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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
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Target Field Station, a newly opened multi-modal transportation hub and community gathering space in downtown Minneapolis, not only connects people to light and commuter rail lines, buses, and biking and walking trails but also showcases numerous sustainable landscaping and stormwater best management practices.
 The following features installed at Target Field Station will capture and filter approximately three million gallons of rainwater and snow annually:
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Reduce hard surfaces with green roofs. Green roofs lengthen the lifetime of roofing materials, capture rainwater, provide habitat for birds and butterflies, and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
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Capture water for reuse. Approximately 25 percent of the rain and snow falling on Target Field Station flows into two cisterns and is then reused in the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC).
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Absorb and filter rainwater. Tree pits, permeable pavers and vegetated swales allow rainwater to slowly filter through the soil where it is used by trees and plants.
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Eliminate salt and chemical use with a snowmelt system. Embedded into the concrete at Target Field Station, a glycol mix (antifreeze) circulates through 50 miles of plastic tubing. The glycol warms the concrete to melt snow. The glycol circulates through HERC, where excess heat from the production of energy warms the glycol.
These practices reduce the amount of water runoff from Target Field Station, enable water to be reused on-site in HERC, improve the efficiency of HERC by using excess heat, reduce maintenance such as shoveling, and significantly improve the quality of water leaving the site and flowing into the Mississippi River.
For more information, contact Dave McNary at david.mcnary@hennepin.us or 612-348-5906.
Funding for field trip transportation available
Looking for new ways to get out and keep learning throughout the summer? Bring your group to a nature center to learn about our land and water or visit a recycling sorting facility for an eye-opening experience for even the most expert recyclers.
Hennepin County can arrange free charter buses for field trips for groups of any size or age! Choose an environmental destination or review our list of recommended field trip destinations, then complete a Green Partners Seed Group Action Plan to request funding for an educational trip.
For more information, contact Sarah Goodspeed at sarah.goodspeed@hennepin.us or 612-348-9850.
Start recycling your food and yard waste in your backyard into nutrient-rich compost.
Compost bins are 3’ x 3’ x 3’, made of cedar and wire mesh, and cost $45. There are two options for purchasing a bin:
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- Purchase a bin at the Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park. Pay at the facility; no pre-order needed. Bins are for sale during regular drop-off facility hours.
- Pre-order online to pick up on Saturday, June 7 at Better Future Minnesota in Golden Valley.
Learn more.
Composting workshop
Learn how to use your backyard compost bin and get tips for establishing and maintaining a successful compost pile, troubleshooting composting problems, and using your finished compost.
The workshop will be held Saturday, June 7 from 3 - 4 p.m. at the Hennepin County Northeast Library (2200 Old Central Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55418) in the Meeting Room. Presented by Master Gardener Jessica Rush.
For more information or to RSVP to the workshop, contact Katie Alexander at katie.alexander@hennepin.us or 612-348-6648.
 During May, 30 schools that participate in Hennepin County’s organics recycling program “closed the loop” by planting gardens with compost made from kitchen and cafeteria waste collected from their own organics-recycling programs. The compost was made from food scraps and non-recyclable paper that were collected in the fall and processed by The Mulch Store. With transportation provided by the county, The Mulch Store donated more than 135 yards of finished compost back to the schools. By using compost in their gardens, students learn first-hand how their organics recycling efforts can replenish soils with vital nutrients. Participating schools included those from the Anoka-Hennepin, Bloomington, Hopkins, Minneapolis, Orono, Richfield, Rockford, Wayzata and Westonka public school districts as well as several private schools.
Explore the resources and assistance available from Hennepin County for implementing recycling programs in schools. For more information, contact Katie Alexander at katie.alexaner@hennepin.us or 612-348-6848.
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 River Watch is a stream monitoring environmental education program available to school classes and student groups. The program provides students a hands-on opportunity to learn about assessing water quality and how our actions influence the health of lakes, rivers and streams.
In 2013, groups from 16 schools monitored 19 stream stretches. More than 450 students volunteered more than 2,300 hours collecting water quality data. By analyzing the data collected, students gain an understanding of watersheds and how water quality is related to land use and human influences. The data is also distributed to various watershed organizations and program partners. Learn more in the 2013 Annual Report.
For more information or to get your class or student group involved, contact Mary Karius at mary.karius@hennepin.us or 612-596-9129.
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 Teams of high school and middle school students put their environmental knowledge to the test while competing in the Metro Area Envirothon on May 1 at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. The Envirothon is a problem-solving natural resources competition that tests the students’ knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife through hands-on activities and presentations on current environmental issues. Hennepin County supported four teams in competing in the Envirothon by providing funding for entry fees and transportation.
A team from Hopkins High School won the Metro Area Envirothon and placed second at the Minnesota State Envirothon on May 19.
For more information, contact Stacey Lijewski at stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us or 612-348-9938.
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 North Hennepin Community College celebrated Earth Day by focusing on recycling and waste reduction on campus. Earth Day events, which were funded in part by a Green Partners grant, included a recycling workshop, Hennepin County drop-off facility tour, performance of the student-written Recyclin’ with Rusty rap, and a waste sort.
In partnership with Hennepin County staff, about 25 students sorted through a day’s worth of recycling and trash generated in the Campus Center Building to figure out how well their recycling efforts were working and identify areas for improvement. The waste sort found that nearly 80 percent of the waste generated by students and staff could be diverted from the trash through recycling, organics recycling or reuse. About 43 percent of the waste generated was organics, 31 percent was recyclables and 17 percent was trash. The students will use the data collected to identify priorities for increasing recycling and diverting waste from the trash.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.
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Grant funding available and grants awarded
Proposals due June 6
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, reduce climate change pollution and improve air and water quality. Eligible organizations include community groups, youth programs, congregations, park districts, and private and public schools. Learn more and apply.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9352.
Applications due June 15
 Grants of up to $50,000 are available to help businesses, non-profit organizations and institutions start or improve programs to reduce waste and divert recyclables and organics (food and non-recyclable paper) from the trash. Most businesses and non-profits in the county—from large office buildings to churches, restaurants and apartment buildings—are eligible to apply. Funding can help with the purchase of recycling containers, equipment and hauling services and minor improvements to loading docks and waste enclosures. Learn more and apply.
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Business recycling grants awarded
Hennepin County recently awarded funding totaling nearly $200,000 to 21 businesses and non-profits to start or improve recycling and organics recycling programs. Grantees include several restaurants, churches, non-profits organizations, corporate headquarters, business associations, an apartment building, food shelf and farmers market. Learn more about the grants awarded.
For more information, contact Andre Xiong at andre.x.xiong@hennepin.us or call 612-543-1316.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is accepting applications for Environmental Assistance Program grants. Proposals will be accepted in nine focus areas that cover a wide range of environmental topics, including reducing harmful air emissions at small businesses, reducing waste and recycling, adapting to climate change, developing sustainable cities and schools, and environmental education.
Approximately $1 million is available for projects that encourage outcome-oriented, economically driven approaches to pollution prevention, waste reduction, toxicity reduction and resource conservation. Applications are due by July 16. Learn more.
 On May 6, the county board awarded funding totaling $118,753 in School Recycling Grants to 18 schools. Projects focus on a range of waste reduction, recycling and organics recycling actions that schools will take to reduce the amount of trash leaving their buildings. These projects will engage more than 20,000 students as well as staff and parents.
To learn more about the projects that received funding or for information about implementing recycling in schools, contact Katie Alexander at katie.alexander@hennepin.us or call 612-348-6848.
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In the News
A law passed in the 2014 legislative session will require most businesses in the Twin Cities metro area to start recycling by January 1, 2016. The commercial sector generates more than half of the total waste in Hennepin County, which means increasing recycling by this sector is critical to meeting the county’s recycling goals. Hennepin County provides grants and free signage and assistance to help businesses improve recycling programs. The new law also allocates more state funding to local recycling programs. Read more in the Star Tribune.
The Minneapolis City Council approved an ordinance to ban polystyrene cups and containers for all food and beverage sales, which means food and drinks from restaurants, food trucks and grocers’ hot food sections can no longer be served in Styrofoam starting Earth Day, April 22, 2015. Polystyrene is difficult to recycle - this type of plastic is not typically accepted in recycling programs - and is not compostable. Hennepin County's business recycling grants and assistance program can support efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling. Learn more in MinnPost, Kare11 and the Star Tribune.
Events
 Get rid of your unwanted automotive wastes, household, lawn and garden products, batteries, mercury-containing items and more at upcoming hazardous waste collection events.
Events will be held Thursday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the following locations:
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- May 29 – 31, Minneapolis Public Works, 3607 East 44th St.
- June 12 – 14, St. Louis Park Junior High School, 2025 Texas Ave. S.
- June 26 – 28, Susan B. Anthony Middle School, 5757 Irving Ave. S. in Minneapolis
- July 31 – August 2, Jenny Lind Elementary School, 5026 Dupont Ave. N. in Minneapolis
There are additional collection events scheduled in Minneapolis and Shorewood.
Please note that electronics will not be accepted at collection events. See the full event schedule, guidelines and materials accepted.
Get free, guided assistance on disassembling, troubleshooting and fixing broken household items at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic.
Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, June 14, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka
- Saturday, August 9, noon to 4 p.m. at the Oxboro Library in Bloomington
 Volunteer fixers are essential to making the clinics successful. If you have skills in electrical, mechanical or electronics repair, wood working, sewing or general tinkering, consider volunteering!
For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195.
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The Metro Green Line connecting downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis will officially on June 14 with a number of opening-day celebrations planned along the line. Enjoy a free ride on the new light rail line and stop by the Hennepin County Public Works table at Target Field Station .
Green Tip
 After celebrating Bike/Walk to Work Day and the Target Field Station Grand Opening in May and with the Metro Green Line opening in June, now is a great time to learn about biking, walking or taking public transit. Using alternative transportation and driving less is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect air quality and be active.
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Hennepin County has numerous resources to get you started:
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