Outdoors

Environment

Food waste from Hennepin County is delivered to a commercial composting site in Dakota County run by Specialized Environmental Technologies.

Hennepin County leaders say the added cost is worth it to reduce the organic waste going to landfills or the controversial incinerator in the North Loop.

More from Environment

Minnesota cancels invasive moth treatment after federal funds cut

The Trump administration has delayed funding annual spraying to fight off destructive spongy moth
April 9, 2025
A male gypsy moth, a pest that will feed on foliage of more than 300 trees and shrub species.

I was investigating PFAS. Then a doctor told me to put it in my eyes.

Facing a painful and distracting case of dry eye, a reporter went looking for treatments. What she found was surprising.
April 9, 2025

Can AI save turtles? These Minnesota sisters think so.

Kelly Olson and Katie O’Halloran will soon launch TurtlTracker, an app that uses artificial intelligence to track turtle migration and mortality.
April 4, 2025
GENERAL INFORMATION: Medina, MN - May and June are the months when turtles in Minnesota emerge from their wetland homes, searching for a dry spot to lay their eggs. Unfortunately this trip often means crossing busy roads, and many turtles are killed by automobiles each year. IN THIS PHOTO: A snapping turtle about the size of a Frisbee sits on the side of the Highway 24 in Medina, attempting to cross the busy road either to lay its eggs on the other side or returning from laying its eggs on the s

Minnesota says money to help 10,000 homes with heat and electric bills at risk after Trump fires entire program staff

The state believes it will run out of money to help new applicants in mid-April.
April 3, 2025

Minnesota DNR discovers rare spawning brook trout in Lake Superior

The trout were found spawning along the lake’s shoreline, raising hopes the once abundant fish is rebounding.
April 2, 2025

DFL-backed bill takes a harder line on Minnesota’s data center boom

Data center backers and critics squared off Tuesday at the Legislature over water and energy use, tax credit.
April 1, 2025

Xcel will issue $48 million Minnesota refund for 2011 coal plant disaster

The refund, which will average $12 for a typical household, comes after Xcel was found partially at fault.
March 27, 2025

Garbage ‘crisis’ in St. Paul? Mayor Carter says so, but the City Council president says he’s an ‘alarmist.’

A council vote this week has thrown the city’s plans for a new April 1 garbage system into question.
March 21, 2025

Minneapolis cites demolition crew tearing down Smith Foundry after pollution caught on video

Neighbors near the foundry, which operated for roughly a century in the East Phillips neighborhood until last year, have worried for weeks about dust escaping the site.
March 20, 2025

We tested household products for PFAS using Minnesota’s new regulations. Here’s what we found.

The Star Tribune used a screening test similar to what the MPCA would. Some results were above the level that could trigger a state inquiry.
March 20, 2025

Sneezing already? Allergy season grows with warming weather in Minnesota.

An analysis of weather data reveals that the season of itches and sniffles is longer than it was 50 years ago.
March 19, 2025
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