In spring 2023, Reuse Minnesota shared that we were starting a campaign to create a scholarship fund for small business memberships. We are excited to share that, thanks to the generosity of many individuals, we have reached our initial goal to get the fund started, and we are now accepting applications!
Who is eligible?
Given the greatest need, these scholarships are available for small organizations/businesses with annual operating budgets of less than $500,000.
Priority will be given to organizations that meet one or more of the following:
Interested organizations can apply here. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
We will continue raising funds toward this effort. Our goal is to raise enough each year to cover membership for at least 20 organizations. If you would like to support this effort, please consider a donation today.
Thank you for your support for Reuse Minnesota! Together we are building regenerative, reuse-centered communities in our state!
Grant funding available!
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is excited to announce that the Greater Minnesota Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and Composting Grant, formerly the Greater Minnesota Recycling and Composting Grant, is now open for applications. Please click here to access the RFP and detailed application information.
Greater Minnesota Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and Composting Grant
MPCA is offering approximately $1 million for projects that increase the efficiency or effectiveness of waste reduction, reuse, recycling, or composting programs. Reducing the amount of reusable, recyclable and compostable materials entering landfills in Greater Minnesota communities benefits the environment as well as local economies.
The Minnesota Fair Repair coalition recently celebrated the signing of the Digital Fair Repair law with a party! Thanks to our host, Repowered, for offering the space to hold our gathering and giving us a behind-the-scenes tour of the work they do. We thanked our lead authors, committee chairs, Attorney General Ellison, advocates, and supporters who have worked diligently over the last 8 years to get the law passed.
We recognized some of our champions with wooden plaques made from repurposed shelves and RAM strips! Thanks to TechFixers for helping with the creation of the plaques.
We are proud of all of you and your collective effort to make this historic event possible!
Members of the Minnesota Fair Repair coalition:
Alta Technologies Inc. Association of Recycling Managers (ARM) Environment Minnesota Eureka Recycling MN Land Stewardship Project (LSP) Minnesota Farmers Union Minnesota Tech for Success Partnership on Waste and Energy (PWE) Repowered Reuse MinnesotaSolid Waste Administrators Association (SWAA) Tech Fixers Repair.org - The Repair AssociationU.S. PIRGVibrant Technologies World Data Products
Reuse Minnesota's Executive Director Emily Barker was invited on the "Ask the Actual Expert" segment of myTalk 107.1 - Minneapolis/St. Paul Shop Girls show to talk about fix-it clinics! The interview took place during an actual Dakota County Government clinic in Farmington.
Jump to (18:25): https://www.mytalk1071.com/episode/7-15-23-hr-2-when-is-a-small-appliance-worth-fixing/
Interested in attending an upcoming fix-it clinic near you? Check out our events calendar: reusemn.org/events.
Our 2022 study measuring the statewide impacts of reuse was recently highlighted by Streets.mn. The benefits of reuse, repair and rental have played a part in the creation of 36,000-54,000 jobs per year, the avoidance of approximately 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year, and the generation of between $3.1 and $4.7 billion in revenue per year. As an organization or individual, where are you prioritizing your waste reduction actions?https://streets.mn/2023/07/21/a-circular-economy-for-minnesota/
Beginning in early 2023, Minnesota GreenCorps member Josh Hauf visited several Reuse Minnesota members, learning about their work and compiling their stories. Josh created a template profile which has been used to showcase each organization's mission, offerings, experiences, and community impact. Josh presented his project and introduced attendees to the portfolio of reuse stories.
Every six years the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency updates the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan with input from government entities, waste management companies, nonprofits, and the general public. This plan directs the actions related to waste reduction, reuse, and other materials management for the seven metro counties, which then set policy for cities within those counties.
Recently MPCA held a virtual public meeting on the draft plan and coverage of the meeting was written up in Waste Dive. Reuse Minnesota's Executive Director Emily Barker attended and spoke in support of the emphasis on reuse in the plan, which also includes reference to our 2022 reuse impact report. Despite waste reduction and reuse being top priorities on paper for many years, prioritization of policy and programming has been low, especially when compared to recycling. Many government entities in the Twin Cities metro are doing great reuse work including hosting fix-it clinics and swap events, providing deconstruction and building material reuse grants, and creating online maps of reuse businesses. The draft plan outlines a path to further increase reuse in government, including leading by example by using reusable foodware at public meetings and joining and/or actively participating in a reuse network like Reuse Minnesota. We see this much needed focus on reuse as an important step forward in building truly regenerative communities.
We invite our members and other reuse advocates to review the draft plan, attend a public meeting, and provide comments to ensure the next 20 years supports a strong reuse community in Minnesota.
On June 26, Reuse Minnesota traveled to Dodge County to host a workshop on how to host swap events and fix-it clinics, followed by a tour of the newly built ReUse Center. Fifteen people from various counties attended the event.
News station KIMT3 was on site to cover the workshop. You can view the newsclip and writeup.
We are quickly approaching the end of the Minnesota legislative session and we need your voice on Right to Repair!
Last week the Minnesota House passed the Digital Fair Repair Act as part of the House Omnibus Commerce Finance/Policy Bill (HF2680). Search for [325E.72] DIGITAL FAIR REPAIR to find the language.
The MN Senate passed similar language (SF2744), but with an amendment that has the potential to gut large portions of the bill under the guise of cybersecurity.
The bills now go to conference committee and it is crucial that the members of the committee hear that we cannot give tech companies a loophole to undermine your right to repair.
What you can do
Write the members of the committee, even if they are not your legislator.
We encourage you to emphasize the importance of adopting the current House version of the bill, which includes language in the cybersecurity section to allow parts as necessary for repair or maintenance of equipment. Without this, any tech company can implement locks and say it is for cybersecurity, and continue to deny you your right to repair.
Sample language
Dear Conference committee member, I am contacting you today in support of the Digital Fair Repair language in the Commerce omnibus policy bill. Right to Repair: Gives Minnesotans throughout the state the freedom of choice of where to bring digital equipment for repair. Supports and expands jobs across a spectrum of Minnesota industries. Reduces the growing amount of e-waste in our world.
Dear Conference committee member,
I am contacting you today in support of the Digital Fair Repair language in the Commerce omnibus policy bill.
Right to Repair:
It is crucial that language related to cybersecurity remain strong. The current language in the Senate version leaves potential loopholes for companies to lock out individuals and independent repair shops under the guise of cybersecurity. Please adopt the House version of this language: Nothing in this section requires an original equipment manufacturer to make available parts, documentation, or tools related to cybersecurity, except as necessary for the repair or maintenance of equipment. Please support Right to Repair for all Minnesotans! Thank you for your time and consideration!
It is crucial that language related to cybersecurity remain strong. The current language in the Senate version leaves potential loopholes for companies to lock out individuals and independent repair shops under the guise of cybersecurity. Please adopt the House version of this language: Nothing in this section requires an original equipment manufacturer to make available parts, documentation, or tools related to cybersecurity, except as necessary for the repair or maintenance of equipment.
Please support Right to Repair for all Minnesotans! Thank you for your time and consideration!
Reuse Minnesota has been selected as a finalist for the 3rd Annual Reuse Awards #TheReusies, presented by Upstream and streaming live from #Circularity23 on June 7!
This is considered the OSCARS of the reuse movement, and we are deeply honored to be considered among those who are at the forefront of innovating reuse solutions and working toward a waste-free future.
Here’s how you can get involved
❎ VOTE for Reuse Minnesota to win now in the category of Community Action: Building Reuse by visiting TheReusies.org and support us by spreading the word to others!
RSVP for the show (it’s FREE!) at The Reusies.org so you don’t miss out on this exciting event!
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.
