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

Thank you!