In May 2011, Carleton college’s Board of Trustees adopted its first Climate Action Plan, a document that compiles both short and long-term strategies to become climate neutral (net zero carbon emissions) by the year 2050. Carleton authored the document as part of its participation in the 670+ member President’s Climate Commitment which unites higher ed institutions under the conviction that “…colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality.”
Category Archives: Resource
Transition Youth Composting Project
Transition Youth – a sub-group of Transition Northfield – is currently working with the City of Northfield’s pilot composting project, raising awareness, promoting, and making the practice of composting more accessible to people in the community.
City of Northfield Land Development Code
The City of Northfield carries out the policies of the comprehensive plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the city. This Land Development Code is adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the city.
Bridgewater Township: Anaerobic Digester
This project is in the planning stages to explore the possibility of building an anaerobic biodigestor in Bridgewater Township. The digester would turn organic waste from local industry such as MOM brands and Faribault Foods into compressed natural gas that can be turned into fuel for vehicles. In the news: Northfield News article
Contact: Glen Castore
Community Partners Conservation Sub Grant
The Sub-Grant Program is a way for citizens and local organizations to access Clean Water. Funds to reduce stormwater runoff and improve lakes and streams in Rice County. Citizens and local organizations work together to design and implement their own local initiatives. Funds for this project are provided from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.
Northfield Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Incentive Program
In 2012 the City of Northfield started providing incentives for city property owners to enhance stormwater collection and infiltration. The Rain Barrel and Rain Garden incentive programs are reimbursement programs rather than grants.
City Compost Pilot Program & Statistics Project
General Project Description:
The City of Northfield and Dick’s Sanitation, Inc., conducted a test of food waste composting over a six month period in 2013. DSI provided 148 households with weekly pick-up of their compost which was taken to a commercial composting site from June through November. Data is being reviewed by the Northfield Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) and will be presented to the City Council in early 2014, for consideration of expanding citywide. Separation of organics would help extend the life of the County landfill, reduce methane generation, produce usable compost for residents and city use, and has a possibility of reducing overall expense to Northfield of solid waste.
Additional Project Outcomes:
Data from the pilot program was analyzed by Carleton College statistics students led by professor Laura Chihara in hopes of informing City decisions based on quantitative program outcomes. Analysis opportunities included organics weight data, percent of waste diverted, and customer survey results.
A summer 2013 internship position focused on increasing participation in the pilot program through community outreach and education. Carleton College student Caffi Meyer created educational materials, raised awareness for the program, collected data about organics bin usage, analyzed waste weight data, and projected city-wide financial cost/benefits.
Project Reports:
Cows, Colleges and Composting Poster
2013 Internship Report (Caffi Meyer)
Project Contact: George Kinney geokinney@gmail.com