1. Participate in the Plate to Garden Event today!

To celebrate Earth Day, the Minnesota Chamber's Waste Wise program, in partnership with the Minnesota Composting Council, invites you to stop by our first Plate to Garden event on Friday, April 22! 

Plate to Garden events demonstrate how we can "Complete the Loop" by turning food scraps into compost and applying the nutrient-rich compost back to the soil to grow more food, all while raising funds for local charities and community organizations.

Swing by Mississippi Market West 7th store at 1500 West 7th Street West in St. Paul from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. to pick up your compost. Bags are free, but we encourage anyone who's able to consider a monetary donation. Proceeds will go to Urban Roots.

Bring your own bucket/bag if you like, and help us further reduce waste!

 Can't make it on Earth Day? 

Another Plate to Garden event will take place on May 8 at Urban Growler Brewing Co. in St. Paul starting at noon. The Minnesota Composting Council will be giving away compost and raffling off prizes including compost bins, countertop compost pails, compostable bags and International Compost Awareness Week posters!

2. Check that your thermostat is programmed correctly

Make sure to program your thermostat for when the facility is closed. A general rule of thumb is 1% energy savings for every degree setback over an eight-hour period. This is true for the summer cooling season too! Depending on your space, setbacks of 5-10 degrees are common, going no lower than 55 degrees. Setting the thermostat to re-heat or cool the space before your business opens is a good way to maximize savings, but avoid employee and customer discomfort. Several times a year it is important to check that someone hasn’t adjusted the thermostats. Smart thermostats or lock boxes can prevent unwanted thermostat meddling.

3. Reach out to our Waste Wise and Energy Smart teams to help you reduce waste, conserve energy and save money at your business!

The Minnesota Chamber’s Waste Wise and Energy Smart programs help grow a more sustainable business community. On average, Waste Wise secures businesses an average of $4,700 in funding to reduce waste and improve recycling, while Energy Smart helps businesses unlock an average of $2,000 in energy savings. That's real money all while promoting sustainability at your business. 

The Minnesota Chamber experts at Waste Wise have provided and secured more than a million dollars in grants for companies to reduce, reuse and recycle. Our team can help educate and train your company, and find ways to control waste costs and connect with grants to fund recycling program improvements.

Energy is a major operating expense for businesses of all types and sizes. Energy Smart is here to guide you through the steps to find energy and cost-saving opportunities.

All it takes is a free consultation with Waste Wise or Energy Smart (or both!) to help your business promote sustainability in the long term.

Rob Friend
Executive Director
Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation