Dr. Kathy Klink on the Zero Waste Program at the Mill City Farmers Market

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided

A Discussion with Dr. Kathy Klink, Zero Waste Educator and Volunteer

Mill City Farmers Market has been a zero-waste market since 2009, and was the first zero-waste market in Minnesota. Although zero waste is hard to achieve given current constraints in the world today, it's a definite aspiration of the market (and of other zero-waste businesses and organizations). At MCFM, "zero waste" means the staff works to ensure serviceware from food sales and sampling - such as cups and lids, straws, plates, napkins, and forks - are recyclable or compostable. This has a huge impact on reducing the actual "waste" generated at the market. We wanted to learn more about the program, which led to a discussion with Dr. Kathy Klink, one of the market's fabulous Zero Waste Educators.

Q:  What is the impact of MCFM's Zero Waste initiative? 

A:  Prior to the pandemic, MCFM was able to achieve 93-95% diversion rates for waste generated at the market. That means that of all of the visitor-generated discards, 93-95% were either composted or recycled and only 5-7% was waste that was sent to a landfill or incinerator. Post-2020, the diversion rate has slipped a bit but it's still pretty darn impressive at around 90%. I believe this "slippage" is due at least in part to a general tightening of restrictions on the materials that recycling companies and industrial compost sites will accept. Recyclers can't turn around and sell plastics that have no market (usually that's 3s, 4s, and 6s), and black plastic typically is not accepted because it's difficult to process in automated recycling facilities. Compost facilities such as SMSC and SET only accept BPI-certified compostable packaging and serviceware, and not every item labeled as "compostable" has that certification. If it doesn't, it goes in the trash.

Q:  You have a truly impressive volunteer history in recycling programs – including Hennepin County Recycling Ambassador, Ramsey County Recycling Ambassador and Zero Waste staffing and education at the MCFM. Why is recycling and zero waste important to you? 

A:  Reducing waste is an important way that we as individuals can help to improve the quality of our air, soil, and water, and nobody wants to see garbage strewn around their neighborhood, or floating in a river or lake, or turned into ash to float into the air! Recycling - yes, it does happen - allows us to reuse resources rather than digging for new ones, which also helps to reduce our environmental footprint. Composting turns food waste (among other compostable items) into a nutrient-rich amendment for soils that can supplement or replace the need for synthetic fertilizers. I also have to admit that there's something weirdly satisfying about picking through the recycling, organics, and trash bins at MCFM to make sure that the right things go into the right containers, and then seeing the market staff and vendors' hard work show up in those impressive zero waste counts.

Q:  In addition to your volunteering, you have a Ph.D. in Climatology and teach at the University of Minnesota. Do you have any advice for Minneapolis citizens in terms of practical things we can do to protect our local environment?  

A:  There are lots of ways we can help protect the environment. Reduce-reuse-recycle is near the top of my list, of course, including taking a minute to think before buying or picking up freebies (do I *really* need that item?). If you have any hazardous items (including batteries), it's important to take them to a hazardous waste drop-off site rather than putting them in the trash, which most likely ends up in a landfill or incinerator. And it can be fun to get involved in environmental activities in your community, in ways that make sense for you. That might be attending a neighborhood cleanup event or maybe talking with your elected representatives about environmental issues. These may seem like small things, but if a lot of people do them, they add up to something big.

Q:  How can a person get involved by becoming a Zero Waste Educator at MCFM? 

A:  You can just sign up! The MCFM Zero Waste page includes a link to the sign-up sheet. Training is provided on site and no, you don't actually have to stick your hands into a trash or recycling or organics bin (but you can if you want to - we have gloves!). And if folks would like to go a little deeper into waste reduction, zero waste, and environmental health, I highly recommend the Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassadors program and the Ramsey County Recycling Ambassador program.