In this issue
- Small business grants for clean air
- Out of the woods: Mississippi Mushrooms growing exotic fungus
- Hennepin County business recycling grants - comply with state law
- MPCA regulatory updates
- Upcoming events - Environmental Initiative
- New green product label - US EPA Safer Choice program
- Follow us on Twitter @smallbizMPCA
Do you have less than 100 employees? Are
you interested in reducing chemicals that lead to bad air, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? If so, The
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has grants up to $50,000 for small
businesses to reduce their VOCs.
The
deadline is May 11, 2016 and the application is only 2 pages—easy! Anything
your business can do to reduce VOC emissions is eligible: from a manufacturer
switching to powder coating, to an auto body shop going to water-based paint, a
shop changing to a water-based parts washer, or anything else you can think of.
Your business can save money, help your employees, and do something good for
the community. Find out more on the MPCA's VOC webpage or by contacting Eric David at 651-757-2218.
Making the switch at Wayne's Auto Body
Wayne’s Auto Body in Hastings, MN used a MPCA small business VOC grant to switch from solvent-based to water-based paints
in order to reduce the amount of VOCs it produces. They have realized many
benefits beyond lowering VOCs, including less smell, increased
productivity, better paint colors, and lower electricity and utility bills.
See the full article by Katrina Styx reprinted with permission from Hastings Star Gazette on the MPCA website.
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A warehouse nestled among concrete domes and heavy industry
is the last place one expects to find healthy, ecologically friendly, locally
grown food. And yet there they grow, mushrooms ready for their moment in the
foodie limelight (oyster, king oyster, nameko, or lion’s mane). The exotic
wood-eating fungi are fed a steady substrate diet of sawdust from Wood from the
Hood and spent grain from Dangerous Man Brewing Company, waste otherwise
destined for the landfill. Once used up, the substrate takes on another life and is sold as compost to
places like 56 Brewing, where their garden grows herbs, cabbage, and kale.
See the full story in the most recent issue of The Growler
Magazine. Photo by Aaron Davidson of the Growler Magazine.
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Many commercial buildings in Hennepin County are now required to develop
recycling programs for at least three materials as of January 1, 2016, according
to state law. To help businesses,
nonprofit organizations, and institutions start or improve recycling programs,
Hennepin County provides funding, technical assistance, and guidance on best
practices.
The following grant options are available:
1) Receive up to $10,000. Applications accepted and
reviewed beginning January 1 on an ongoing basis.
2) Receive $10,000 to $50,000. Applications accepted
and reviewed three times per year on February 15, June 15 and October 15.
Learn more and apply. For more information,
contact Andre Xiong at 612-543-1316.
Low emitting
facility permit enforcement amnesty
In general, facilities that are operating without a permit are subject to
enforcement action, often including monetary penalties. However, in order to
encourage such facilities to step forward, obtain a permit, and come into
compliance, the MPCA is waiving penalties for operating without a permit for
facilities that qualify for the Part 70 LEF General Permit and submit a
complete application no later than October 31, 2016.
In 2015, the MPCA corresponded specifically with the auto body shop
industry regarding this amnesty period ending April 30, 2016. This is being
extended. And even though this letter was written specifically to auto body
shops, the enforcement amnesty is offered to any facility that is operating
without a permit, qualifies for the Part 70 LEF General permit, and submits a
complete application no later than October 31, 2016.
If you have questions about the enforcement amnesty, contact Tom Jablonski
at 651-757-2171.
Hazardous waste regulatory
update
After April 30,
2016 hazardous waste generators in most of Minnesota will no longer be required
to submit copies of hazardous waste manifests. The exceptions are generators
in Anoka and Scott County, or if a county or the MPCA requests manifests as
part of an inspection. See the MPCA’s factsheet for more information at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/w-hw1-07.pdf
COP21: The impacts, opportunities, and risks for businesses
Friday,
April 29, 2016
Late last year, nearly 200 countries signed onto a historic climate
agreement at COP21 in Paris. What might the impacts of this unprecedented
climate agreement be on Minnesota companies? Come explore the implications of new international and
national climate goals for Minnesota businesses.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Jeff Hanratty,
Environmental Compliance & Sustainability, General Mills
- Tom Kloc, Director,
Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Services, KPMG
- Pete Swenson,
Director, Sustainable Enterprise, Tennant Company
More information and registration. For questions about
registration, contact Sacha Seymour-Anderson at
651-308-4950. Let them know you're coming or share questions using #COP21mn on Twitter. You
can also follow at @EnvInitiative.
Environmental Initiative Awards celebration
Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Environmental Initiative has recently announced
the finalists for the 2016 Environmental Initiative Awards! A panel of independent
judges met to evaluate and select the most innovative and collaborative
projects across six categories (community action, energy and climate,
environmental education, food stewardship, natural resources, sustainable
business).
Want to know the winners? You’ll have to join more than 450
environmental leaders for the big celebration on Nicollet Island in Minneapolis. The
evening includes a reception, formal dinner, and awards program to honor
these eighteen
finalists. Winners in each category will be announced “Academy Awards Style” during
the program. Register for individual seats or a full table. Questions?
Contact Andrea Robbins at
612-334-3388 ext. 110.
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) Safer Choice Voluntary Program for
safer chemical products, formerly the Design for the Environment, or ‘DfE’,
aims to accomplish the following missions:
- Communicate the programs human health and environmental protection goals
- Increase awareness and recognition of the Safer Choice label
- Encourage innovation and the development of safer chemicals and chemical based products
As of 2016, the Safer Choice Program is working with 500
innovative partner companies and has qualified more than 2,000 institutional
and consumer products—with a broad spectrum of cleaning, home care, and
custodial uses – to carry the Safer Choice label.
The Safer Choice label allows purchasers to quickly identify
products with safer chemical ingredients that also meet performance standards.
Several manufacturers and private label companies within Minnesota, such as the
ones listed below, have products that meet the rigorous standards of the program and qualify to carry the Safer Choice label. Find out more at https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice.
- Anderson Chemical Co.
- Cargill Deicing Technology
- Cargill Salt
- Carlson Airflo
- Dalco
- Ecolab Center
- Ecolab, Inc.
- Multi-Clean
- National Purity, LLC
- Sunburst Chemicals, Inc.
- Target Brands, Inc.
- Watkins, Inc.
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