History: The county has a goal to recycle 75 percent of waste by 2030. To help reach this goal, the county offers grants to schools as a financial incentive to implement projects that reduce, reuse, recycle or compost waste. Since 2003, 144 projects have been funded, totaling $2 million of support for school recycling programs. Funding for these grants comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.

It is estimated that recyclables and organic materials, such as food waste and compostable papers, make up nearly 80 percent of waste generated at schools within Hennepin County. Top performing public schools divert approximately two-thirds of their waste from the trash by recycling and collecting organics. About half of the schools in the county recycle organic materials.

School recycling grants are available to public and private K-12 schools, with $200,000 available annually. The county released a request for proposals in January 2019 and twelve proposals were received, eleven are being recommended for funding. The following eight grant agreements will be approved through the Request for Administrator Approval process, totaling $110,500:

• Blake School (Hopkins)
• Breck School (Golden Valley)
• Eagle Ridge Academy (Minnetonka)
• Eden Prairie Public Schools
• Hope Academy (Minneapolis)
• ISD 728 (Rogers)
• Osseo Area Schools (Zanewood Elementary in Brooklyn Park), and
• Partnership Academy (Richfield).

The remaining three grant agreements, totaling $73,700, require board approval because each school district has executed contracts with the county that exceed $50,000.

• Anoka Hennepin Public School District (District 11) $30,500
  Champlin Park High School will start collecting organics in the cafeteria and paper towels from the restrooms to be composted. Champlin Park High School and Jackson Middle School will expand recycling efforts in common areas. Jackson Middle School will also improve the organics and recycling sorting system in the cafeteria.

• Minneapolis Public Schools (Special School District 1) $27,200
  The district’s Culinary & Wellness Department will pilot a tracking system to assist with food waste prevention at two schools. It will also start an organics program at Anwatin Middle School and improve the organics program at Edison High School by obtaining  a waste sorting station for the cafeteria.

• St. Anthony-New Brighton School District (Independent School District 282) $16,000
  The district will expand recycling in common areas throughout Wilshire Park Elementary. Outdoor recycling stations will be added at the elementary and high school athletic fields. The district is also replacing disposable food serviceware with reusables.

Current Request: The current request seeks authorization to negotiate agreements to provide recycling projects during the period of May 22, 2019 through July 1, 2021.

Impact/Outcomes: Improving recycling and expanding organics at schools helps meet the county’s goal to recycle or compost 75 percent of waste by 2030. During the development of the most recent Solid Waste Management Master Plan, public engagement efforts confirmed that support of school recycling continues to be a priority. Residents, community group representatives, elected officials and business members all noted the importance of organics recycling in schools as a way to teach youth, who can then take the behavior home and continue the practice throughout their lives.

Six of the 19 sites being recommended for funding are located in areas of concern for environmental justice. Providing recycling grants to schools helps ensure all students have equitable access to recycling programs.