Become an Apartment Recycling Champion

Trainings and on-site visit

Champions will attend a hybrid informational kick-off meeting followed by a site visit of their property with Hennepin County staff to identify what challenges their property faces and opportunities for improvement. They will then attend an in-person training session on waste reduction and recycling and complete a work plan with staff before implementing their projects. 

Attendance at the hybrid kick-off meeting on May 1, 2025, and the in-person waste reduction and recycling training on May 17, 2025, are mandatory. See the timeline below for more information. Champions who are unable to attend these trainings cannot continue with the program. 

Project activities and opportunities

Champions will conduct a range of activities such as distributing educational materials and adding recycling bins to common areas. Champions must complete the required activities and then complete one passion project during their program term.

Required activities:

• Distribute educational materials through face-to-face interactions
• Add recycling bins to common areas (mail room, laundry room, etc.), pair recycling and trash bins, and label bins with proper signage indicating waste type
• Monitor trash and recycling areas for contamination and track contamination levels

Passion project opportunities:

• Host an educational session for residents in your building. Some ideas include:
  • Recycling training with a waste-sorting activity
  • Cooking demonstration focused on food waste reduction
  • Food waste prevention activity
  • Reducing waste activity
• Create a waste reduction and recycling newsletter
• Start an organics recycling program
• Start a plastic bag collection program
• Organize a bulky waste or mattress collection program
• Organize a reuse or swap event or space
• Other activity approved by staff 

Commitment

Apartment Recycling Champions participate in the program for a three- to six-month term based on the size of your property.

During the program, champions commit to:

• Attending the kick-off informational meeting either virtually or in person at North Regional Library
• Conducting a site visit with county staff
• Attending the waste reduction and recycling training session in person at North Regional Library
• Developing a work plan with county staff
• Completing all required activities and at least one passion project
• Checking in monthly with county staff
• Submitting a monthly report form that includes project tasks completed, residents engaged, and hours worked

Timeline

May

• Kick-off meeting: Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hybrid on Zoom or in person at North Regional Library (1315 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis)
• Waste reduction and recycling training: Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. In person at North Regional Library (1315 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis)
• Site visit with Hennepin County staff
• Complete introduction to waste reduction and recycling reading

June

• Begin project activities

July-October

• Check in monthly with county staff
• Submit a monthly report form that includes project tasks completed, residents engaged, and hours worked
• Complete project activities for the duration of the program 

Compensation

Champions will be paid $187.50 per month for a three- to six-month term based on the size of your property. The expected time commitment is approximately six hours of work per month. Trainings and meetings count toward hours.

Properties with 5 to 50 units

• Program term: May through July (three months)
• Total stipend: $562.50
• Payment structure: $281.25 at the end of May, $281.25 upon submission of the final report at the end of July. 

Properties with more than 50 units

• Program term: May through October (six months)
• Total stipend: $1,125
• Payment structure: $281.25 at the end of May, $281.25 at the end of July, $562.25 upon submission of the final report at the end of October.

No prior recycling knowledge is needed to apply, just enthusiasm for waste reduction and recycling! To participate in the Apartment Recycling Champion program, you must:

• Live at an apartment or other multifamily building with five or more units that has recycling service in Hennepin County. Preference may be given to properties without a property manager on site.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Get approval from the property manager or owner to apply to become a champion. Your property manager must read and complete the online property manager acknowledgement when you apply. You may also download and print a copy of the property manager acknowledgement (PDF) or email apartmentrecycling@hennepin.us to request a printed copy. This acknowledgement outlines the program, champion responsibilities, and property manager expectations and involvement. 
• Commit to being a champion for the entirety of the program based on property size. 
• Complete a W-9 form for payment purposes. Activities must occur during the program term to be paid.
• Check in monthly with county recycling staff.
• Submit a monthly report form that details project tasks completed, residents engaged, and hours worked.

1. Complete the online application by April 8, 2025.
2. Get approval from your property manager or owner to become a champion. Your property manager must read and complete the online property manager acknowledgement when you apply. You may also download and print a copy of the property manager acknowledgement (PDF) or email apartmentrecycling@hennepin.us to request a printed copy.

If you need assistance with property manager approval, please email apartmentrecycling@hennepin.us and we can help! The property manager acknowledgement must be received before you are accepted into the program.

Following application review, champions will be selected and begin the program on May 1, 2025.