Hennepin Green Notes is a monthly e-newsletter highlighting environmental programs, news and events from Hennepin County.

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Latest edition

October 2021

In this edition

• Restoring a historic house using salvaged building materials and unique community partnerships 
• Updated residential recycling funding policy prioritizes organics recycling and focuses on reducing disparities 
• Turning trash into treasure: new video explains anaerobic digestion and county's vision for Eco Center 
• New drop-off sites will expand access to organics recycling 
• Become a Minnesota Water Steward 
• Hennepin County celebrates ongoing energy savings 
• Events: Stop Food Waste Challenge workshops 
• Green Tip: Get to know what you throw, how tracking food waste can be the most important thing you do to reduce it 

Archived editions

2021

• January 2021
• February 2021 special edition: Draft Climate Action Plan available for review
• February 2021
• March 2021
• April 2021 Earth Day special edition: County aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
• April 2021
• May 2021
• June 2021
• July 2021
• August 2021
• September 2021

Waste reduction and recycling programs

The county offers waste reduction and recycling programs, including providing technical and financial assistance for recycling and organics composting to cities, businesses, apartments and schools.

Learn more about recycling and reducing waste for residents and recycling and reducing waste for businesses, organizations, property owners, and schools.

Organics recycling requirements and food waste reduction

The county has requirements that businesses that generate large quantities of food waste start food waste recycling by 2020 and cities offer organics recycling service to residents by 2022.The county is also exploring options to expand local capacity to manage organics. Learn more about the requirements for businesses and cities.

The county is also encouraging food waste prevention by promoting the Save the Food campaign, rescuing food from farmers markets to feed people in need, and helping businesses and schools understand options for food rescue and donation.

Striving for zero waste

The county is supporting residents in taking action to prevent waste through the Zero Waste Challenge, promote repair with Fix-It Clinics, support local reuse retailers with Choose to Reuse, and provide technical assistance and funding for businesses and schools to reduce waste.

Hazardous waste disposal

The county provides disposal of hazardous waste for residents at drop-off facilities and collection events.

Find disposal information for common household items on the Green Disposal Guide.

The county also licenses and inspects businesses that generate hazardous waste to ensure proper disposal and protect the environment and health.

Use waste to produce energy

At the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), garbage is burned to generate energy. HERC uses the latest technologies to reduce environmental and taxpayer costs and is part of the county's integrated waste management system.

Provide data on natural resources

The natural resources interactive map includes detailed natural resources information that can be used to make everyday land use decisions and help with larger planning efforts.

Protect and restore natural areas

The county enhances natural areas and improves water quality by taking an increasingly strategic approach to planning, prioritizing, and partnering on natural resources projects.

A variety of funding and expert assistance are available for natural resources projects, including natural resources good steward and opportunity grants, aquatic invasive species prevention grants, healthy tree canopy grants, and funding and loans for rural and agricultural landowners.

Through the establishment of conservation easements, the county works with landowners to protect and restore habitat.

Enhance the tree canopy and promote sustainable landscaping

Hennepin County foresters conduct tree plantings, grow trees in a gravel-bed nursery, and offer grants to cities, affordable housing properties, schools and nonprofit organizations to combat threats from invasive species and disease, increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy, and educate the public. Learn about the programs and resources to help protect and enhance the tree canopy.

The county also promotes the use of sustainable landscaping to protect pollinators and improve water quality.

Address invasive species

The county disperses state funding through grants and partnerships to innovative programs that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The county has also developed resources that help residents and partners understand the threat that emerald ash borer poses to our tree canopy and option for managing ash trees.

Clean up contaminated sites

Hennepin County supports the redevelopment of contaminated properties known as brownfields with several grant and loan programs.

Promote stewardship of natural resources

Provide resources and encourage residents in urban, suburban, and rural parts of the county to take actions that protect land and water.

Our goal: net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Globally, climate scientists agree that we need to substantially reduce emissions and make rapid and far reaching changes in all aspects of society to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.

Hennepin County has adopted ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction goals to reflect that need.

Our goal are to:

• Reduce emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030
• Achieve net zero emissions by 2050

Net zero carbon emissions is achieved by “balancing” a limited amount of carbon released with offsets that remove carbon from the atmosphere. These emission reduction targets apply to both the geographic area of the county and county operations. These goals position Hennepin County as a leader on addressing climate change in the upper Midwest.

Hennepin County's Climate Action Plan

Hennepin County’s Climate Action Plan includes strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing climate in ways that reduce vulnerabilities and ensure a more equitable and resilient Hennepin County.

Pursuing the strategies laid out in the plan will enable us to create a better future for ourselves and future generations.

Learn more

Learn more about the county's Climate Action Plan, what climate change means for Hennepin County, how the county is leading on climate action, and what you can do at home and in your community at hennepin.us/climate-action.

The county engages the public in how we design and deliver our programs and empowers resident to take action to protect the environment.

Environmental education

Organizations in the county have access to free environmental education resources, including activity guides, education kits, educational flyers and pamphlets, articles, posts and images, and tours and field trip funding.

The county also provides funding and support to organizations to actively educate, engage and motivate residents to become environmental stewards and make positive behavior changes.

Volunteer opportunities

A variety of environmental volunteer opportunities are available.

Implement recycling programs and encourage waste reduction by becoming a Master Recycler/Composter. Monitor wetland health with the Wetland Health Evaluation Program. Help take care of trees and learn about tree care as a Tree Steward. Help people fix their household items and keep goods out of the garbage by volunteering at Fix-It Clinics.