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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.
Remember that applications for the following funding programs are due on November 1:
Green Partners environmental education grants
Business recycling grants
Natural resources protection grants
Environmental Response Fund cleanup grants
Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.
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 Interested in how a development project may impact a wetland, prairie or floodplain? Wondering if there are important natural resources on your property? Landowners and local governments can now access Hennepin County’s natural resources information through the Natural Resources Interactive Map. In this map, every acre in the county is classified in terms of land cover and includes detailed information on vegetative cover, natural resource corridors, soils, wetlands, floodplains, geology, topography and the ecological significance of an area.
Landowners are encouraged to use the interactive map to learn more about their property, and local governments should find the map helpful in making everyday land use decisions and in long-term planning efforts.
For more information, email Dave Thill or call 612-348-0124.
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 Hennepin County and the Three Rivers Park District are working on revamping the Hennepin County Bike Plan, which will direct the future of biking in the county. The county is gathering feedback on the vision and priorities for biking in the county, preferences for bikeway types and barriers to biking.
You can provide feedback by completing the Hennepin County Bike Plan survey or by making comments on routes or destinations using the bike plan interactive map.
For more information, email Rose Ryan or call 612-348-3009.
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Learn how to solve environmental problems in your neighborhood, volunteer to educate community members about protecting water, and connect with a local network of energized leaders by becoming a Master Water Steward. Participants receive intensive training on how to protect lakes and streams from pollution, and then implement water-protection projects such as rain gardens, rain barrels and permeable paver systems.
The Master Water Stewards program is a partnership between the Freshwater Society and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District with funding provided by the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment. Hennepin County is supporting the program through a Green Partners Environmental Education Grant.
The 2014 training course is available at no charge and is limited to 30 residents of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Applications are due by December 15.
For more information, attend an upcoming information session, email Peggy Knapp or call 763-219-1252.
In the News
 Hennepin County is offering grants of up to $50,000 to help businesses and non-profits organizations start or improve recycling and organics recycling programs. The commercial sector generates more than half of the total waste in Hennepin County, and nearly two-thirds of the waste created at businesses and non-profits is recyclable. Learn more on Kare 11.
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 Surly Brewing celebrated the groundbreaking of its new destination brewery, restaurant, beer garden and event center in Minneapolis on October 29. The project has involved extensive environmental cleanup, including a $450,000 grant from the Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund and a $500,000 loan from the county-administered Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund to clean up petroleum-contaminated soil. The project also received cleanup funding from the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The redevelopment project will result in an estimated tax-base increase of $200,000 per year and 122 new jobs. Read more in the Star Tribune.
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 The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency held a National Drug Takeback Day on Saturday, October 26 to encourage the proper disposal of unwanted medicines, which helps prevent poisoning and abuse and protect the environment. Hennepin County has six medicine disposal drop boxes. Learn more on KSTP.
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WCCO’s Good Question recently addressed egg carton recycling – Styrofoam egg cartons cannot be recycled, plastic egg cartons can, and paper egg cartons can be composted. Find more answers to frequently asked recycling questions on RecycleHalf.com.
Events
Learn how citizens and local governments can access Clean Water, Land and Legacy Fund money, hear about Legacy Fund projects and results, and discuss how citizen groups can influence policy at the Metro Water Summit. The summit, hosted by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and the Freshwater Society, is on November 6 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins.
 Kick off the holiday season at Do It Green! Minnesota’s Green Gifts Fair on Saturday, November 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
The event will feature more than 75 local, eco-friendly artists and businesses, an eco-fashion show, holiday food samples, kids’ activities, and demos. You can also pick up your copy of the free 2014 Do It Green! Directory. Be sure to stop by the Hennepin County Environmental Services table to learn about greening your celebrations.
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Come to an upcoming Fix-It Clinic to get free, guided assistance on disassembling, troubleshooting and fixing you broken household items or clothing in need of repair. Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations: |
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- Sunday, November 10 from noon - 4 p.m. at the Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield
- Saturday, December 14 from noon - 4 p.m. at the St. Louis Park Rec Center
- Saturday, January 11, 2014, from noon - 4 p.m. at the Bakken Museum in Minneapolis
Mend-It Clinic
 Get help repairing or altering your clothing and other soft goods from volunteers with sewing skills at the Mend-It Clinic on Saturday, January 25, 2014, from noon - 3 p.m. at the Northeast Library in Minneapolis.
Volunteers will be available to work on hems/seams, buttons, belt loops, rips, patches, zipper consults, stuffed toys and more. Bring items including clothes, bags, linens, curtains or your own sewing project.
For more information or to volunteer, email Nancy Lo or call 612-348-9195.
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Project updates and results
Led by a Master Recycler/Composter volunteer and with the help of a Community POWER grant, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis increased their waste diversion from 25 percent in April 2012 to 75 percent in July 2013. The congregation also reduced monthly waste generation by about two tons!
To prepare for their project, Mount Olivet staff and volunteers visited an elementary school to learn about their trash sorting, met with St. Joan of Arc Church to discuss their waste diversion efforts and established baseline trash diversion numbers. They achieved their waste diversion goals by implementing waste reduction strategies, introducing organics recycling, purchasing new recycling bins, and educating staff, volunteers and congregation members. See their project results presentation to learn more.
For more information, email Patience Caso or call 612-348-9352.
 In 2012, El Colegio Charter School in south Minneapolis converted a vacant lot on their property into a community recreation space with a soccer field, basketball court, garden and patio/outdoor classroom that produces almost no stormwater runoff. The El Patio project received $345,000 from the Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund for removal of contaminated soil, design and installation of a stormwater infiltration system, placement of a clean soil cover and final site restoration activities. The project also received funding from the Hennepin County Youth Sports Program and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.
Learn more by watching a video about the project. For more information, email Gil Gabanski or call 612-348-4843.
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The Phillips Clean Sweep on October 12 brought together neighbors and organizations in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis to pick up litter and build community. Waite House, one of the participating organizations that is supported by a Hennepin County Green Partners Environmental Education grant, helped implement the recycling efforts and hosted a table with environmental information. Watch the video to learn more.
Green Tip
The additional food waste, packaging, wrapping paper and decorations thrown away during the holidays increases household waste by more than 25 percent. Follow these tips to have a greener holiday season:
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Shop reuse: Reuse stores are a great source of gifts and party supplies. Get discounts at local reuse retailers with our Choose to Reuse coupon books, valid through November 30, and find reuse options by searching our Choose to Reuse Directory.
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Repair your stuff: Instead of buying new gifts or decorations, repair the stuff you already have. Get free assistance at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic.
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Recycle: Brush up on what can be recycled at home, and remember that drop-off options are available for many materials that aren’t accepted curbside. Holiday and string lights can be recycled at Hennepin County drop-off facilities or collection sites throughout the Twin Cities. Electronics can be recycled at the drop-off facilities or at local retailers – find options at RethinkRecycling.com. Christmas trees should be composted; contact your waste hauler or city recycling coordinator to see if they offer pick-up options, or take your tree to a yard waste site that is open year round. Find more disposal information in the A to Z How-to-Get-Rid-of-It Guide.
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Host green gatherings: Use reusable tableware to reduce waste and help your guests recycle by providing clearly marked recycling containers. Compost your food scraps either in your backyard or by bringing them to a drop-off facility.
See the Greening Your Celebrations brochure for more ideas.
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