Share your ideas for a zero-waste future
The Zero Waste Plan
The Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan (PDF) is now available.
Hennepin County is committed to achieving a zero-waste future where all materials are designed to become resources for others to use, the volume and toxicity of waste and materials is systematically eliminated, and all resources are conserved and recovered and not burned or buried.
The county has defined zero waste as preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated. The actions in the Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan are designed to collectively move the county as close as possible to the goal of zero waste.
Preventing waste
Share about your journey in waste prevention.
- What is one action you take now to prevent waste?
- What is one waste prevention action that you want to be doing, but aren’t doing yet?
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Hold Businesses Accountable
As individuals, we can do so much together. However, we cannot underestimate the power that business and commerce plays in creating barriers to sustainability. I compost at home but I don't have the option to do so at work. As someone who works in food service, it is so hard to watch things that I know would make beautiful and wholesome soil get thrown into the trash. Can the city require composting in restaurants? -
Reduce Plastic Use
I am continuing to use canvas bag instead of plastic/paper bags supplied by the grocery stores. -
Toy library
We are so grateful to benefit from membership in the Minneapolis Toy Library, a scrappy, volunteer-run non-profit housed in a church basement. This keeps a great deal of waste out of the landfills, as families reuse and rotate toys. I would love to see them funded and expanded in partnership with the county (imagine, like the library system!). Tool libraries are also a great thing. These programs could all be scaled up, funded, and promoted by the county. -
Buy Nothing
I am a member of the Bryant/Bancroft Buy Nothing Group. Since I've joined this voluntary group I've given away dozens of items ranging from a Mother-of-the Groom gown to furniture to food to arts & crafts supplies to fresh flowers to jigsaw puzzles and a Christmas tree. I've received boots, toys, books, assistance setting up a new phone, baby & kids' clothing, food, small items for gifting and much, much more!
My favorite thing about Buy Nothing is that it keeps stuff, especially plastic toys, out of the waste stream. It prevents waste and helps out neighbors who are looking... Continue reading
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Zero Waste!
Reducing waste always starts with reducing consumption. My wife and I have worked very hard these last few years to buy 2nd hand when possible -- furniture, car, clothes, books, etc. We also try to donate items we no longer have need for to groups that re-purpose or recycle. We also make sure to keep re-usable bags of various sizes in our cars so that we never go shop w/out one and I cannot remember the last time we had to take a plastic or paper bag for groceries including produce. We also try to avoid buying items that are... Continue reading
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Utilize TerraCycle and Encourage Businesses to Do the Same
Having undergone a waste audit at our house, I've begun for look for ways to minimize our consumption of certain products and to find ways to recycle those that can't go in curbside recycling. I'm using a number of free TerraCycle (https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/) programs to recycle things we can’t put in curbside bins. For example, one program allows recycling of snack pouches and caps. In addition to collecting what my family goes through, I have a bin on my porch where so neighbors and folks in my Buy Nothing group can can drop off thus minimizing the number of... Continue reading
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Join Buy Nothing Project
Buy Nothing Project exists to build community by connecting people through hyperlocal gifting and reducing our impact on the environment. Find your local group on Facebook or join the growing number of folks who are using the app to give, ask, and share gratitude (all for free!). Learn more at https://buynothingproject.org.
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Bulk food shopping
I buy as much as possible in bulk from a coop and try to avoid plastic containers/wrap/etc -
Organics, avoid plastic
I started Organics recycling last year and was thrilled to hear that it is required in Hennepin County; I previously composted plant matter (not meat and dairy items.) We also recycle glass, cans and non-black plastics, and try to avoid purchasing plastics, which is hard now that the food manufactures have gone from glass to plastic containers. It is difficult to impossible to find salad dressing, catsup, drinks in non-plastic containers. (V8 and tomato juice is now mostly in plastic instead of cans and it tastes gross.) One waste prevention action I haven't taken is to bring my own container... Continue reading
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Bad Foam
Styrofoam recycling! I get so much clean foam I have to trash even after consulting my buy nothing group to see if anyone needs packing materials.plus getting restaurants away from using it and switching to compostable options completely.
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Who's Listening
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Zero Waste Community Group Cohort Project Lead
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Environmental Engagement Coordinator
Email joseph.vital@hennepin.us -
Zero Waste Program Specialist
Email amy.maas@hennepin.us -
Waste Prevention and Recycling Specialist
