Being recognized as a Hennepin County Environmental Partner will help you communicate to customers that you care about their community and are taking action to protect the environment.

What are businesses recognized for?

Businesses can be recognized for diverting wastes in the following categories:

• We recycle: Materials including paper, cardboard, cartons, glass, plastic and metal are sent to a recycling facility so they can be manufactured into new products.
• We compost: Organic waste ,which includes food waste, non-recyclable paper and compostable foodware, is sent to a composting facility where it is recycled into valuable compost that is put to good use in landscaping and road construction projects.
• We donate food: Leftover edible food, including unserved menu items, food from catered events and day-old baked goods, is donated to food rescue agencies to help people in need.
• We feed animals: Food that is no longer safe for people to eat, including food prep waste, plate waste, spoiled or outdated food and unpackaged frozen food, is processed into animal feed.

Apply to be recognized

1. Apply: Fill out and submit the application.
2. Get verified: Hennepin County business recycling staff will review your application and contact you within a couple of days to schedule a site verification visit. A visit typically takes less than an hour to complete.
3. Recognition awarded: Once we've verified your recycling efforts, we will send you decals to display and add your business to the directory. You can also request table tents and electronic copies of the decals for your use.

Recognition as a Hennepin County Environmental Partner lasts for three years. At the end of that period, your business will need to renew by submitting an application to verify that you meet the latest program standards.

See the Hennepin Environmental Partners map to find businesses whose recycling practices have been recognized by the county.