History: Plastics are an increasing threat to our environment, climate and health. Forty percent of plastic products are manufactured for one-time use, and includes items such as packaging, grocery bags, and straws.  

 

In October, the county solicited proposals for the development and implementation of a campaign to reduce single-use plastics at restaurants and foodservice businesses in Hennepin County. Single-use plastic products used in restaurants and foodservice businesses like bags, utensils, straws, cups and lids, and to-go containers are a challenge for residents to properly dispose of due to confusion over which can be recycled, composted, or put in the trash. This project aligns with both the county's Climate Action Plan and our work to develop an operational plan for a zero-waste future where 90% of all discarded materials are diverted from landfills and incinerators. 

 

This project will establish a campaign or certification program for restaurants and foodservice businesses to reduce single-use plastics. While some single-use plastics are recyclable, many are not due to the size or type of plastic. This program will focus on the reduction and elimination of single-use plastics. The development and implementation of this program includes conducting focus groups with restaurants to determine attitudes about single-use plastics and message testing, creating a compelling campaign and certification program that eliminates single-use plastics, and recruiting restaurants to participate. Participation in the program will include free assistance to identify alternatives to single-use plastics and access to up to $500 in rebates per business for emerging small business entities (ESBE) businesses to switch to reusable products. The not to exceed amount of Agreement PR00003975 includes $25,000 in funding for rebates to ESBE participants, and will be matched with $25,000 of funding from the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation for a total of $50,000 in available rebates. The Waste Wise Foundation will administer the rebates to participants. Participation and waste prevention efforts will be tracked and measured throughout the three-year contract period.  

 

Plastic use has increased twenty-fold since the 1960s and the World Economic Forum projects plastic production and plastic use will grow 3.8% every year through 2030. Ninety-nine percent of the plastic used today is made from fossil fuel feedstocks. As the world economy shifts to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, the fossil fuel industry is investing in plastic production to replace those markets. Increasingly, studies are finding plastic in our water, air and soils. Plastics enter the environment in many ways, as litter breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces referred to as micro and nano plastics, as the result of gaps in waste collection infrastructure, and by sloughing off products – our shoes, clothing, tires and more. 

 

The Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit affiliate of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce that provides environmental sustainability consulting for Minnesota businesses and organizations. In 2019, Minnesota Waste Wise helped hundreds of businesses divert over 3 million pounds of waste in the metro area.  

 

Current Request: This request seeks authorization for the County Administrator to negotiate Agreement PR00003975 with Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation to develop and implement a single-use plastics reduction campaign targeted at commercial food establishments, during the period February 1, 2022 through January 31, 2025, with an amount not to exceed $392,000. 

 

Impact/Outcomes: Reducing single-use plastics supports the county’s zero-waste and climate goals by shifting consumer behaviors to reduce the environmental impacts of waste. Additionally, eliminating single-use plastic foodservice ware reduces exposure to and the health impacts of the numerous chemicals, many of which are endocrine disruptors, used in the manufacturing of these products. At least 100 restaurants and foodservice businesses will participate in this initiative. Rebates will be available to ESBEs to remove cost barriers to participation. This project also leverages an additional $25,000 donation by the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation.