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We’re thrilled to introduce the Minnesota Toy Library, a valued member since 2022! With a strong focus on reducing waste, promoting development, and building community, the Minnesota Toy Library is passionate about fostering sustainable play for young children. Get to know more about the organization from the founder and Executive Director, Rebecca Nutter.

Describe the mission and activities of your organization.

The Minnesota Toy Library is a toy lending library. We lend toys that are appropriate for children aged 0 - 5 years old where caregivers can check out up to 5 toys at a time and return when they are done! In 2014, I joined 3 other local Minnesota moms who had the idea to start a toy library and we began lending in Spring 2015. We started with 50 toys and rented rooms from public libraries to host our events. Now we have over 9,000 toys and 3 permanent locations.

South Minneapolis location – 8 W 60th St (door #11), Minneapolis, MN 55419
Northeast Minneapolis location – 2510 Cleveland St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
St. Paul location - Inside Progressive Baptist Church, 1505 Burns Ave, St. Paul, MN 55106

Visit our calendar online and subscribe to stay updated on our hours. Members have access to all of the branches.

How does Reuse Minnesota align with your organization's mission?

Joining Reuse Minnesota was an important step for our toy library. While many toy libraries emphasize the cost savings and play opportunities that come with lending toys (which are indeed important!), we are especially focused on the environmental impact. Lending toys reduces waste and lessens the strain on our environment. We have the opportunity to teach children about reuse at a very young age. By becoming a member of Reuse Minnesota, we can amplify this message to the public and learn from others in the reuse community.

You’ve recently had some exciting news! How is Minnesota Toy Library promoting environmental justice in the Twin Cities?

The Minnesota Toy Library was recently awarded a grant from the Minnesota Pollution and Control Agency. This grant focused on projects that were committed to the principle of environmental justice - which means that all people would benefit from equal levels of environmental protection. Our grant title, "Sustainable Play for All: Expanding Community Toy Lending to St. Paul," would provide toy lending in the east metro of the Twin Cities, helping those caring for young children reduce waste around playtime.

We opened our doors at the St. Paul location at the end of August 2024 and currently have 12 members. We are hoping to reach more diverse communities by reaching out to Hmong and Karen populations and to make it more accessible, we offer translation services through Language Line. We are continuing to talk with local public libraries, early childhood family education, and those working with young children to share the news. We hope to bring in 100 members in our first year.

How can people sign up for a membership?

Membership is a yearly cost and is on a sliding scale from $40 - $100. Members pay what is comfortable for them. We accept cash, card, check or Venmo at any location. Check out up to 5 toys at a time and return them in 2 - 4 weeks. Members are responsible for the care and cleaning of the toys. There are also scholarships available to cover the cost of membership.

How can community members support you?

We are in need of volunteers to help at our St. Paul location. Volunteer duties include reshelving toys and helping families check in and out toys with our computer software. Sign up here! It's also a great opportunity for high school students if they need volunteer hours!

You can reach the Minnesota Toy Library team at mplstoylibrary@gmail.com.

We hosted our annual member meeting on November 20. The entire day was filled with connecting, sharing of ideas, and learning from each other. There was such great energy in the room, and a testament to why we do the work we do. Reuse Minnesota is so fortunate to have great members. As we work to build community in the reuse space, each one of you is also working to lift up your own communities. It's truly inspiring.

The day started off with a tour of Evergreen Collective, a refillery and zero-waste store located in Saint Paul. Owner Taylor Hall spoke about the realities of running a small business, sharing about her customer rewards program and product sourcing. Members got to shop the store and see the basement where Evergreen Collective hosts swap events. Check out Evergreen Collective for some great holiday gift ideas!

Members and guests convened at The Market at Malcolm Yards for networking and lunch before the meeting began. We shared updates on our programming, events, financials, and membership survey.

We're excited to introduce you to Native Sustainability, a dedicated member since 2021. With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement, Native Sustainability has been making a significant impact in our network. Join us as we dive into their inspiring journey and explore the values that drive their mission!

Describe what your organization does? When was it founded and why?

Native Sustainability (NS) was founded in June of 2014. Our founder, Megan, started her career in the environmental field in 2003 with the nonprofit organization Environmental Initiative, and spent a year with a start-up sustainability company. After a layoff in 2008, Megan freelanced for a handful of years and as clients began to be consistent, she decided it was important to form the business.

Native Sustainability is a creative consultancy - we meet clients wherever they're at in their journey and help identify opportunities for projects and programs. We have a breadth of knowledge in all aspects of sustainability, but have expertise in creative waste management solutions. From development and implementation of robust waste diversion programs, to identifying new technologies to extract valuable compounds from existing waste streams - we leverage our knowledge and network connections to help our clients achieve measurable results.

What about your organization inspires you?

We are so inspired by our clients desires and efforts to make meaningful changes that result in real environmental progress. An example is our work with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) - where we serve on the Waste Working Group, which is in charge of achieving a 75% diversion rate from landfills. The MAC's commitment to bold, incredibly impactful sustainability goals is very inspiring. They show this commitment through real investments - with both financial and human capital. This support, from the Commissioner level, allows the efforts to be creative and innovative and truly move the needle on progress. It's yet another reason that MSP gets ranked as one of the best airports, year after year!

How does your organization inspire others? How can others participate in your mission?

We hope to inspire others to work collaboratively! Our success comes from our relationships - having a wide breadth of connections, based on kindness and the desire for collective improvement. People can participate in our mission by finding ways to be involved - in their neighborhood, in their place of worship, or at work. Be the example for others to care for this planet. Start the ball rolling with small efforts - it's incredible how things can gain speed!

How does Reuse Minnesota align with your organization's mission?

Reuse is an essential part of the waste hierarchy. Not only does it have an incredible environmental benefit, it almost always has a social benefit as well. We've been Reuse Minnesota members for years, as well as a partner to advance a statewide project in 2022. Reuse Minnesota has been an incredible collaborator and resource for us, as well as our clients. Connections made through Reuse Minnesota have resulted in new collaborations for our clients, resulting in tons of materials being diverted from the landfill. We are excited to see the organization grow and expand!

One person’s plastic “lace” tablecloth paired with someone else’s sheet canvas will make an interesting dye/stenciled picnic blanket. Another person’s lifetime collection of sturdy but disposable pie tins went home with someone who bakes for charity. The event Sunday August 11 at Eastside Food Co-op was billed as an Arts & Crafts Swap, and swappers artistically interpreted what might be of use.

Sketchbooks, papers, journals, markers and brushes got snapped up almost as quickly as they were put down. Mat boards departed in small quantities. Bling, buttons, all sorts of decorative elements were popular.

“I didn’t know you’d accept this kind of stuff,” said one visitor who found something useful in the “other” category. “I didn’t either,” quipped the person who brought it. Both were happy with the exchange.

Conversations ranged from friends who arrived separately catching up, to strangers who bonded over suggestions for sewing, to laments about throwaway society and what to do about it. All told, a success appreciated by those who donated, swapped, or picked up something useful.

Leftovers went to Art to Change the World, which will route supplies to the new art room at Emma Norton’s Restoring Waters housing and donate what can’t be used there to other appropriate recipients.

Organizer Sophie Hakala said the Co-op will schedule another Arts & Crafts Swap in winter, TBD. Next up is a clothing swap Saturday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Co-op in the community room, 2551 Central Ave. NE. Anything that remains will be available as a “free store” on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 11-2, no drop-offs accepted that day.

Eastside Food Co-op is a supporter of Reuse Minnesota. Information about Reuse Minnesota and Art to Change the World was available at the Aug. 11 event.

Written by Margo Ashmore, Reuse Minnesota board member | Connect and learn more about her on her website

We kicked off the day with an inspiring visit to Elpis Enterprises, a nonprofit dedicated to job training and placement for at-risk youth aged 16-23. Through several social enterprises, youth gain financial and digital literacy, business skills, and customer service experience. Our participants had a blast crafting wooden bird feeders from reclaimed cedar fencing.

Next, we headed to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity office, which was a wonderful venue for our gathering of 38 in-person and 7 virtual attendees. Reuse Minnesota shared program updates and invited members to do the same. 

After the member meeting, some of the group explored Purrniture Cat Furniture, where we saw firsthand how repurposed materials are transformed into creative cat furniture—from steps to towers.

Our final stop was a guided walking tour of the Chroma Zone Murals in Saint Paul's Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ). This vibrant district, home to artists, architects, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers, offered a stunning display of murals and insights into the artists behind them. 

The day was packed with sharing, exploring the many forms of reuse, and connecting with our Reuse Minnesota members and guests. Save the date for our annual meeting on Wednesday, November 20th at Malcolm Yards in Minneapolis! Come meet your board candidates for a meet and greet.

"I'm just inspired by being around another person in reuse," said one member after a brief networking chat. We couldn’t agree more— the positive energy, support, and impactful work of all our member organizations IS inspiring!

Photo by Julen Garces 

When we talk about sustainability, the terms reuse and recycling often come up, sometimes interchangeably. Yet, these practices are fundamentally different, each with its own set of benefits and challenges. 

Reuse involves using an item again for its original purpose or repurposing it without significant processing - like using a glass jar as a container for bulk foods.
Recycling, on the other hand, entails breaking down materials to create new products, often through an energy-intensive industrial process - like melting down plastic bottles to make new plastic items.

Environmental differences

From an environmental perspective, the impact of reuse versus recycling is quite different. 

Reuse reduces the need for new raw materials, minimizes waste, and consumes significantly less energy. In contrast, recycling, while still beneficial, involves processes that consume energy and can produce waste and pollutants. For example, recycling aluminum requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum, yet it still involves significant industrial processing.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation emphasizes the substantial benefits of reuse within the framework of a circular economy. They highlight that reuse, along with other circular strategies, can significantly reduce environmental impacts by keeping products and materials in use and designing out waste and pollution.

For instance, the foundation explains that shifting to a circular economy could halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 across various sectors like mobility, food systems, and the built environment. This illustrates the profound impact that reuse and other circular practices can have on reducing environmental footprints.

Cost advantage

Reuse often saves money for consumers and businesses alike. 

Photo by Karolina Kaboompics 

Consumers save money by reusing products instead of buying new ones. Reusing containers, furniture, and clothing directly cuts down on household expenses and can avoid or reduce disposal costs.

Businesses that implement reuse strategies, such as remanufacturing or refurbishing products, quite often spend less on raw materials and energy. Remanufacturing a product typically costs 40-65% less than making a new one from scratch​ (US EPA)​. By designing products for reuse, companies can extend the lifespan of their products, reducing the need for frequent replacements and lowering the overall cost of goods sold​.

Businesses that adopt reuse practices can also enhance their brand image and build customer loyalty, which translates to increased sales and customer retention. Companies like Patagonia and IKEA have implemented reuse and repair programs that save money and also attract environmentally conscious customers​.

Social impact

Reuse encourages community engagement and education. In Minnesota, opportunities to foster community spirit while promoting the benefits of reuse are growing. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Here at Reuse Minnesota, we’re thankful for funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Environmental Assistance Grant Program which allows us to host Mend-it Clinics throughout the year.

County-sponsored Fix-It Clinics invite residents to bring broken household items, like small appliances, clothing, electronics, and more, to be repaired for free by volunteers. These events not only extend the life of the items but also help build community connections as people come together to share skills and knowledge.

Likewise, Loose Parts Laboratory is a materials center for community members to utilize salvaged “found objects” from everyday life in classrooms, workshops, art spaces, and community events, providing the essential ingredients for enriching childhood learning, creative expression, and development. 

These initiatives prove that reuse is not just about environmental benefits. By participating in these events, people are contributing to a more sustainable and connected community.

Supporting local economies

ArtStart’s core program, ArtScraps, is a creative reuse store of donated, recycled materials, a destination for people to obtain supplies and inspiration for art projects with low environmental impact. Over 50,000 pounds of scrap material and discards are reused.

Austin Creative Reuse (ACR) has created numerous jobs and supports local artisans by providing affordable, gently used creative materials and a marketplace for these items. ACR began as a 100% volunteer-run organization and has grown significantly, now operating an 11,000-square-foot facility in the Windsor Park neighborhood. This growth has included the creation of paid staff positions to support their expanding operations​.

Promoting a local culture of reuse fosters long-term sustainability and conscious consumption. By embracing reuse, we’re paving the way for a more sustainable and conscientious society. And that simply benefits everyone.

Photo by Matheus Bertelli

Understanding the differences between reuse and recycling reveals that while both are important for sustainability, reuse often offers greater benefits. It can be more resource-efficient, cost-effective, and supportive of local economies, building a culture of sustainability. 

By embracing reuse, we can make a significant impact on our environment and communities. Let’s take this opportunity to integrate more reuse practices into our daily lives and support local reuse initiatives. Together, we’re building a more sustainable future.

Written by Cynthia Berg | Cynthia is a versatile UX & content design expert who creates captivating online spaces & content for purpose-driven organizations. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram or on her website.

Reuse Minnesota members and guests pose in front of a shipping container at WLSSD. The container houses items for reuse dropped off from the community. 

Crisp clear Northern Minnesota air, tours of a reuse facility and a unique building restoration, and serious talk about forever chemical flame retardants in mattresses are examples of what participants find at quarterly member meetings and excursions sponsored by Reuse Minnesota. The latest, May 30 in Duluth, featured a talk, two tours and networking over lunch.

Carmen Paredes Dockry of Mano a Mano International, which re-homes medical supplies and equipment from Minnesota to Brazil, commented that Reuse Minnesota functions get their small organization out to events and places that would not otherwise be affordable or available.

Emily Barker shares updates on Reuse Minnesota's programming.

“It’s refreshing,” said Sue Doll, solid waste specialist from Anoka County, commenting that this is a group she connects with tangentially in her work. “It’s amazing how many businesses there are in reuse.”

Loose Parts Laboratory’s team learned a lot, as a startup business, through other members and trainings and webinars offered by Reuse Minnesota.

These spontaneous testimonials came out in the first hour or so of the meeting which talked about all Reuse Minnesota’s upcoming events and offerings. Then participants promoted their own events, shared things that they learned recently, announced job openings and other opportunities.

NRRI
Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota - Duluth hosted and presented information about new product and process developments plus reuse measurement. Victor Krause, NRRI Senior Research Scientist, and Shawn Dolan from Second Chance Mattress Recycling, a program of Emerge, talked about markets for the clean metals and wood frames from the mattresses Second Chance disassembles. They asked the group to think about uses for the stuffing, and how to separate it into distinct categories to avoid contamination of each commodity. That’s where the PFAS question came up. “NRRI is on the forefront of mitigating PFAS,” Krause assured the group.

Victor Krause, NRRI and Shawn Dolan, Second Chance Recycling talk about their statewide diversion of furniture and mattress waste pilots.

WLSSD
Next stop was over the hill and down the road to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District’s Materials Recovery Center, next to its closed landfill, where people can drop off many items for recycling. In several separate buildings or containers, folks pay (at the gate, by approximate weight and type) to drop reusable household and construction items which others take free. They limit the amount of time and number of items taken to spread the good stuff around and keep the line moving.

When the landfill was consolidated in its current location some 1948 newspapers found there were still readable, saved to demonstrate how slowly materials degrade.

Staff explained the many different places that specific categories of recyclables go.

Guests get a tour of WLSSD, learning about the Materials Recovery Center and its drop off services.

Lunch and discoveries
Some of us discovered the Duluth Gear Exchange after a brief lunch at the Whole Foods Co-op. The store sells secondhand outdoor gear and clothing. The other lunch bunch went to Dovetail Café and could stop by the Duluth Folk School or Ren Market, “a friendly little boutique for zero waste, environmentally conscious living in Duluth, MN” which is about to launch its online store.

Duluth Gear Exchange sells outdoor gear on consignment and offers mending services.

Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps
To get folks thinking about reuse of buildings, the Reuse Minnesota group visited a two-story structure, made primarily of concrete, which served as executive offices and the staging area for trades necessary to building and keeping up the (also concrete) homes of the company town that housed US Steel workers from the planning in 1913 through 1933. Most recently the building was owned by a group of small businesses. Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps is rehabbing it into its own headquarters and eventually a tool lending library and other initiatives related to its mission of developing enduring workforce and life skills through service learning in historic preservation and community stewardship.

Charley Langowski with Northern Bedrock shares the vision for the space and offers some history on the space.

Next event
The next member meeting will be in the Twin Cities east metro area (St. Paul or suburbs) on August 14. Under a new membership structure introduced recently, folks thinking of joining may attend two member meetings to check it out before joining. There will be a $10 to $15 charge for the associated tours (tours free for members). There are other Reuse Minnesota-sponsored events that are free to attend thanks to grant funding. Join the 120 passionate reuse advocates, supporters and organizations at reusemn.org.

Written by Margo Ashmore

New used shelving was purchased by Margo Ashmore, Reuse Minnesota board member, to make Minneapolis Toy Library's "music section" easier to access. The shelving was purchased from Better Future's ReUse Warehouse.

When kids come to the Minneapolis Toy Library, they encounter various types of donated shelving holding the toys they may check out. The shelf collection got a little more sturdy with the addition of some contributions that came through Better Futures Minnesota on April 15. Both organizations are members of Reuse Minnesota.

Better Futures does deconstruction – the taking apart of houses by hand – and curbside pickup of large items for the city of Bloomington. Shelving – whether free-standing or formerly built-in – comes from those sources to the ReUse Warehouse store.

Better Futures crew members unloading shelving at Minneapolis Toy Library.

The warehouse is open to the general public. You can find their hours here. Popular building materials include flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, doors, windows, and even dimensional lumber and mechanicals. Our board member, Margo Ashmore, purchased these three shelves and arranged delivery to the Minneapolis Toy Library. The shelves are replacing smaller, rickety shelves in the “music section”. Those shelves will find new use in the storage area.

Teresa, one of the Minneapolis Toy Library leaders, said the new used shelves replaced these backless black shelves which will rotate into their non-public storage area.

At the toy library’s Northeast branch, its leaders receive small stipends but it’s a labor of love making the library accessible six days a month so people can check out toys. 

Mi, a visiting parent, signed up for a toy library membership as the crew was unloading. She left with a couple of armloads of toys, saying “Children will play with some toys for such a short time. They lose interest fast, so rather than buy all these things that can be so expensive, the library is great.”

Minneapolis Toy Library will hold a training for lead volunteers to run the open hours at the Northeast location on May 26 from 4-5pm. There will be a garage sale fundraiser on May 23-25 and June 6-8.

Written by Margo Ashmore

Broaden your perspective by delving into a new book! We asked several Reuse Minnesota board of directors to share their favorite books on environmentalism and climate change. Check out your local library and add these picks to your reading list!

Margo Ashmore, Board of Director

Book recommendation: Climate Justice by Mary Robinson

“It helped me understand that social justice and environment are intertwined, that we don’t have to give up on one to help solve the other. It’s a fast, inspiring read, a woman diplomat’s point of view."

A quote from the book:
(About a meeting on implementing the Paris Agreement, November 11, 2016)

“Forty-eight of the poorest countries made an extraordinary pledge: They would receive all their energy from renewable resources by 2050. Having some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change lead on delivering the goals of Paris was a powerful and humbling declaration. The message was clear: There was no turning back. The rest of the world would forge ahead with or without the United States.”

Miriam Holsinger, Board of Director 

Book recommendation: Plastics: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel

“It was very honest about the good and the bad around plastics and offered lots of incredible history of the material. It was very engaging and an easy read.”

Emily Noyes, Board of Director 

Book recommendation: Jungle: How Tropical Forests Shaped the World-And Us by Patrick Roberts

About EPR
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy tool that makes producers legally and financially responsible for mitigating the environmental impacts of their products and packaging.” (Upstream)

This is largely based on the principles and understanding that manufacturers have the most knowledge of and influence over product design and are therefore also the most well-suited to manage products at the end-of-life stage. EPR policies leverage institutional power to reduce product waste by encouraging more sustainable, repairable, and reusable designs in the first place. It also sets the expectation that if a producer creates a product, there needs to be circular systems and mechanisms in place from the start, as opposed to perpetuating the linear take-make-waste models. While there is an acknowledgment that individuals drive demand with their purchasing, EPR policies redirect the ultimate ownership back to the producer. 

EPR can outline clear and standardized approaches to managing certain types of materials and waste, as well as promote more transparency in making and substantiating claims of sustainability. All products inherently impact the environment throughout their lifecycle, so the longer they stay in use and are recirculated, the better. EPR with strong measurement, tracking, and reporting requirements can increase awareness of environmental impacts and help reduce greenwashing.

To date, the majority of EPR policies center more on recycling, which is a good start but not as impactful. The key to unlocking the full potential of EPR is to require practices and infrastructure that more effectively decrease resource extraction, energy consumption, climate pollution, and waste generated at end-of-life. EPR needs to prioritize reduction, repair, and reuse over recycling. Recycling is important when recycled content offsets the demand for virgin materials but it doesn’t eliminate the impacts that are still generated during the manufacturing phase. Reusable materials, products, and packaging are key to avoiding these impacts, reducing emissions and wastes, while also promoting the circular economy.

Current EPR Legislation
So, where is reuse-oriented EPR being done? Here in Minnesota, reusers are celebrating the passing of the Digital Fair Repair law during the 2023 legislative sessions, making it easier for consumers and small businesses to fix phones, computers, equipment, appliances, and so on. While typically not identified as an EPR bill, this legislation nonetheless is a critical step towards expanding electronics reuse and setting expectations that manufacturers are required to participate - even if just by making parts, documentation, software, and tools available to the public.

Many other states are developing EPR legislation, notably within the world of packaging. Maine and Oregon were first to implement laws in 2021, followed by California and Colorado in 2022, and New Jersey and Washington in 2023. The level of reuse investment in these bills varies, but hopefully, efforts will continue to prioritize this, and programs will be established. EPR is certainly on the rise in the United States, with many other states considering similar changes. More legislation is expected in the future as momentum continues, including Minnesota with an EPR for packaging and paper products (PPP) in development.

Becoming completely “zero waste” is most certainly a challenge, but with more EPR that prioritizes sustainable design, reuse and repairability, and circular infrastructure, there are clear opportunities for reducing the environmental impacts and waste generation of our products and materials. The best thing we can do is to work with policymakers and industry leaders to move towards more holistic ownership of products, more equitable distribution of financial and managerial responsibility, and ground legislation in more waste reduction, repair, and reuse whenever possible.