Hennepin County is recognizing local businesses for their recycling efforts by providing window decals and listing them in an online directory. The first decals were awarded to Kim Bartmanns Barbette restaurant for its long-term efforts to minimize the amount of food waste that gets trashed. Several years ago, Barbette became one of the first businesses in the county to start an organics composting program to recycle its food waste and unrecyclable paper products into valuable compost.

The decals, which are playful and bold in their design, are similar in concept to restaurant rating decals. Potential customers can use the online directory and look for the decals to find and support businesses that are recycling and diverting organic waste from the trash. Organics can be recycled by composting, by sending food scraps to feed animals at local farms, or by donating edible food to local community kitchens. Many businesses in the county, in addition to Bartmanns restaurants, are already recycling food waste, including the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and the Minnesota Twins.

Business leaders asked the county to develop a recognition program to help them show their commitment to the community and the environment. In response to this request, the county partnered with the Noun Project, a platform of more than 50,000 icons and symbols that help people communicate in an effective and universal way. In March 2013, the Noun Project hosted an Iconathon design workshop that brought together designers, recycling experts and the general public to develop concepts for the decals. The workshop was hosted at the University of Minnesota College of Design as part of its 2013 Public Interest Design Week.

The county is now seeking businesses interested in using these decals to promote their recycling efforts. To become an environmental partner, businesses fill out a short application and have their recycling efforts verified by county staff during a site visit. Once verified, businesses will receive their recognition decals and will be listed in the Environmental Partners Directory available on the county website.

The business sector generates more than half of the total waste in Hennepin County, and studies show about one-third of that waste is food and food-soiled paper. Increasing recycling by businesses is critical to meeting the county recycling goals and will be required for most business in the county starting in 2016. In addition to the recognition program, the county offers grants up to $50,000, free labels and signage, and professional staff assistance to help businesses start or improve recycling programs.

To apply for an environmental partner decal or learn more about business recycling programs, visit www.hennepin.us/businessrecycling or call 612-348-3777. To learn more about the Noun Project, visit www.thenounproject.com.