“It’s Up To You”: Olmsted County’s new waste-reduction campaign

Olmsted County Environmental Resources has launched a new effort called the “It’s Up To You” campaign. This campaign encourages everyone in our community to think differently about the waste we create every day. The idea is simple: small choices can make a big difference.

Instead of focusing only on what goes in the trash, the campaign asks people to start earlier—before waste is created. This means trying to reduce what we buy, reuse items we already have, and refuse things we don’t need, especially single-use products. When we make these small choices, we help protect the environment and reduce the amount of material that needs to be thrown away.

The goals of the campaign are easy to understand. By helping people choose reusable items, avoid extra packaging, repair or repurpose items, and make thoughtful buying decisions, Olmsted County hopes to send less waste to disposal and increase recycling and composting. The campaign also reminds everyone that our daily habits – what we buy, how we use things, and what we throw away – have a real impact on our environment.

People in Olmsted County will start seeing the “It’s Up To You” message around the community. Billboards will be placed throughout Rochester and the rest of the county, and you may also hear or see the campaign on social media and radio.

This is a long-term effort. The campaign will continue for several years, adding new messages and educational tools over time. The goal is to help residents build strong waste reduction habits that become part of everyday life.

If you’re wondering where to start, the answer is: start small. You don’t have to make big changes all at once. Simple steps like using reusable containers, reducing food waste, fixing things instead of throwing them away, and recycling correctly all help. Every small choice adds up, especially when thousands of people make them.

If you want more ideas or want to learn more about the campaign, visit olmstedcounty.gov/reducewaste. If you have questions, you can email reducewaste@olmstedcounty.gov.

Together, we can make Olmsted County a cleaner, greener place to live … one small choice at a time.