Spread the word! Use the following resources to promote environmental programs, issues and news in your communication channels. Resources include newsletter articles, web stories, social media posts, images and handouts. Resources are available for current campaigns and for general environmental issues.
Current campaigns
Safe disposal options for household needles and sharps
It’s important to manage and dispose of sharps (needles, lancets, and syringes) safely to prevent injury and disease transmission from needle-sticks. Starting March 1, 2016, needles and sharps will be accepted from households for disposal at Hennepin County’s Drop-off Facilities in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington. For proper prep and directions, go to www.hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide/items/needles-sharps.
- Safe disposal options for household needles and sharps newsletter and social media posts (DOCX); Information to promote safe disposal of household needles and sharps.
- Safe disposal options for household needles and sharps brochure (PDF)
- Images: Safe household sharp storage (JPG)
Green Disposal Guide
The online Green Disposal Guide provides simple content about how to get rid of items. Easy to use and mobile friendly, the Green Disposal Guide offers a range of disposal options and also encourages responsible disposal practices.
- Green Disposal Guide newsletter and social media posts (DOCX): Information to promote Hennepin County's Green Disposal Guide
- Images: Green Disposal Guide on smartphone - horizontal (JPG), on smartphone - vertical (JPG), batteries (JPG), compact fluorescent bulbs (JPG), read the label: household hazardous waste (JPG) and yard waste (JPG).
Recycling and reducing waste
Residential recycling
- What can I recycle newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Information about what materials can be recycled at home.
- Recycle FAQs newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Answers to commonly asked recycling questions.
- Images: residential recycling 1 (JPG), residential recycling 2 (JPG), get images of recyclable materials through RethinkRecycling
Recycle Everywhere
The 2015 Recycle Everywhere campaign focuses on tips and tricks to expand your recycling habits beyond the kitchen to the bathroom, laundry room and home office.
- Recycle Everywhere newsletter and social media posts (DOCX): Tips on recycling everywhere in your home.
- Recycle Everywhere logo (JPG)
- Images: recycling, organics recycling and trash labels (JPG), recycling in the laundry room (JPG), make it fun (JPG), recycling bag on bathroom door know (JPG), recycling in the bathroom (JPG)
- Recycle Everywhere tips and tricks factsheet (PDF)
Business recycling
Owners with commercial buildings in the seven-county metro area – that also generate four cubic yards or more of trash per week – must be recycling at least three materials by January 1, 2016. Businesses can get funds, recycling bins and advice from Hennepin County. Learn more.
- Business recycling requirement newsletter and social media posts (DOCX): Explains the new business recycling requirement and resources available
- Images: Business Recycling-Chef at work (JPG), Business waste sorting station (JPG), Business waste sorting station2 (JPG), Business waste sorting station3 (JPG)
Green events
Get resources for planning green events, including a planning guide, templates and tools, and event recycling containers. Learn more.
- Green events newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Tips for planning green events
- Images: event recycling containers 1 (JPG), event recycling containers 2 (JPG)
Fix-It Clinics and repair tips
Residents with broken household goods or clothing in need of repair can get free, guided assistance on disassembling, troubleshooting and fixing their items at Fix-It Clinics.
- Fix-It Clinic newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Promote upcoming Fix-It Clinics
- Repair tips newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Repair tips shared by handy Fix-It Clinic volunteers
- Fix-It Clinic flyer (PDF)
- Images: fixing a lamp (JPG), disassembled item (JPG), disassembling an item (JPG), mending clothing 1 (JPG), mending clothing 2 (JPG)
Rethink Recycling communication tool kits
Find free articles, fact sheets, images, ad templates and more on a variety of waste reduction and recycling topics. Available at Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board.
Disposing of and reducing hazardous waste
Identifying, reducing and disposing of hazardous waste
- Identifying and disposing of hazardous waste newsletter articles and social media posts (DOCX): Information about common hazardous materials we have in our homes and options for safe disposal.
- Reducing hazardous waste (DOCX): Steps to reduce the amount of hazardous waste we have in our homes.
- Images: box of hazardous waste (JPG), hazardous products on a shelf (JPG), man looking at hazardous products on shelf (JPG), using green cleaners (JPG), dropping off hazardous waste at a drop-off facility (JPG), get more images of hazardous waste through Rethink Recycling
Medicine disposal
Medicine drop boxes are available throughout Hennepin County for residents to safely dispose of unwanted and unused medicines.
- Medicine disposal newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Information and guidelines for safely disposing of medicines.
- Images: medicine drop box 1 (JPG), medicine drop box 2 (JPG), medicine cabinet (JPG)
Organics recycling, composting and disposing of yard waste
Backyard composting
- Backyard composting newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Steps to composting in your backyard
- Images: backyard compost bins (JPG), turning a compost pile (JPG), food waste in backyard compost bin (JPG)
Organics recycling
- Organics recycling newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Information on what materials are accepted in organics recycling programs and what program options are available.
- Images: scraping food waste into organics recycling kitchen pail (JPG), putting bagged organics into organics recycling bin (JPG)
Yard waste
- Yard waste newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Options for disposing of yard waste
- Images: bagging leaves (JPG), raking leaves (JPG), blowing leaves (JPG)
Protecting land and water
Actions to protect water quality
- Protect water quality newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Five things you can do to protect lakes and streams.
- Water Quality Brochure (PDF) - 10 things that you can do to in your lawn, garden and around your house to improve Minnesota's lakes, rivers and streams
- Images: rake leaves out of street (JPG), raking leaves (JPG), rain barrel (JPG), pick up pet waste (JPG), use fertilizer wisely (JPG), sweep up fertilizer (JPG)
Adopt a storm drain
- Adopt a Storm Drain newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Steps to take to protect lakes and streams by keeping storm drains clear.
- Images: sweeping up a storm drain (JPG), storm drain covered in leaves (JPG)
Rain gardens
- Rain gardens newsletter article and social media posts (DOCX): Information about what rain gardens are and why they're important and resources for installing rain gardens.
- Images: rain garden (JPG)