Information for current Community Recycling Ambassadors

Summer 2025: Community Recycling Ambassador Refresher and Appreciation event

Monday, June 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Hybrid

In-person at the Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive in Minnetonka, or virtually via Zoom

Join the meeting to hear a brief recycling and organics refresher, plastics update, and CRA highlights. This event is open to all Community Recycling Ambassadors. Use the Microsoft Form to RSVP.

Summer 2024 refresher

• Summer refresher: Reduce wasted food presentation slides (PDF, 11 MB)
• Watch the recording of the summer refresher. Enter the passcode: Refresh2024!

Fall 2023 review

• Fall review: All about organics presentation slides (PDF, 3 MB)
• Fall review important links and chat (PDF, 1 MB)
• Watch the recording of the fall review on YouTube.

Course manual

Community Recycling Ambassadors course manual – all chapters (PDF)

Download by chapter

• Introduction (PDF)
• Chapter 1: Solid waste management (PDF)
• Chapter 2: The recycling process (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Food and organic wastes (PDF)
• Chapter 4: Residential waste – consumption and the three Rs (PDF)
• Chapter 5: Commercial waste reduction and recycling (PDF)
• Chapter 6: Construction and demolition waste (PDF)
• Chapter 7: Household hazardous waste and problem materials (PDF)
• Chapter 8: Recycling at events (PDF)
• Chapter 9: Engaging the public and motivating behavior change (PDF)

There are two ways to be notified of volunteer opportunities:

• Receive information of volunteer opportunities via the newsletter.
• Join the the Facebook group.

Report your hours

After participating in a volunteer activity, remember to report your hours by completing the form below.

Tracking volunteer outreach hours is a vital part of the Community Recycling Ambassador program. It helps the volunteer coordinator know your activities and provides an official record of progress toward your 30-hours volunteer time commitment.

Many of you are doing great things in your communities to improve recycling and reduce waste in Hennepin County. Reporting your hours help us track your progress toward completing your 30 volunteer hours and becoming a certified Community Recycling Ambassador. It also helps us track the impact of the program.

Report your hours by filling out the Community Recycling Ambassador volunteer hours reporting form.

See the volunteer hours update (PDF) to check your current hours (last updated in April 2025).

The following resources can help with you do outreach or plan waste reduction and recycling programs.

Environmental education items order form
Order free factsheets, brochures and other items

Environmental education kits and supplies
Includes activity ideas, product examples and more that can be checked out for use at events or presentations

Event recycling
Reserve portable event recycling containers or access the zero waste planning checklist and green event resources

Waste reduction and recycling
Links to Hennepin County's waste reduction and recycling programs and information

The Community Recycling Ambassador newsletter includes recycling news, program updates, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Recent newsletter editions

• April 3, 2025
• February 3, 2025
• January 23, 2025
• January 15, 2025
• December 12, 2024
• November 7, 2024
• August 14, 2024
• July 23, 2024
• June 14, 2024
• April 8, 2024
• March 5, 2024
• February 8, 2024
• February 1, 2024
• January 22, 2024
• January 16, 2024

Archived newsletter editions

• November 28, 2023
• November 8, 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• June 2023
• May 2023
• April 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• July 2022
• May 2022
• April 2022
• January 2022
• Winter 2019 
• Fall 2019 
• Summer 2018 
• Spring 2018 
• Winter 2018