Zero Waste Minnesota

09/03/2026

You’d be surprised how much food comes with a spoon or a fork at the MN State Fair. A simply way to reduce single use- bring your own fork, and spoon.

Packing a cloth napkin, and water bottles to refill also cuts down on your waste.

Easy Peasy.

How do you reduce waste at the fair?

Foods we ate this year;
Chocolate and Moo-sota Apple Pie malt
Dairy Goodness

Paella Depot
Classic Paella

Walking Chopped Italian Grinder
Mancini’s al Fresco

Peri-Peri Bowl
Afro Deli & Grill

Apple Donut Ham Grinder and Muffin Top
Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop

Hmong Corndog
Union Hmong Kitchen

Saturday Dumpling Co.

❤️❤️❤️❤️A huge shout out to Afro Deliwho adopted compostable to go containers BEFORE City of Saint Paul - Governmentpassed a Green To Go ordinance AND they came to council and spoke out in favor of the ordinance. Check them out! Vote with your dollar.

09/03/2026

🙃🙃🙃When you make a post with a toddler climbing on your lap cut becomes cute🤷‍♀️

08/26/2026

08/11/2026

Go vote. Don't create trash, the stickers.

08/09/2026

08/06/2026

Excited to see the Minnesota Zoo has increased organics bin around the zoo and garbage, recycling, and organics bins are all together. Woot woot! We also love the many water refill stations.
Hydro Flask Philippines

07/30/2026

Residential Curbside Organics Recycling is scheduled for City Council discussion on Monday, August 3.

Now’s the time to send emails to council asking them to support a universal composting service, contact details here ; https://www.northfieldmn.gov/118/City-Council

If you’d like a sample letter comment “letter”and we’ll send you a sample options.

“The US creates about 2.6 million tons of food waste every year. Less than 7% of that is composted, and around 75% of it goes to a landfill. Compostable food waste accounts for over 20% of all waste sent to landfills.
When food waste sits in landfills, it can't decompose fully, so it releases significant amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the US, and much of that could be prevented by composting.

Adding compost to soil adds nutrients, reduces erosion, and improves soil structure." -Curbside Compost

07/22/2026

The impacts of climate change are here and will likely intensify in the coming years. We need to take action now to build resilient communities!

Join the Community Climate Leaders program from the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership to find ways to take action and help your community prepare, and connect with like-minded individuals who want to help your community thrive.

This eight-week program includes:
•Five online modules covering climate change basics, what climate change looks like in Minnesota, accessible climate actions you can take, how to amplify your impact by working in community, how to integrate climate justice, and leadership skills.

•In-person and online sessions including group discussions, climate communication and storytelling, and community mapping.

•A stepping stone project to make plans for taking climate action in your community.

•A copy of The Climate Action Handbook by Dr. Heidi Roop with other program materials.

Join us by participating in a cohort near you!
Eagan: online starts 9/8, in-person held 6-8:30 on 9/16, 9/30, 10/14 & 10/28 at Eagan Community Center. Register by 8/31.

Grand Marais: online starts 9/28, in-person sessions held 1-4pm on 9/28 and 9am-4pm on 11/4 (lunch included) at the Cook County Community Center. Register by 9/14.

Minnetonka: online starts 8/31, in-person held 9/10, 9/24, 10/8 & 10/22 at Minnetonka Community Education Building. Register by XYZ.
Pine River at Happy Dancing Turtle: online starts 9/21, in-person 10/30. Lunch included. Register by 9/8.

For questions, please contact Christy Marsden by emailing [email protected].

City of Eagan, Minnesota - Government
City of Minnetonka - Local Government
University of Minnesota Twin Cities

07/13/2026

We went to a birthday party/bqq. So much fun, but in the haste to pack everything; swimsuits, change of clothing, water bottles, sunscreen, I forgot to pack plates. I had a fork and spoon already in the diaper bag
Not perfect, and that's ok.
How do you cut down on waste while hanging out?

05/28/2026

Zero Waste car kit is a portable collection of reusable items kept in your vehicle to help refuse unexpected single-use while out and about. No car? No problem, have a few items in your purse, backpack, diaper bag ect.

I find having reusables in my car (along with a fork in my purse and diaper bag) is helpful if I'm not planning to go out to eat. It's an easy way to single use while out.

What's in your car kit?