|
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.
Email Hennepin Environment
Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.
|
Register now for the fall 2014 class
 Join fellow waste reduction enthusiasts and become an advocate for the three Rs in your community as a Hennepin County Master Recycler/Composter. Master Recyclers are trained volunteers who work to reduce waste generation and increase public awareness of opportunities to recycle and compost.
The fall course will be held on Wednesday evenings, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and November 5 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Matthews Recreation Center, 2313 28th Avenue South in Minneapolis. Optional field trips to waste management and recycling facilities will be held on Friday, October 10 and Friday, October 17. Learn more and register now!
For more information, contact Carolyn Collopy at carolyn.collopy@hennepin.us or call 612-596-0993.
|
Tours of Hennepin County waste management facilities are available for groups looking to learn more about recycling and how hazardous waste and garbage is managed. Tours are available at the following facilities.
Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park provides an opportunity for residents to get rid of hazardous waste, problem materials like electronics and appliances, recycling and organics. The tour, available for grades 2 and up, highlights the importance of reducing, reusing, recycling and preventing pollution. Schedule a tour.
Hennepin Energy Recovery Facility is a waste-to-energy facility that burns garbage to generate steam for the downtown district energy system and electricity that is sold to Xcel. The tour, available for grades 9 and up, will describe the waste hierarchy, engineering alternatives to landfills and preventing pollution. Schedule a tour.
Groups can also get field trip transportation for an environmental education field trip at sites throughout the county. See our recommended field trip locations for ideas.
For more information, contact Sarah Goodspeed at sarah.goodspeed@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9850.
 Visit the Hennepin County Recycling Oasis, a portable park embedded on the back of a trailer constructed of reused, recycled or recyclable materials, at community events throughout September to experience a recycle everywhere opportunity, get your questions answered by recycling experts and get resources to advocate for increased recycling. The Recycling Oasis is part of the county’s Recycle Everywhere campaign that is encouraging people to recycle at work, at home, at school, at parks and at events - everywhere they go. And if you don’t see recycling, ask for it!
Hennepin County has programs to start or improve recycling at businesses, schools, apartment buildings, events and public spaces. Learn more about recycle everywhere, get resources and programs to improve recycling and see the Recycling Oasis schedule at www.hennepin.us/recycleeverywhere.
For more information, contact Angie Timmons at angie.timmons@hennepin.us or call 612-348-2477.
Hennepin County is selling compost bins to help you start recycling food and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost in your backyard. Composting reduces the amount of garbage your household produces and improves soil quality in your yard or garden.
Alan, a Hennepin County resident, recently shared how he’s improved his backyard composting system by purchasing three compost bins from the county. He uses one bin for an active compost pile, one for a turned pile and one for leaf storage so he has plenty of brown materials to mix with the green food scraps and yard trimmings.
 Photo used with permission from Alan Makinen
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:
- Pre-order online to pick up at a distribution event, scheduled for Friday, September 12 and Sunday, September 21 in Minneapolis.
- 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.
The University of Minnesota ReUSe Program is continuing to reduce waste during peak student move in and move out times through the Pack & Give Back program. To facilitate reuse, students and residents of neighborhoods near the U of M campus were able to drop off items at the ReUse Program’s free store in August. Materials accepted include furniture, storage shelves, lamps, bicycles, shovels, tools, decorations, dishes, books, small appliances in working condition and more. Students and residents of surrounding neighborhoods can "shop" the free store for new-to-them reused items September 2 – 6. Pack & Give Back is also partnering with Bridging, Inc. to offer reusable item pick up on and off campus.
 A large volume of free stuff available at the U of M Free Store.
The Pack & Give Back program’s first year in 2013 successfully:
- Diverted 60,000 pounds of reusable goods.
- Reduced the overall number of “dirty property cleanups” that the City of Minneapolis had to do at rental properties in neighborhoods near the U of M.
- Made an observable difference in the amount of time that excess waste was left at curbside and in the alleys, improving the quality of life for neighbors.
Hennepin County participates on the U of M’s waste reduction task force along with the City of Minneapolis and the surrounding neighborhood organizations.
For more information, contact Carolyn Collopy at carolyn.collopy@hennepin.us or call 612-596-0993.
 Talkin’ Trash is a composting awareness project created by AIGA Minnesota‘s Design For Good initiative that made its debut at events this summer. The project creatively provided composting service and education at the Walker Art Center’s Internet Cat Video Film Festival and Open Field events. Design for Good developed the Talkin’ Trash initiative in partnership with the county to raise awareness about composting – 30 percent of what we throw away is organic waste (food and non-recyclable paper) that can be composted into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
For more information, contact John Jaimez at john.jaimez@hennepin.us or call 612-348-5893.
Grant funding available and grants awarded
Environmental education grants
Grants of up to $15,000 are available to organizations to implement environmental education projects that empower residents to reduce waste, increase recycling, reduce and properly dispose of household hazardous waste, reduce climate change pollution and improve air and water quality. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on October 15, 2014. Learn more and apply.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.
Natural resources grants
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to landowners, local governments and organizations for projects that preserve and restore critical corridors and wildlife habitat, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on October 15, 2014. Learn more and apply.
For more information, contact Jim Kujawa and james.kujawa@hennepin.us or 612-348-7338.
Business recycling grants
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to help businesses, non-profit organizations and institutions start or improve programs to divert recyclables and organics from the trash. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on October 15, 2014. Learn more and apply.
For more information, contact Andre Xiong at andre.x.xiong@hennepin.us or 612-543-1316.
Contaminated land cleanup grants
Grants are available to assist with the evaluation and cleanup of contaminated sites where the added environment cleanup costs hinder site improvements or redevelopment. Projects supported by the grants provide a variety of community benefits, including the creation of affordable or moderately priced housing, economic development, green space and infrastructure improvements. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on November 3, 2014. Learn more and apply.
For more information, contact John Evans at john.evans@hennepin.us or 612-348-4046.
 On August 26, 2014, the Hennepin County Board awarded 14 Green Partners Environmental Education grants to support organizations in implementing projects that engage and empower Hennepin County residents to take actions to protect and improve the environment.
Groups will engage more than 12,000 residents to protect the environment by reducing waste, toxicity and greenhouse gas emissions, increasing recycling, and protecting water. Organizations awarded include early childhood family education programs, schools, non-profit organizations and a park district who will work with a variety of youth, adult and volunteer audiences. Learn more about the grants awarded.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.
|
Events
Learn about adaptive plans that have been implemented or tested in various sectors, including human health, local governmental entities, college campuses, resources, recreation and agriculture at Minnesota’s second conference on climate adaptation. The conference is designed for local officials, planners, engineers, natural resource practitioners and others who want to know more about climate adaptation strategies.
The conference will be help on Thursday, November 6 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, 1300 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Register now.
Join U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison for a Forum on Zero Waste on Wednesday, September 3 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2001 Plymouth Avenue North in Minneapolis.
Community leaders and waste experts will discuss what more we can do to expand recycling and composting, create jobs and reduce waste. The forum will feature a presentation from Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Higgins and a panel discussion with Michael Chaney with Project Sweetie Pie, Susan Hubbard with Nothing Left to Waste and Minnesota Representative Frank Hornstein.
Hennepin County Environmental Services will also be giving away a free compost bin.
Get rid of your unwanted automotive wastes, household, lawn and garden products, batteries, mercury-containing items and more at upcoming hazardous waste collection events.
|
|
 |
The remaining events in 2014 will be held Thursday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the following locations:
- September 18 – 20 at the University of MN - Parking Lot C66, 2904 Fairmount Street SE in Minneapolis
- October 2 – 4 at the Shorewood Public Works Department, 24200 Smithtown Road in Shorewood
- October 9 – 11 at the Minneapolis Public Works Department Snelling Avenue location, 3607 East 44th Street in Minneapolis
Please note that electronics will not be accepted at collection events. See the 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, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization in northeast Minneapolis
- Saturday, October 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at the North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N, Minneapolis
- Saturday, November 8 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center, 5600 85th Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park
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.
 Choosing to reuse is a great way to get good deals on quality items while supporting local businesses and protecting the environment. Hennepin County has partnered with 50 reuse retailers to offer Choose to Reuse coupons with discounts through October.
So why do you choose to reuse? Here are a few good reasons:
- You’re working on a house project. Why buy tools you’ll only use occasionally when you could rent instead? You can also save money on furniture and home goods by looking for antique or used home goods. Check out coupons available at equipment rental and repair, home improvement, antique and thrift stores.
- You’re looking to refresh your wardrobe. Look for unique, new-to-you clothing and accessories that you’ll love to wear by checking out coupons at used clothing and thrift stores.
- You’re having a baby. Adding a family member often means buying a lot of new stuff. Because kids grow so fast, it’s easy to find gently used, high-quality children’s clothing and goods. Check out coupons at children and maternity stores.
- You need some new tunes or books. Check out coupons available at used book and music stores.
- You want to master a new sport. Try out a new recreational activity without investing in new equipment by checking out coupons at used sports and recreation equipment stores.
Whatever your reason, get your free coupons now on your smart phone through the Chinook Book app or by picking up a book at participating retail locations, Hennepin County Service Centers, Hennepin County libraries, many city buildings, and Minneapolis Park Board and Three Rivers Park District locations.
|
