Partnering with community groups to conduct community engagement on reducing trash and recycling more

The county is looking to partner with 10 to 15 groups with long-standing relationships with under-represented communities in Hennepin County to conduct engagement as part of the plan development.

Priority audiences

The county is particularly interested in engaging with residents who have traditionally been left out of trash and solid waste planning processes and are potentially more burdened by the current solid waste system, including Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) as well as low-income families and residents with disabilities.

The county also identifies youth as an important audience to engage because they will experience the long-term environmental, health and financial impacts of the materials we use and how we discard those items.

What the groups will do

Contracted community groups will host meetings and conduct outreach to understand the barriers and benefits to reducing trash and recycling more. These insights will be gained through creative engagement activities that are meaningful and tailored to the community. 

The community groups will also form a cohort to share their learnings, develop a broader understanding, offer community-identified solutions, and review and comment on the draft plan.