Sustainability

Natural Resources and Sustainability Services


  • Recycling: Edina has curbside recycling services contracted by the city and is managed by our Health Department.
  • Water Resources: The Water Resources Coordinator reports to our Environmental Services teams and supports pollution prevention, the quality of groundwater, lakes, ponds, creeks, and wetlands as well as reviewing flooding and drainage.
  • Forestry: The Forestry team reports to our Park Maintenance Department and tasked with many duties including replanting trees in city parks and identifying, marking, and removing disease trees.

City Council and Sustainability


"As the Edina City Council, we are dedicated to building a sustainable environment where current and future generations benefit from clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, and access to nature. We recognize that the City’s natural environment, and the health and quality of life of its residents are just as, or even more, important, than the financial factors. We will ensure that our policies, decisions and future plans have a positive impact on people and the planet, in addition to profit."

Vision Edina


Through the 2014 Vision Edina process, environmental stewardship is one of seven strategic focus areas. Vision Edina’s Environmental Stewardship states:

“There is a growing awareness of the impact that the built environment has on the natural environment, and the individual and collective responsibility we all have towards good environmental stewardship. Community residents and stakeholders believe that Edina can take an active and ambitious internal and regional leadership role in promoting more comprehensive recycling, smart building, and energy efficiency practices. These themes couple well with the parallel benefits in smarter urban planning, increased transportation options, and application of technology.”

The City of Edina has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025 and then 80% reduction by 2050. To accomplish this, Edina has worked with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program to create our Electricity Action Plan.

Get Involved


Take steps at home: Check out our Go Green Edina for steps you can take at home.

Volunteer in your community: Check out Volunteer Edina for current individual or group opportunities or complete a volunteer application to find out about future opportunities.

Resources


  • Go Green Edina: Here are actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and be an environmental steward. Green Business has actions specific to organizations. 
  • Disposal Guide: Clean up can be frustrating unless you know how to get rid of your unwanted stuff. Hennepin County has done the heavy lifting with this new online resource.
  • Buckthorn Removal: Buckthorn is a non-native, invasive shrub originating in northern Eurasia. It has been banned from sales and placed on the Minnesota State Restricted Noxious Weed List. Although sales are prohibited, removal is not mandatory. Check out this video to learn more about removal.