Rainwater falling on our roofs, driveways, lawns and streets can pick up pollutants like litter, oil, fertilizers and pesticides before flowing into storm drains.
Go Green
A space for articles pertaining to the benefits of nature, environmental justice, and sustainable energy initiatives, with an emphasis on conservation and money-saving tips.
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Green Minneapolis announces lineup for The Commons 2018 summer season
Now in its second year, more than 500,000 guests are expected to gather for free community events and programming at The Commons park, a 4.2 acre green space which is managed and programmed by Green Minneapolis.
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Five easy ways to green up your next barbecue
Spring has (finally) sprung and we all know that means barbecue season is officially upon us. The unofficial summer pastime brings together families and friends as we head outdoors to fire up the grill and enjoy the warmer weather. It also provides the perfect opportunity to reduce our eco-footprint. Not sure where to start? No […]
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Fresh Finds: Your guide to farmers markets in the Twin Cities
Farmers markets have come a long way in the past decade or so. At one point, you could only find a handful in the Twin Cities metro area. Now, they are peppered all over the city, including the newly reopened outdoor Nicollet Mall location in downtown Minneapolis. It’s a good thing, too, because these area […]
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How to “drink responsibly” this summer
Did you know it’s possible to drink responsibly when it comes to the environment? No, we’re not talking about how many drinks you can handle in one sitting — you should have learned that by the time you graduated college. We are talking about how to drink eco-friendly. Yes, that may sound far-fetched, but it’s […]
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Hennepin County revising recycling ordinance to increase organics
Hennepin County is in the process of revising its recycling ordinance with a focus on increasing organics recycling. Because organic materials, which include food, non-recyclable paper, and compostable products, currently make up about 25 percent of the trash, increasing organics recycling is an important step toward meeting the county’s goal of recycling 75 percent of waste by […]
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Volunteer to protect the environment
Become a Master Recycler/Composter. Join fellow waste reduction enthusiasts and become an advocate for your community as a Hennepin County Master Recycler/Composter. These trained volunteers plan and implement projects that prevent waste, improve recycling and increase public awareness of opportunities to recycle and compost. The spring course will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 […]
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Five ways to celebrate Earth Day
April 22 is Earth Day; it is an annual opportunity to celebrate the natural world and get involved in short- and long-term efforts to protect the environment. Here are five ways to celebrate. This Earth Day, celebrate a healthy planet with environmental stewardship at-home and in your community. —Information provided by StatePoint
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Get more heat from your fireplace: tips for efficiency
A charming old fireplace may seem warm and cozy on a Minnesota winter evening. But the reality is it likely loses more heat than it gives off. Traditional open masonry fireplaces are not very effective for heating. A home’s warm air gets sucked up the chimney, replaced by cold air leaking in. In fact, as […]
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Stay green when you clean
Spring cleaning season is right around the corner. Stay green when you clean: learn about household hazardous waste — found in many household products — and ways to reduce it while keeping your home safe and clean. What is household hazardous waste? Some products we have in our homes contain hazardous materials that can harm […]
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Labeling GMOs allows consumers to avoid them
Unless you only buy foods that are certified organic or marked as “GMO-free,” odds are that a great deal of the food you eat contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). But are you risking your health and damaging the environment by eating GMOs? Not according to Monsanto, the agricultural biotechnologies company that is a leading producer […]
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Brighten up your home with solar power: a few starter tips
Are you interested in powering your home with solar energy, but don’t know where to begin? The Minnesota Commerce Department offers a few starter tips. Before investing in solar, first, make sure you take advantage of some basic energy-saving home improvements. These include getting an energy audit, sealing air leaks, adding insulation, maintaining or upgrading […]
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Donate household items and get a tax break
Your big cleanup project is almost complete, and you’ve discovered some household items that you just don’t need or want anymore. They’re in decent shape, and you’d hate to throw them away. What do you do now? You could clean, price, and sell them at a garage sale, but that’s a lot of work and […]
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Hennepin County achieved near-zero Super Bowl waste to landfills
A lot of waste is created at large sporting events — about 40 tons of waste was created during a typical football game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The NFL and its partners focused on tackling the problem of waste during the Super Bowl in Minneapolis on Feb 4. The aim was to recycle and compost […]
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Improving indoor air quality
Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on current scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution. There are three basic strategies to improve indoor air quality Source control […]
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How does organics recycling work?
Organics recycling is easy: Materials that are accepted Collect the following for organics recycling: Food scraps Food-soiled paper products * Paper must be certified compostable Other compostable items Remember to continue to recycle your cartons, glass, metal, paper and plastic. Information from Hennepin County Recovery Center
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Use cold winter days to plan for spring living landscape projects
When winter hits, especially like the winter so much of the U.S. is experiencing, it can seem like spring will never come. But, there is no time like the present for homeowners to start planning lawn and landscape projects and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) offers these suggestions to help get a jumpstart on these projects. […]
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How does organics recycling work?
Organics recycling is easy: Materials that are accepted Collect the following for organics recycling: Food scraps Food-soiled paper products * Paper must be certified compostable Other compostable items Remember to continue to recycle your cartons, glass, metal, paper and plastic. —Information from Hennepin County Recovery Center
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Help your refrigerator save food
Your fridge can help to extend the life of food. It comes down to where you place your food within your fridge and keeping your fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Here’s what to store in your refrigerator and where: Best if used: Understand food labeling The dates on food labels are generally not expiration […]
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Electronics donation and recycling
Recycling and Donation Resources Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly. Why donate or recycle electronics Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of […]