In recent years the popularity of the coffee shop has skyrocketed and the industry is booming. According to the official website, Starbucks beverages account for approximately four billion cups globally each year. Many people think that most disposable paper cups are recyclable, but this is not the case. The majority of disposable coffee cups used by […]
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.
Posted inGo Green
Non-reusable clothes and linens accepted at Hennepin County Drop-off Facilities
Got torn or dried-in stained clothing? Not a problem. Clothes and textiles that can’t be reused or donated now can be recycled. Hennepin County Drop-off Facilities will take them, diverting recyclables from the garbage stream. Reminder: If your used clothes can be reused, give them away, sell or donate them first. Guidelines for recycling non-reusable […]
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Small changes in what you eat can make a big difference
Not everyone is inclined to think about the global impact of their food choices, particularly when they are not in their own kitchens. But experts say that average consumers can learn more about what’s on their plate and how it got there no matter who’s doing the cooking, and use this knowledge to make responsible […]
Posted inGo Green
Hennepin County plans to reach zero waste to landfills
The board adopted the Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Master Plan for 2018-2023. State statute requires metro counties to prepare master plans every six years that identify strategies to meet the state’s goal of zero waste landfilled by 2030. The county has made steady progress toward these goals and diverted 82 percent of waste from […]
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Recycle Your Holidays program is changing, but recycling efforts remain
Don’t know what to do with those old or no-longer-working strings of holiday lights? Making the switch to energy efficient LED holiday lights? Either way, recycle your old lights! Recycle Your Holidays is a one-of-a-kind statewide holiday light-recycling program in Minnesota created by the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM). Although the Recycling Association of Minnesota […]
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Dangerous Radon can’t be seen or tasted
How does Radon get into your home? Radon gets in through: Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your […]
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Timeline announced for weatherization of Glendale Townhomes
The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), Sustainable Resources Center, Inc. (SRC), and CenterPoint Energy are pleased to announce funding and a timeline for winter weatherization and energy efficiency improvements across all 28 buildings of the Glendale Townhomes. Glendale is a public housing development of 184 family townhomes in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. It was built in 1952, without modern […]
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Time to manage household batteries the green way
Daylight Saving Time is November 6. This is a great time to check your smoke alarm batteries, and remember to recycle them. This year, why not take it a step further? It might be time to rethink the use of batteries. Wireless lives Batteries power our wireless lives, freeing us from electrical outlets. But that […]
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Minnesota’s climate could soon resemble Missouri’s
The problem: increased greenhouse gas emissions Like windows in a greenhouse, carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere traps the sun’s heat and insulates the planet. Minnesota’s carbon dioxide emissions have increased 37 percent over the past 20 years, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are warming […]
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Consumers are detoxing store shelves
When consumers organize, companies change. While we are playing a lot of defense in the public sector, consumers and advocates are winning big in the private sector as a result of market campaigns. Market campaigns leverage consumer power to win changes in corporate policies and practices. Clean Water Action is part of several national market […]
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Communities of color consulted on Mpls Zero Waste Plan
The City of Minneapolis is drafting a “zero-waste” plan. In 2015, the City Council established a goal to recycle and compost 50 percent of its citywide waste by 2020 and 80 percent by 2030 — a “zero percent” growth in the city’s total waste stream. “I think ‘zero waste’ is a fairly new topic; it […]
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Electric cars, solar panels, wind farms electrifying the economy
Coal use losing ground During the picture perfect summer weekend of September 9-10, along the bank of the of the Mississippi at St. Paul’s Harriet Island Park, it was hard to imagine that at the opposite end of the country southerners were dealing with a hurricane and storm crisis. At the 28th Annual Energy Fair, […]
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Think before you shop and Choose to Reuse
We are bombarded with ads to buy the newer, better, or prestigious item. The hidden costs of the new stuff are often hidden, however, and our buying decisions impact the systems we rely upon. So before you buy something new, think first if a used item would do the trick instead. There are many benefits […]
Posted inBulletin
Expect a near perfect fall leaf season in Minnesota state parks and trails
It won’t be long before the trees sprout colors of red, gold and orange as we march toward the official start of fall on September 22. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), adequate rainfall nearly statewide, combined with lots of summer sunshine, point to a beautiful fall leaf season. The DNR’s handy […]
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Keep strong safety net for agriculture and rural communities
(MGN Online) As commodity prices remain low and rural economies struggle, farmers and rural citizens need a strong safety net to stay afloat until conditions improve. However, the budget proposals from the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives do not address that need. The House Budget Committee recently released its 2018 budget proposal, […]
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Farmers markets increase access to fresh food
There is nothing better than slicing up a ripe garden tomato fresh off the vine. However, some may not have the means to grow fresh vegetables in their backyards. At the Center for Rural Affairs, we work with rural communities to build healthy, sustainable, local food systems. That includes supporting farmers markets. Farmers markets expand […]
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A strong recycling program is a resource to the community
In the small town of Vergas, Minnesota, behind Hanson’s Plumbing and Heating is a pile of discarded cardboard boxes awaiting the trash hauler. Cardboard, a common byproduct of doing business, can be recycled. However, in many rural areas like Vergas, this commodity is seldom recycled due to lack of access to commercial recycling. Otter Tail […]
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Managing yard waste
Yard waste — such as grass clippings, leaves and branches — is a valuable resource that can add nutrients into your yard or be recycled into compost. It is illegal to put this kind of waste in your household garbage. Options for managing yard waste: To find more information about drop-off sites nearest you, go […]
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Trees need an inch of water every week
Now that the rain has slowed down, remember that trees — especially young trees — need watering any time it doesn’t rain an inch in a week. Yard and boulevard trees need water Minneapolis yard and boulevard trees need an inch of water every week all through the summer-fall season. Lack of water can make […]
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Going on summer vacation?
Try some simple ways to save energy at home while you’re away While on summer vacation, you don’t need to pay for energy at home that you won’t use. Whether you are leaving town for one week, two weeks or more, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce energy use in your […]