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If Minnesota adopts a plan that asks private companies to fund innovations in recycling and the collection of discarded materials, the state also would set a goal of all packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2032. (Adobe Stock)

MN plan would overhaul its recycling approach

Minnesota ranks high for its recycling rate, but it still has a waste problem, putting more pressure on local governments. A plan in the …

At least 471 U.S. cities have adopted some form of plastic bag ordinance. (pcullum/Morguefile)

Plastic Bag Fees in MN Cities Underscore National Movement

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minneapolis and Duluth recently entered the fray of U.S. cities either imposing plastic bag fees, or adopting outright bans…

Clancy was a lab/hound mix trained to sniff out mercury in schools. (MPCA)

Next Chapter for Mercury-Hunting Dog and MN Scientist

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Hamline University gave its 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Hubbard, who has spent most of her career exposing …

More schools are using locally grown food. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Farm-to-School Month in MN; Not Just for Apples Any More

MINNEAPOLIS – October is national Farm-to-School Month. Policymakers in Minnesota have been building the relationship between farmers and K-12 …

Even as air-pollution monitoring standards get tougher, a new report shows Minnesota's air quality continues to improve. (iStockphoto)

Report: Minnesota Air-Quality Improves Amid Tougher Standards

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Air quality in Minnesota is improving, according to the new State of the Air report from the American Lung Association. Out of 14 …

Some Minnesota farmers want to see more cover crops used to help the state's water quality. (iStockphoto)

Farmers Hopeful for Changes During Water Summit

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota is holding its first-ever Water Summit this weekend, with Gov. Mark Dayton hosting talks about the serious challenges …

Solar power advocates are urging Minnesota retailers to use their rooftops for clean energy. (iStockphoto)

Clean-Power Advocates Expect More from Target's Solar Plans

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - An environmental group says it's expecting more from Target's plan to set up rooftop solar panels. Target, based in Minneapolis…

Conservation-minded farmers will be testing new software this month to help weigh the benefits of switching to cover crops. (iStockphoto)

MN Farmers to Test New Conservation Tool

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Farmers who are interested in helping with land conservation could soon have a new tool – and it isn't a new piece of …

Taking Control: MN Mobile Home Residents Seek Park Ownership

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A growing number of Minnesotans who live in mobile homes are now building a solid foundation for the future by taking ownership of …

PHOTO: Picking up trash is part of what has become the world's largest civic observance: Earth Day. Thousands of people across Minnesota are now making plans to take part in the 45th annual Earth Day, with events to be held on and around April 22. Photo credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Minnesota Prepares for 45th Annual Earth Day

ST. PAUL, Minn. - With spring-like weather being enjoyed across Minnesota, residents are busy making plans and getting ready for next month's 45th …

PHOTO: The trash generated by the average American household jumps by 25 percent during the holidays, but with some planning before shopping, that doesn't have to be the case. Photo credit: Tarah Tamayo/Flickr.

Reducing Minnesota's Mountains of Holiday Trash

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The end-of-year holidays aren't just a time filled with more cheer, but a time filled with more trash, although some simple …

PHOTO: Polling shows a majority of Minnesotans want funding for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure included when lawmakers consider a transportation package in the 2015 Legislature. Photo credit: Kristin Nador/Flickr.

Minnesota's Transportation Troubles on the Table for 2015

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A new two-year budget will be at the top of the agenda when Minnesota lawmakers reconvene in a few months, but another key target …

PHOTO: Some simple changes in how a school lunch is packed can prevent tons of trash from ending up in Minnesota landfills, so parents and students are being urged to go with reusable containers. Photo credit: www.anotherlunch.com/Flickr.

Avoiding the "Trashy Four" When Packing School Lunches

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Students returning to school across the state this month won't just be forming friendships and making the team. They'll also …

Spring Cleaning Across the State: Get Rid of the Clutter

ST. PAUL, Minn. - With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a …

PHOTO: Tiny beads of plastic from facial and body cleansers have been collected from water samples in the Great Lakes, and scientists are now working to keep them out of the water system. Photo courtesy 5 Gyres.

Group Takes Aim at Plastic "Microbead" Pollution in Great Lakes

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Tiny plastic beads from facial cleansers and body scrubs have turned up in the Great Lakes at what a scientific advocacy team in a …

PHOTO: Minnesota ranks 6th in the nation in terms of wind energy, and the Midwest as a whole is among the top regions for wind power production. CREDIT: Michael Hicks

Minnesota is Among Tops in Nation for Wind Power

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota may never be a hotbed of solar power, but this 43rd annual Earth Day is a reminder that the state is among the tops in …

PHOTO: The Basel Action Network estimates 75 percent of the electronic waste that arrives in Lagos, Nigeria, is not reusable. BAN says too often, as in this photo, it ends up being dumped. Courtesy BAN.

Out with the Old: Recycling TVs, Laptops, Cell Phones...

EAGAN, Minn. - “Out with the old, in with the new”' takes on a whole new meaning when the topic is electronic gear. Laptops, televisions …

PHOTO: When it comes to generating garbage, the holidays are the busiest time of year for Minnesotans, but there are ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. CREDIT: John Michaelson

It's Looking A Lot Like Xmas: Overflowing Garbage Cans

ST. PAUL, Minn. - This is, of course, the time of good cheer, but those festivities mean garbage cans and trash bins across the state are busting at …

Minnesotans Weigh Benefits of Real Christmas Trees

LAKEVILLE, Minn. - With Christmas just weeks away, many Minnesotans are deciding whether to buy a real tree or an artificial one. Donna Revak…

Report: The “Sewage Crisis” for Minnesota and Other Great Lakes States

MINNEAPOLIS - A chronic problem of sewage overflows in the Great Lakes region is revealed in a new report from the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coal…

Midwest Biomass Detectives on the Case

MINNEAPOLIS - Researchers have taken a major step forward in cracking the genetic secrets that would make it easier and cheaper to convert tons of Mid…

Environmental Health Risks: Not Just Cancer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A recent report delivered to President Obama by a special panel appointed by President Bush warned that the risk of cancer from …

Report: Energy Policies Would Give Boost to Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota stands to gain big in terms of jobs, clean air and consumer savings should a series of energy-efficient policies under …

Minnesota Cities Rank Among Top and Bottom in Recycling

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Carrying bins loaded with aluminum cans and bundled newspapers is a twice-monthly ritual for most Twin Cities residents. But …

Minnesota Foodsheves Look South for Help

St. Paul, MN – While food shelves in Minnesota and the Midwest are having problems keeping their pantries stocked to meet a growing need…

Shoppers Offered “Safe Plastic Tips”

Minneapolis, MN - Plastics and children's toys could be hazardous to your health. That warning comes from a statewide consumer group that promotes …

A Green Political Machine: Dems Aim For "Greenest" Convention

Denver, CO - The stage is set, security is in place - and so are the compost bins. The Democratic National Convention opens in Denver today, with …

Minnesota Study Finds Potential Benefits from Forest Biomass

Minneapolis, MN - Harvesting biomass - the shrubs, small trees and branches in a forest - can reduce fire prevention and management costs, offer work …

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MN: Waste Reduction