Carpenter Nature Center was fortunate to receive a Dakota County Community POWER (Partners of Waste Education and Reduction) grant in the fall of 2006 to convert its 22 year-old Apple Blossom Races into a Zero Waste Event. With input from Dakota County, Eureka Recycling and a sponsorship from Waste Management the event was a success with over 85% of the waste being redirected to recycling and composting facilities! As part of our mission of inspiring stewardship of the natural world we would like to share with you our experiences, resources and knowledge. If you or your center is planning an event, please do not hesitate to call us and ask questions.
Our primary resources were:
1. Our DAKOTA COUNTY COMMUNITY P.O.W.E.R Contacts:
Sara Habig Pat Schoenecker
Environmental Education Coordinator Project Manager
Dakota County Environmental Management
Valuable suggestions from our Dakota County contacts were to speak with our vendors/suppliers beforehand to alert them of our efforts. This way we could plan for any non-compostable, non-recyclable packaging.
2. Our regional and local WASTE MANAGEMENT contacts.
You may have a different waste hauling company in your area that can help you coordinate your event.
3. Our local Hastings Girl Scout Troop
It is ESSENTIAL that waste stations be monitored. Most people have never separated out organics and many are even confused about recyclables. Volunteers who are eager to maximize this teachable moment is one of the keys to a successful Zero Waste effort.
4. Our organics were ultimately processed by: Resource Recovery Technologies
This company does not haul organics. The organics collection container and its transportation must be coordinated through your local waste hauler. Your region may utilize a different organics processing company. Utilizing professional services results in diverting a wider variety of compostable materials than would be possible in a backyard compost pile. This facet of the project was the one that brought us the most success.
5. Eureka Recycling Events Planning Contact: Miriam Holsinger –Waste Reduction Manager
Also very helpful in this event were the following:
Our City of Hastings Recycling Coordinator-Perhaps your city has resources you can utilize.
Clear Stream Contact: This company is the supplier of the X-framed, collapsible, events recycling, waste and composting containers that you are likely to see at the Living Green Expo.
Callie Tsoukalas:
Resourceful Bag & Tag, Inc.
Washington County Environmental Specialist: The County supplies hands-on demonstration materials for composting/recycling displays that they loan out FOR FREE to Washington County Groups. Perhaps your County has similar resources.
BioBag: Great compostable bags of all sizes. Mark Williams (800)959-2247
Menards: stocks large compostable bags from another manufacturer that we also used.
Ecoproducts: A useful supplier of many green products, including compostables.
Green Home Inc.: A great resource for environmental products.
Restore Products: A local company who has green cleaning products & bottle refilling stations.
World Centric: World Centric is a non-profit working with many green products.
If you have any questions about hosting a Zero Waste event, please feel free to contact Jennifer Vieth
