Organics Recycling Project 2012-2013 Community POWER

1. Organics Recycling Project2012-2013 Community POWER Lauren Anderson Recycling & Environmental Coordinator

2. 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 City of Saint Paul • 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.

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. Hauled to Organics hauled to Specialized Environmental Technologies’ Empire Township Site for composting

6. 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

7. 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

8. Recycling & Composting Forum 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 Attendees at the plastics station

9. Recycling & Compost Forum Presenters from: • Ramsey County • Eureka Recycling • City of Saint Paul • MGCC (staff and trained volunteers) Attendees received: • Rethink Recycling & County resources • Reusable grocery bag Mac Students and City of Saint Paul staff

10. Reducing Kitchen Waste Workshop Strategies to: • Shop smarter (& plan meals) • Extend the life of perishable foods & prevent food waste • Make organics recycling in the kitchen easy & convenient Fabulous presenters from: • Mississippi Market • Eureka Recycling • MGCC

11. Reducing Kitchen Waste Workshop Attendees 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!

12. 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 • Ongoing education: • Initial orientation • Monthly e-updates • Resources/guides • Workshops and home visits

13. Where Does the Compost Go? Forum Featured: • Expert from SET’s local commercial compost site • Overview of windrow composting process • Lots of Q & A • Tons of wonderful pictures

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Discount Bin Sales • Bin sets: • Found for $20/set • Sold for $10/set (thanks to cost share) • 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

19. Zero Waste Events • Made eight MGCC events zero waste • Tabled at five community events Groveland Night Out 2013 Earth Day Celebration 2013

20. Tips, articles & tools • Photos of in-home set-ups • Downloadable color organics & recycling labels • Facebook • E-democracy forum • Drop-off Site member guide

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Thank you!