.
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