Media Contacts

Kim Ramsden / Chris Bauer, PR Co-Directors, Science Museum of Minnesota, (651) 221-9423
Sarah Imholte, PR Coordinator, Science Museum of Minnesota, (651) 221-9412
Peg Roessler, Roessler Public Relations, (952) 949-6550

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2012

Printable version (PDF | 121 KB)

SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA TAKES THE LEAD IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATION WITH BRAND NEW PROJECT NO WASTE INITIATIVE

Downtown Saint Paul museum has tripled its recycling rate in six months, working toward a 75% recycling rate by June 2013

St. Paul, Minn. – Six months after the launch of Project No Waste, a comprehensive waste management program, the Science Museum of Minnesota increased its recycling rate from 18 percent to 51 percent.

The project began with an overall waste management assessment by Progressive Associates, a Saint Paul‐based company that facilitates the development and integration of sustainable business practices by providing leadership to organizations pursuing social responsibility. The assessment revealed that the museum was recycling only 18 percent of the more than 500,000 pounds of waste it generated each year. Progressive worked closely with the Science Museum to coordinate its waste management efforts and develop a strategic plan to increase its recycling rate and reduce unnecessary waste.

The result is a comprehensive program that involves waste management and recycling from all areas of the museum—from the loading dock to Elements Café, from the exhibit production shop to the classrooms. Project No Waste has a visible presence in all the museum's public spaces, as well as in the back‐of‐house staff areas.

"Sustainability is important to maintaining the long‐term health of our community," says Mike Day, senior vice president of museum enterprises at the Science Museum. "Project No Waste is an opportunity for the Science Museum to create a real impact and draw our visitors into the conversation. We have implemented simple waste management strategies here, on a large scale, which can serve as community model to demonstrate that it's possible to make dramatic and long‐lasting improvements in sustainability."

Focusing its efforts on plastic, metal, paper and construction waste recycling and composting, the Science Museum hopes to achieve a 75% recycling rate by June 2013, thus more than quadrupling its original number in two years. "It's an ambitious goal, but with the help of our staff and visitors, who have been extraordinarily supportive so far, it's one that we can achieve," says Day.

Project No Waste was made possible, in part, through a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, with assistance from the City of Saint Paul.

The Science Museum of Minnesota is the Upper Midwest's most popular museum, inspiring more than one million people each year to explore their changing world through science. Among the nation's largest and most esteemed science museums, the Science Museum conducts research, collects and preserves artifacts, produces and distributes award‐winning exhibits and giant screen films, and offers educational programs for children, families, and adults. For more information, call (651) 221‐9444 or visit www.smm.org.

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Project No Waste public website - www.smm.org/projectnowaste

Key players in Project No Waste at the Science Museum of Minnesota:
Mike Day, Senior Vice President of Museum Enterprises
Becky Kirkpatrick, Director of Internal and Facility Sales
Tom Carlson, Director of Facilities Management
Dan Satter, Custodial Manager