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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
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 New pollution control equipment that will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by about 25 percent is being installed at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC). NOx contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog. Smog can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions.
The new equipment injects a non-toxic urea solution into the boilers to reduce NOx levels. This technology has been proven effective and efficient at other waste-to-energy facilities, which, like HERC, burn garbage to produce energy. In Hennepin County, 38,000 tons of NOx are released annually. About 80 percent of it comes from the exhaust of transportation sources; only 1.5 percent comes from waste incineration at HERC.
The county also approved a contract with SKB Environmental, Inc. to install new equipment that will increase the amount of metal recovered and recycled from the garbage delivered to HERC by 400 tons per year. Recycling these additional materials will provide $250,000 in annual revenue and save $150,000 per year in ash disposal. More than 11,000 tons of scrap metal is currently recovered from HERC ash each year, which is more than double the amount of metal collected in curbside recycling programs in the county.
For more information, contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@hennepin.us or 612-348-5906.
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 Nearly two-thirds of the waste created at businesses and non-profits is recyclable. Having a strong recycling program demonstrates your organization’s commitment to sustainability and the community, can help your bottom line, conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, a new Minnesota state law requiring most businesses to recycle will go into effect in 2016.
Hennepin County has a new Business Recycling Best Practices Guide available to help businesses implement successful and sustainable recycling programs. The guide includes information and tips on:
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- Assessing your current situation
- Identifying the items accepted for recycling and organics recycling in various areas throughout a business
- Developing your action plan
- Setting up your program
- Kicking off and promoting your program
- Reducing waste
- Troubleshooting your program
- Answering frequently asked questions
Hennepin County has a variety of free resources available to help business start or improve recycling programs, including grants, signage and educational materials, professional staff assistance, and a recognition program.
For more information, contact Andre Xiong at andre.x.xiong@hennepin.us or 612-543-1316.
Two projects that received cleanup funding through the Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund were recently awarded Minnesota Brownfields ReScape Awards, which recognize exemplary brownfield redevelopment projects throughout Minnesota.
The Rising Cedar project, which transformed an abandoned parking lot into a low-income housing facility that serves people with serious and persistent mental illness, received the Community Impact Award. The facility is designed with abundant natural lighting, a healing garden, a health and wellness center that is open to the community and easy access to transit and bikeways. The project received $270,000 from the Environmental Response Fund for contaminated soil cleanup and a $400,000 loan from the county’s Affordable Housing Incentive Fund for project development costs.
 The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization received the Environmental Impact Award for their facility that serves as both an educational center and office space. The site, located on the Mississippi River in northeast Minneapolis, has a long history of industrial and commercial land use. The facility now provides the community access to the river, demonstrates innovative and best practices for managing stormwater, and provides an urban location for environmental education. The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization received $294,295 from the county for contaminated soil and debris.
For more information, contact John Evans at john.evans@hennepin.us or call 612-348-4046.
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 Five businesses recently earned recognition as Hennepin County Environmental Partners, a program that recognizes local businesses for their efforts to recycle and divert organic waste (food and food-soiled paper) from the trash.
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The following businesses earned recognition:
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APA Medical for their efforts to make recycling convenient by placing recycling bins at employee desks, in the lunchroom and throughout the warehouse.
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The Bakken Museum for implementing a variety of sustainability initiatives, including an active recycling program, on-site organic garden, rain garden, solar panels, green roof and two bee hives.
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Solhavn, Solhem, Soltva apartments for making it easy for residents to divert their waste from the trash by having recycling and organics recycling chutes available on each floor. The buildings incorporate additional sustainability features, including energy-efficient lighting and appliances, low-VOC paint, green or energy-efficient roofs and rain barrels to facilitate stormwater reuse.
These businesses join a growing list of businesses already recognized as Hennepin County Environmental Partners. Environmental Partners receive window decals and other materials to communicate their efforts to customers and a listing in our online directory.
For more information, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195.
In the News
Recycling rate increases to 25 percent
In the City of Minneapolis’ first year of citywide one-sort recycling collection, where all recyclables are collected in one cart, the recycling rate increased to 25 percent compared to 18 percent before one-sort. Additionally, one-sort recycling has reduced workers compensation claims by 62 percent as crews no longer need to separate items, allowed the city to cut the number of recycling routes in half because the new recycling trucks can compact materials, and processing costs have been lower than anticipated. The city aims to continue to increase the recycling rate by targeting outreach to neighborhoods with low recycling. Hennepin County partnered with Minneapolis in implementing the one-sort recycling program and developing promotional materials and signage. Read more on Minneapolis Public Radio and the Star Tribune.
Organics recycling would further boost recycling
In another effort to boost recycling, Minneapolis is exploring options to offer curbside organics recycling. Organics recycling allows residents to recycle food scraps and food-soiled and non-recyclable paper, which makes up about 30 percent of our trash, into compost. Some Minneapolis residents have gotten a jump-start on organics recycling by participating in a drop-off program, which they have found to be easy while significantly reducing their trash. Learn more on KSTP and Minnesota Public Radio.
Eden Prairie Early Childhood Family Education is engaging children and their parents in raising environmental awareness and taking action to protect the environment for the sixth year with help from a Hennepin County Green Partners environmental education grant. The program covers a range of environmental actions, including composting, recycling, saving energy and using less-toxic cleaners, by focusing on different actions for different age groups. Both parents and children involved have learned actions that they implement at home as a family. Read more in the Sun Current.
Events
Clean Air Minnesota is holding a cross-sector conversation about what new federal air quality standards will mean for Minnesota businesses, governmental agencies and communities affected by air pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will reveal new federal air quality standards for ground level ozone later this fall. The Keeping Healthy Skies dialogue will explore Minnesota-based solutions to these economic, environmental, public health and environmental justice challenges.
The conversation will be held Wednesday, November 12 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul. The event is free but an RSVP is requested by Wednesday, November 5.
 Find eco-friendly gifts that will help your friends and family live more sustainably, learn ways to reduce waste during the holiday season and support local green businesses at the Do it Green! Green Gifts Fair on Saturday, November 22 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
Shop more than 80 local vendors for green, recycled, upcycled, fair-trade and organics gifts, participate in hands-on activities to learn about reducing your environmental impact, bring your old holiday lights for recycling, and enjoy live music and an eco-fashion show. Be sure to visit the Hennepin County table while at the fair to learn about alternative, less-waste gift wrapping ideas.
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Fix-It Clinics provide an opportunity for residents to receive free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix their broken household items.
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 In addition to small household appliances, lamps, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more, Fix-It Clinics are a great place to repair broken holiday decorations or fix a favorite item for family or friend as a gift. This is a great way to get ready for the holidays while saving money and reducing waste.
Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for:
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- Sunday, November 8 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center
- Sunday, December 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Brookview Community Center in Golden Valley
- Saturday, January 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Eden Prairie Library
Volunteer fixers who have skills in electrical, mechanical or electronics repair, wood working, sewing or general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
Green Tip
 Yard waste, such as leaves, branches, grass clippings and garden debris, is a valuable resource that can be recycled into compost. Yard waste is prohibited from your household garbage. There are several options for disposing of the leaves, garden debris and other yard waste that we have in abundance this time of year.
Compost in your backyard: Composting your tree, garden, yard and some food waste in your backyard is a great way to produce a valuable, nutrient-rich soil amendment right at home. Stockpiling leaves in the fall is a great way to ensure you’ll have enough brown, carbon-rich material to add to the green, nitrogen-rich material throughout the year. Hennepin County sells compost bins at the Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility to get you started.
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 Compost sites or curbside pick-up: There are a few compost sites open to all residents of the county and others that are only open to residents of certain cities. Some cities or waste haulers offer curbside pick-up options or special drop-off events for yard waste. Check Hennepin County’s updated information on countywide and city-specific yard waste programs, or check with your city recycling contact or waste hauler for options.
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