April 30, 2022

As we wrap up Earth month, we thank you for supporting our mission at Reuse Minnesota, and for choosing to take actions that improve the quality of our Earth every day. We are inspired by our members for their leadership in their fields. We highlighted two of our members, Rethos: Places Reimagined, and r.Cup through short videos showcasing their impact and commitment to reuse. You can watch those clips here. 

We look forward to hosting our member meeting in greater Minnesota on May 25! If you are near the Detroit Lakes area, we would love to have you join us for a day of tours and networking. A hybrid meeting portion will be available for those unable to attend in person. 

Save the date for for the REUSE22 conference! The conference will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at the University of St. Thomas Schulze Hall in Minneapolis. We will have optional social events planned for Monday, October 3. We invite you to join us as an attendee, speaker, sponsor, or exhibitor. We hope to see you there!

Deconstruction masterclass: The essentials 
May 4, 2022 | 10am - 12pm | Zoom webinar

Deconstruction is the careful dismantling of a structure in order to preserve and reuse building materials. But what does that really mean in a practical sense? Why does it matter? And how can it benefit me? Get all of these questions and more answered at this panel discussion with experts in the field of deconstruction and materials salvage! 

Image source: The Washington Post

Anoka County fix-it clinic
May 7, 2022 | 10am -1pm | Stacy, MN

Have broken stuff lying around? Don't trash it - fix it! 
Sign up for the in person fix-it clinic to meet with an expert fixer to repair your favorite items. Get help repairing clocks, vacuums, clothing, lamps, bikes and much more!

Swap events: How to host one in your community

May 10, 2022 | 7 - 8pm | Zoom webinar

Join Reuse Minnesota and our friends as we dive into the details of planning and hosting a swap event in your community!

You can host just about any type of swap event that you can imagine: books, clothing, gardening tools, toys, media, and more! Swap events have many benefits. They help promote the reuse of items and keep usable items out of the trash, and can foster community building by bring people together. Since there is very little to no cost involved with planning or participating in a swap, swaps can be accessible to many. If you'd like to learn more about hosting a swap event in your community, join us for the free webinar. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend!

Deconstruction masterclass: Climate and environmental impacts
May 11, 2022 | 10am - 12pm | Zoom webinar

On top of economic and cultural benefits, deconstruction can reduce our reliance on generating new products, it can reduce exposure to harmful materials like lead and asbestos, and it can capture valuable embodied carbon. Perhaps your community has goals to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Deconstruction can be part of the solution. Want to learn more about the  environmental impacts of deconstruction and how you can help? Get all the details from our panel of Minnesota-based experts with deep knowledge in the field of sustainability and reuse. 

Minneapolis garden tool swap event 
May 14, 2022 | 9am -12pm | Seven locations across Minneapolis

Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling and community partners will be holding our second annual city-wide swap event of garden tools and plant related equipment. From first time gardeners to those with green thumbs, all are welcome at this free event.

Deconstruction masterclass: Giving new life to old buildings
May 18, 2022 | 10am - 12pm | Zoom webinar

It might seem like building deconstruction and preservation are at odds. However, old building materials like lumber, windows, and hardware are often built to last and can give new life to existing structures. In addition to economic and environmental benefits, salvaging building materials (instead of crushing and landfilling them) can teach us a lot about the culture, history, and heritage of a particular place and how to appropriately reuse these irreplaceable materials in future projects.

Image source: Arch Daily

Dakota County fix-it clinic
May 21, 2022 | 12 - 3pm | Lakeville, MN

​​Get items fixed or mended for free and learn useful repair skills at an upcoming Fix-It clinic. Skilled volunteers help you figure out what's wrong and fix your broken items. Clinics build community and reduce the amount of stuff thrown in the trash.

St. Louis Park gardening swap
May 24, 2022 | 4 - 6pm | St. Louis Park, MN

This is a great opportunity to clear out gardening tools you no longer use and take home new seeds, tools or plants*! Items not accepted: chemicals (including fertilizers and pesticides), plastic pots or broken items. Invite your friends and neighbors; the event is free and open to everyone! No items may be sold; everything must be given and taken freely.  *To reduce the spread of jumping worms, only house plants, seedlings and annuals are allowed. 

Reuse Minnesota member meeting
May 25, 2022 | 9am - 3:3pm | Detroit Lakes, MN

Join us in person or virtually for our May member meeting. Following the meeting, there will be in person tours of SuLaine’s Antique Mall, Boys & Girls Thrift Store & More, and Becker County Reuse Center. RSVP is required.  

REUSE22 conference
October 3, 2022 | Optional: Site visits and welcome reception | Twin Cities, MN
October 4, 2022 | Conference | University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN

This year's theme is: reflecting on our past, renewing our future. Our in person conference will feature a day of interesting and interactive sessions, networking, and be a celebration of our 10-year anniversary! Registration is now open for speaker proposals, sponsors and exhibitors. Please go to our conference site for more details. Registration for the conference will open in June.

Reuse Minnesota featured in Resource Recycling magazine

Reuse Minnesota and several of its members are featured in the March 2022 issue of Resource Recycling magazine. The article takes a look at the growth and importance of reuse-focused retailers across the country since the wake of COVID-19. Reuse Minnesota Executive Director, Emily Barker, is quoted “I am especially enthusiastic about the potential for peer-to-peer exchanges with businesses helping startups learn about inventory management, social marketing, co-locating with like businesses and new product lines.” Read the article here.

REUSE22 conference

Our annual conference is back in person this year! We will be hosting the conference at the University of St. Thomas Schulze Hall in Minneapolis, MN. As part of our organization’s 10-year anniversary, we will be hosting social events on October 3, and the conference will be on October 4. 

Our conference brings together individuals and groups from all around the state and beyond. We will highlight experts, business owners, and community members in the reuse, repair, and rental sector. 

Are you an leader in your field? Do you inspire to drive change through informing and educating? We are currently accepting speaker proposals and invite you to submit your ideas. Speaker proposals are due June 22. 

Interested in participating as a sponsor or exhibitor? You will have the opportunity to showcase your organization and messages to a captive audience. You will also benefit from networking with leaders, reuse advocates, and other changemakers in the reuse, rental, and repair sectors. 

Tickets to the conference will be available in June. Visit the REUSE22 conference website for registration and conference details, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, and speaker proposal forms.

Seeking input for Hennepin County's Zero-Waste Plan

Hennepin County is in the process of developing a Zero-Waste Plan. Once adopted, the operational plan will map Hennepin County to a zero-waste future where 90% or more of the County’s discarded materials are diverted from disposal in landfills, incinerators, and the environment.

The county is committed to conducting an inclusive, collaborative, and transparent stakeholder process during which both experts and concerned residents can come together to provide input on what is needed to realize a zero-waste future. If you live or work in Hennepin County, your feedback is requested. The listening session seeks your input on the following topics:

• Major obstacles to reaching zero waste
• Identification of gaps that the county’s zero-waste approach will need to fill
• Opportunities for Hennepin County, cities, residents, and businesses to transition to a zero-waste future in a manner that advances racial equity and mitigates unintended negative consequences

Listening sessions:

1. May 4, 1-2:30pm: For contractors, architects, or building material reuse resellers. Please click on this link to register. Questions? Please contact Carolyn Collopy at Carolyn.Collopy@hennepin.us.  
2. May 6, 1-2:30pm: For reuse or repair retailers or advocates. Please click on this link to register. Questions? Please contact Ben Knudson at Ben.Knudson@hennepin.us.

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