Organics Recycling Project 2012-2013 Community POWER Lauren Anderson Recycling & Environmental...
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Transcript of Organics Recycling Project 2012-2013 Community POWER Lauren Anderson Recycling & Environmental...
Organics Recycling Project2012-2013 Community POWER
Lauren AndersonRecycling & Environmental Coordinator
Mac-Grove community
• Boundaries: Summit Ave, Randolph Ave, the Mississippi River, and the Ayd Mill Rd/ 35-E corridor
• Population of 19,500 (7,850 households)
• Macalester College and University of St. Thomas
• Community Council mission:The Macalester-Groveland Community Council (MGCC) fosters citizen
participation in government and community decisions that make our neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, learn and play.
City of Saint Paul
Mac-Grove Organics Recycling Drop-off Site• Opened in June 2012• 50,000+ pounds collected • Anyone who lives or works
in St. Paul can join for a low fee
• 12 full scholarships provided through grant
• Current membership: 600 residents (220 households)
Accepted items• Food scraps and leftovers
(including meat & dairy)• Non-recyclable paper
products (toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, frozen food boxes, etc.)
• BPI-certified compostable products
• Dryer lint, cotton balls, hair, nails, etc.
Hauled to
Organics hauled to Specialized Environmental Technologies’ Empire Township Site for composting
Main grant activities• Drop-off Site (recruitment, info sessions &
scholarships)• Volunteer trainings• Four community workshops• Home visits• Discount organics bins sales• Newsletter, newspaper, e-newsletter articles • Zero waste events & tabling• Tools:
– Compostable bag test & recommendations– Color bin labels– Home set-up guide
Project Volunteers
• Project planning• Curriculum & tool
development• Trainings • Led home visits,
workshops• Zero waste &
educational activities at events
• Sounding board
Amazing volunteers from our council’s Organics Task Force
Interactive – community input through stations:• Composting (Backyard & Organics Recycling Drop-off Site)• Curbside & apartment recycling• Neighborhood Clean-
ups• E-waste, appliances &
other bulky waste• Trash hauling• Plastics
Recycling & Composting Forum
Attendees at the plastics station
Presenters from:•Ramsey County•Eureka Recycling•City of Saint Paul•MGCC (staff and trained volunteers)
Attendees received:•Rethink Recycling & County resources•Reusable grocery bag
Recycling & Compost Forum
Mac Students and City of Saint Paul staff
Reducing Kitchen Waste WorkshopStrategies to:• Shop smarter (& plan
meals)• Extend the life of
perishable foods & prevent food waste
• Make organics recycling in the kitchen easy & convenientFabulous presenters from:
• Mississippi Market• Eureka Recycling• MGCC
Reducing Kitchen Waste WorkshopAttendees received:• Handouts with tons of
great tips• New online tools• Box of BPI-certified
compostable bags• Some picked up
discount bins (preordered before workshop) The great bin and bag pick-up!
Planning Green Events Workshop
• Hosted at council’s Home Improvement Fair
• Strategies to cut waste for small to large events
• Attendees received free box of compostable bags
• Developed & presented by MGCC staff & volunteers using County & Rethink Recycling resources
Where Does the Compost Go? ForumFeatured:• Expert from SET’s
local commercial compost site
• Overview of windrow composting process
• Lots of Q & A• Tons of wonderful
pictures
Where Does the Compost Go? Forum
Attendees received:• County & City recycling
resources• Box of BPI-certified compostable
bags• Countertop compost bins
donated by the Recycling Association of MN
Zero Waste Home Visits
Goal: Provide practical but low-key on-site technical assistance to families to help them …•Recycle and compost more•Rethink and reduce overly packaged/disposable items•Connect to local drop-off programs (Clean-ups, Ramsey County HHW & YW, plastics)
Centered around Home Waste Inventory:•Exhaustive room-by-room inventory tailored to Mac-Grove & its local programs
Zero Waste Home Visits
• Led by two trained volunteers and/or staff• Took place in late afternoons, evenings or weekends at
individuals’ homes• Often involved whole families• Good mix of renters, homeowners, and seniors• High time commitment, high impact
Zero Waste Home Visits
Families received:• Rethink Recycling reusable grocery bag donated by Ramsey
County• MORE BPI-certified compostable bags• Color, laminated bin labels• Blue recycling bins• County & City recycling guides• Compostable bag
recommendations• Smart plastics guide• Home waste audit how-to• Backyard composting & Drop-off Site info
Discount Bin Sales
• Requirements:– Must backyard compost or use
Drop-off Site– Attend the Reducing Kitchen
Waste workshop or receive a home visit Buying ALL the bins at several Home
Depot stores
• Bin sets:– Found for
$20/set– Sold for
$10/set (thanks to cost share)
Zero Waste Events
• Made eight MGCC events zero waste• Tabled at five community events
Groveland Night Out 2013 Earth Day Celebration 2013
Tips, articles & tools
• Photos of in-home set-ups• Downloadable color
organics & recycling labels• Facebook• E-democracy forum• Drop-off Site member
guide
Tips, Articles & Tools
• Compostable bag testing & top picks
• Articles – Quarterly
newsletter– Biweekly e-
newsletter– Local newspaper
• Monthly e-updates for Drop-off Site members
• FAQs and tips
At-home hint:• Keep meat, dairy,
bones, and other very wet materials in a tub in your fridge or freezer.
• Add to your dry organics just before heading to the Drop-off Site.
At-home hint:• Keep meat, dairy,
bones, and other very wet materials in a tub in your fridge or freezer.
• Add to your dry organics just before heading to the Drop-off Site.
Engagement & Outreach Strategies
• Neighborhood events (block parties, fairs, Annual Meeting)• Newsletters• Outreach to faith-based organizations, local colleges, etc.• www.macgrove.org website• E-democracy forum• Facebook• Flyers• Local newspapers• Educational events (workshops
and info sessions)• Partner organizations
Outcomes• Higher-than-anticipated participation– Relevant incentives helped immensely
• Overwhelmingly positive response from participants – will repeat workshops
• Increased social capital throughout neighborhood
• Greater recognition of program through awards• Development of much-needed organics recycling
resources • Several communities planning to replicate Drop-off Site
Challenges
• Time commitment of volunteers
• Staff time required• Drop-off Site move• MGCC web host and
limited ability to expand organics pages Drop-off Site reconstruction – May 2013