Grants available to help teach waste reduction, recycling

Press release:

Non-profit organizations and schools in Washington County are eligible to apply for grants from Community POWER (Partners on Waste Education and Reduction) program to help teach others about waste reduction and recycling.

The deadline to apply is April 1. For those who want to learn more, Community POWER staff are offering an informational meeting noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Roseville Public Library. Applicants will apply online at RethinkRecycling.com/Grants.

“Community POWER grants offer resources to local organizations and schools to educate about recycling and waste reduction,” said Lowell Johnson, director of the county Department of Public Health and Environment. “The grants enhance our ability to protect the environment and improve public health.”

Recent grantees include the Stillwater Area High School transition program, Oltman Middle School in St. Paul Park, and Carpenter Nature Center. Their projects focused on reducing packaging waste, composting, recycling, and using non-toxic cleaners.  

Since 2001, past and current grantees have used different methods to reach their audiences, such as curriculum, classroom projects, events, videos, contests, art projects, and one-on-one education. A full list of past grantees and descriptions of their projects is available at RethinkRecycling.com/Grants.

Community POWER, a program of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties, has helped more than 100 groups all over the Twin Cities metro area actively reduce waste and toxicity since 2001.

For more information, contact Laurie Gustafson at CommunityPOWER@RethinkRecycling.com or at 651-252-1487.