More than 130 community members came together at the Brookdale Library for the first of a series of Swap-It events, coordinated by Reuse Minnesota on behalf of Hennepin County.
The event, focused on holiday decor, saw 135 attendees exchange 888.9 pounds of decorations—750.4 pounds were swapped directly, while 138.5 pounds were donated to Arc’s Value Village. In total, nearly 900 pounds of items were diverted from the waste stream, helping participants refresh their holiday decor affordably while strengthening the community’s culture of reuse. Watch this short piece by CCX Media!
The next Swap-It event is scheduled for February 28 at the Ridgedale Library, where the theme will be kitchen gadgets.
The energy was high and the ideas were flowing at REUSE25, held at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, and coordinated by Reuse Minnesota. The two-day event brought together 192 registered attendees for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration centered on the transformative impact of reuse.
Throughout the conference, participants attended 20 engaging sessions on topics ranging from Extended Producer Responsibility and zipper repair basics to reuse in local co-ops and building connections in a divided world. Keynote speaker Alex Eaves captivated the audience with stories from his reuse-focused businesses and personal experiences, encouraging everyone to make reuse a part of daily life.
The day concluded with a casual social hour, giving attendees time to unwind and continue conversations sparked throughout the event.
On October 23, 86 attendees joined community impact site visits hosted by Better Futures Minnesota, Bridging MN, Hennepin Restomods, Ridwell, and SouthWest Metro Lending Library. These behind-the-scenes tours showcased how local organizations are driving innovative, community-based reuse solutions.
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all the attendees, speakers, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, and hosts who made REUSE25 a success. Your enthusiasm and commitment continue to build momentum for a more sustainable future.
Stay connected and learn about upcoming events at reusemn.org/events
Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 24, 2025, at Aamodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater for our latest No Trash Talk social hour! We had a fantastic turnout with 20 attendees from across the waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and composting sectors.
The group was treated to an unexpected bonus: a hot air balloon launch right at the farm! Check out our event photo album.
These No Trash Talk socials are all about connecting professionals in the materials management world. There is no trash talk allowed, just meaningful conversation and idea-sharing. With a focus on partnerships and innovation, these gatherings are a fun and casual way to spark collaboration and inspire new solutions for a more sustainable Minnesota.
Who should attend?
These events are designed for individuals affiliated with:
Guests are always welcome, but we encourage you to consider becoming a member of one (or more) of these great organizations!
Don’t miss the next one!
Visit reusemn.org/events to stay updated on upcoming No Trash Talk socials and other events.
Reuse Minnesota is excited to announce the launch of our brand-new webpage dedicated to all things Fix-It Clinics and mending clinics throughout the state!
Find local clinics
Explore an interactive map of all known Fix-It and mending clinics in Minnesota—a helpful tool to locate events near you and connect with repair communities across the state.
Stay in the loop
Check out our calendar of upcoming clinics, hosted by Reuse Minnesota members and partners. Whether you're looking to fix something, learn new skills, or just get inspired, these events are open to all community members.
Get involved
Thinking about starting a Fix-It Clinic in your community? Connect with Reuse Minnesota for support! Reach out to us at fixit@reusemn.org.
Volunteer
Reuse Minnesota received a Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to help expand Fix-It Clinics across Greater Minnesota.
We're currently seeking fixers, menders, and event volunteers to assist at upcoming clinics in these counties:
Fix-It Clinics rely on volunteers to assist with repairs and to help the event run smoothly. This is a great opportunity to give back, share your knowledge, and help reduce waste in your community.
If you're handy or just love helping others, consider signing up to volunteer and make a difference in your community!
Check out the new webpage here: Fix-It Clinics
Last month, Reuse Minnesota and several of our member organizations had the opportunity to connect with hundreds of fairgoers at the Minnesota State Fair. We were proud to coordinate the Reuse & Repair Community Booth in the Eco Experience Progress Center, a space dedicated to sustainability and environmental education.
Carolyn Wieland and Emily Barker, Reuse Minnesota staff
The Reuse & Repair Community Booth aims to demonstrate repair and reuse skills, raise awareness of the environmental, social, and financial benefits of resale, rental, and repair, and highlight organizations working in these sectors.
Over the 12 days of the fair, different member organizations engaged with attendees—sharing how their work supports reuse, repair, and waste reduction across the state.
This year, our primary focus was on promoting and recruiting volunteers for Fix-It Clinics in Greater Minnesota. We educated fairgoers on the value of repairing and mending everyday items, explained how Fix-It Clinics work, and shared opportunities to get involved.
We were excited to partner with the following member organizations, who each helped staff the booth and share their reuse stories:
The Eco Experience, hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, remains one of the state’s premier platforms for environmental outreach, offering hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and helpful resources for Minnesotans of all ages.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on August 14 at La Doña Cervecería for Reuse Minnesota’s Board fundraiser! Whether you attended, bid in the silent auction, or made a donation, your support helped us raise $3,600 to advance reuse across Minnesota.
Proceeds from the event will support our work to educate Minnesotans on the benefits of reuse, advocate for reuse-friendly policies, and promote the many businesses and organizations driving reuse in our state.
Attendees enjoyed connecting with fellow reuse enthusiasts, tasty tacos, and a unique array of silent auction items. Huge thanks to our Board of Directors for organizing such a fun and meaningful evening!
Missed attending the fundraiser? We welcome your financial support all year long!
Reuse Minnesota is a nonprofit dedicated to growing resale, rental, and repair across the state. Support our mission with a one-time or recurring gift.
Reuse Minnesota staff and board members Front row (L to R): Emily Barker, Executive Director, Audrey Woychick, Rita Cole, Margo Ashmore, Carolyn Wieland, staff, and Melissa Seeley Back row: (L to R): Emily Noyes, Annika Bergen, and Dustin Siemers
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our quarterly member on August 7.
We started the day with a tour of PCs for People in St. Paul, where we learned about their work responsibly recycling electronics and redistributing donated devices to low-income families and students.
After that, we visited Grahn's Upholstery to meet their talented team and hear about their process for transforming and restoring furniture.
The meeting portion of the day was held at PAIKKA, a sustainable event venue in St. Paul. We had folks join us virtually and in person. During the meeting, we shared several updates and announcements:
We were excited to spotlight two member organizations who are doing great work to foster reuse and sharing in their communities:
Our next gathering will be our annual meeting on November 17, from 10am-4pm.
Reuse Minnesota staff, board members, and several of our organizational members had the privilege of attending this year’s Build Reuse Conference, held on August 4-6 in Saint Paul. Over the course of the three-day event, attendees engaged in workshops, panel discussions, and site visits focused on building material reuse, deconstruction, and circular economy solutions. It was an inspiring opportunity to connect with national leaders in the reuse space.
(From L to R): Board members Petrina Rhines, Hannah Jenkins, Rita Cole, Audrey Woychick, Emily Noyes, Margo Ashmore, and staff members, Carolyn Wieland and Emily Barker.
On July 15, 2025, Chisago County held its first Fix-It Clinic at the North Branch Library, in partnership with Reuse Minnesota.
Thanks to these efforts, the clinic diverted 59 pounds of waste from the landfill. It also sparked valuable conversations about repair, reuse, and sustainability.
Huge thanks to the volunteers and attendees who made this launch event such a win for Chisago County!
The event was funded by a Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, with support and guidance from Reuse Minnesota, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing reuse through education, advocacy, and partnership.
Are you handy with repairs, sewing, or just want to help out at future events? We’re always looking for more volunteers! Fill out the volunteer interest form, and we’ll notify you about upcoming opportunities.
Future Clinics
For upcoming Fix-It Clinic dates, visit: https://www.chisagocountymn.gov/1453/Fix-It-Clinics or reusemn.org/events
This summer, thanks to a Green Partners grant from Hennepin County, Reuse Minnesota partnered with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to offer two separate weeks of sustainability-focused summer camps for youth ages 8–13. The camps were held at Powderhorn and Beltrami Parks.
Campers explored the many ways reuse can help protect our planet—learning essential skills like sewing and mending, diving into hands-on upcycling projects, and discovering creative ways to reduce waste. Through engaging workshops and activities, students gained the tools and inspiration to become environmental changemakers in their communities.
Highlights from the camp included:
We thank all of our instructors and community partners who helped shape these weeks of camp! It was fun seeing the creativity and engagement from the campers who participated in these camps.
Reuse Minnesota was founded in 2012 and is a member-based nonprofit that supports repair, resale, and rental businesses, bringing visibility to the reuse sector as a means to lower our state's impact on the environment.
Contact usEmail Reuse Minnesota612-314-6283reusemn.org
© 2025 Reuse Minnesota. All rights reserved. | Reuse Minnesota is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
