Waste Watchers

TAKE OUR WASTE WATCHERS SURVEY  January 2, 2012

Please take our 2-minute Waste Watchers Survey. The first 40 households to complete the survey will receive a coupon for a free cookie or cupcake at Lucia's To Go!  Click here to access the survey.

WHAT IS WASTE WATCHERS?

Waste Watchers is a new program in East Calhoun designed to encourage fast and easy waste loss through organics recycling (city composting program) and improved curbside recycling (paper, aluminum, plastic and glass).  The project is funded by a grant from Hennepin County through Community POWER Networks for Community Groups.  By the end of 2011, we aim to achieve these goals:

• Grow participation in the organics recycling program to more than 50% of eligible households (single family, duplex, tri-plex and four-plex).
• Cut in half the number of households with more than one large garbage cart.
• Triple the number of households with a small garbage cart.
• Significantly increase the amount of organics and other recycling that’s collected by the city.
• Significantly decrease the amount of garbage that’s collected by the city.

WHY BOTHER?

The collection and disposal of garbage creates air and water pollution and contributes to climate change.  In 2010, Minneapolis households produced nearly 100,000 tons of garbage!  Curbside recycling (paper, aluminum, plastic and glass) and organics recycling comprised less than 13% of that total.  In reality, recyclables, food waste and compostable paper comprise more than 75% of our garbage.  We have loads of room for improvement.

YOU CAN LOSE WASTE!

Waste Watchers wants to be a resource for you.  We can help you get started with organics recycling and answer questions about what can and can’t be recycled.  It’s easy once you know how.

FREE SERVICES AND EVENTS

• Lawn Signs:  any household with a green cart is eligible to receive a Waste Watcher lawn sign.  To sign up, click here.
• “How to Recycle & Compost” Home Consults: trained Waste Watcher teams are available to come to your home to help you set up or improve your recycling system. Participants will receive compostable bags, a countertop compost pail and a cloth shopping bag. To sign up, click here.
• Waste Loss Fair: Saturday, September 24, 9-10 am at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Lose waste! Attend our second Waste Loss Fair and learn how to reduce your waste through our new one-sort recycling program, green cart (organics) recycling and backyard composting.
  Free doughnuts, coffee and juice.  Kids welcome! 
  RSVP to greenteam@eastcalhoun.org.

• Tour de Compost II: A Progressive Party: This even has been canceled.

RESOURCES

To learn more about Minneapolis garbage and recycling services, to sign up for a green cart or to replace your large cart with a small one, visit: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste or call 612-673-2917.

For Hennepin County recycling information, visit:  www.hennepinatoz.org/azguide/household.html

For information about what goes in the green cart, visit:  http://lhpowerandlight.org/article.asp?articleid=5989

QUESTIONS?

Contact us at greenteam@eastcalhoun.org.