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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
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.
Also check out archived issues.
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In an effort to reduce waste during peak student move in and move out times, the University of Minnesota ReUse Program is piloting a new program called Pack & Give Back. In May, the ReUse Program is partnering with The Salvation Army to offer pick-up and drop-off services of reusable items both on and off campus. The items collected will be available at the U of M ReUse Program free store from May 28 to June 1. Items remaining will be stored and made available when the free store reopens in September during move in.
The Pack & Give Back program is a partnership of the University of Minnesota, Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis, Southeast Como Improvement Association and The Salvation Army. Follow Pack & Give Back on Facebook for updates.
For more information, email Carolyn Collopy or call 612-596-0993.
 The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is expanding single-sort recycling and organics collection to 39 additional recreation centers and other park board buildings. This expansion builds on the success of a pilot recycling and organics collection program implemented in seven recreation centers in 2012.
According to a waste audit conducted in January 2012, as much as 77 percent of all waste generated at the recreation centers could be recycled or composted. Hennepin County has provided signage and technical assistance to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for their recycling and organics program.
For more information, email Carolyn Collopy or call 612-596-0993.
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 Discover the living wonder of a wetland as a volunteer with the Hennepin County Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP). Adult volunteers work under the direction of a team leader and receive training on wetland monitoring, including plant and insect identification. They then wade through wetlands to collect and identify dragonflies, snails, cattails and more.
Teams will begin monitoring in May, and volunteer applications are still being accepted! We are especially looking for volunteers in western Hennepin County. The total time commitment is 20 to 40 hours throughout May, June and July. All equipment and training is provided - no science background or previous experience is needed.
For more information, email Mary Karius or call 612-596-9129.
Hennepin County has funding available to residents to cover some of the cost of sealing old wells that are no longer in use through the Well Sealing Cost Share Grant Program. The program can cover up to 75 percent of the well sealing cost, and wells are selected based on a review of the well and the potential to contaminate ground water resources.
For more information, email Greg Senst or call 612-348-4659.
 Funding, project support and free resources are available through the Green Partners Environmental Education Program for projects that empower residents to reduce waste, increase recycling, reduce toxicity, conserve energy and protect water quality. The Green Partners Program consists of three groups with varying levels of support and requirements. Project proposals are due May 17.
For more information, email Patience Caso or call at 612-348-9352.
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 Hennepin County made significant improvements to waste reduction and recycling programs in 2012, which helped to increase in the county’s recycling and composting rate to 43 percent. Last year, the county adopted the Solid Waste Management Master Plan that outlined the county’s strategies to meet ambitious new recycling and composting goals of 48 percent by 2015 and 65 percent by 2030.
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Significant progress has been made in the first year of implementing the plan, including:
In 2013, Hennepin County is focusing on expanding organics recycling collection and improving recycling at businesses. See the 2013 Solid Waste Management Master Plan Progress Report for more information.
For more information, email Paul Kroening or call 612-348-6358.
In the News
 The roll out of one-sort recycling, in which all recyclables are placed into one cart, resumed in Minneapolis on April 22, Earth Day. Once the 75,000 carts in the final phase of the roll out are delivered by the end of June, all residential recycling customers in Minneapolis will have one sort recycling. Before their cart arrives, residents will receive a letter, brochure and recycling guide with instructions on how one-sort recycling works and what to recycle. Hennepin County has partnered with Minneapolis in implementing the one-sort recycling program and developing promotional materials and signage. Learn more on WCCO, KARE 11 and MinnPost.
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On April 17, KARE 11 wrapped up their 11-week series called the Great Green Challenge in which they addressed a different aspect of going green each week. Watch all the episodes on KARE 11’s Great Green Challenge web page to learn how they started recycling more, reducing waste, composting and holding greener meetings.
 If your business or organization is ready to start or improve its recycling program, Hennepin County can help with free recycling labels and staff assistance. You can also visit RethinkRecycling.com to take a pledge to recycle more and learn the five steps to better business recycling.
For more information, email Andre Xiong or call 612-543-1316.
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Events
 Hennepin County residents can safely and properly dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes at upcoming community collection events.
Collection events will be held Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the following dates and locations:
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- May 2 – 4, City of Shorewood Public Works
- May 16 – 18, City of Minnetonka Public Works
- June 13 – 15, St. Louis Park Junior High School
At Fix-It Clinics, residents with broken household goods or clothing in need of repair get free, guided assistance on disassembling, troubleshooting and fixing their items. Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, May 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hennepin County Plymouth Library
- Saturday, June 15 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bloomington Center for the Arts
- Saturday, July 20 from noon to 4 p.m. at the North Commons Community Rec Center in Minneapolis
Mend-It Clinic
 A special Mend-It Clinic, in which volunteers with sewing skills will help repair or alter clothing and other soft goods, is scheduled for Saturday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Lake Library in Minneapolis.
Volunteers will be available to work on hems/seams, buttons, belt loops, rips, patches, zipper consults, stuffed toys, etc. Bring items including clothes, bags, linens, curtains or your own sewing project.
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Volunteer
 Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working, and general tinkering are needed to make this initiative a success. In a recent article in the Southwest Journal, some regular Fix-It Clinic volunteers say they enjoy the challenge of identifying and fixing the problems with an item as well as teaching others how to repair things.
For more information or to volunteer, email Nancy Lo or call 612-348-9195.
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The Recycling Association of Minnesota is selling rain barrels for $69 and compost bins for $55. Sale events are scheduled for May 10 in Plymouth and June 8 in Minneapolis.
Rain barrels and compost bins must be pre-ordered on the Recycling Association of Minnesota website.
Residents can learn about simple changes they can make to help keep our lakes, rivers and streams clean at a Metro Blooms Healthy Yards, Clean Water workshop. The workshop will cover a variety of green yard care practices, including proper use of fertilizers, disposal and reuse of yard waste, keeping sidewalks ice free, and capturing and reusing rain water onsite. Participants are also eligible for a low-cost onsite consultation and design drawing from a landscape design professional. See the schedule and register.
Green Tip
 With the fishing opener on May 11 and summer right around the corner, remember that we all play a role in protecting Minnesota’s waters. Take the following steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species:
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Remove any aquatic plants and animals from the propeller and underside of your boat, trailer and other equipment every time you move your boat from one body of water to another.
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Drain water from bilge, livewell, motor, ballast tanks and portable bait containers before leaving water accesses or shoreline property. Keep drain plug out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft.
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Rinse, spray or dry your boat and other water recreation equipment to kill or remove harmful species that were not visible at the boat launch. Some aquatic invasive species can survive more than two weeks out of water, so it is important to do one or more of these before transporting boats and equipment to another body of water.
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Compost unwanted bait or throw it in the trash.
See the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species page for more information.
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