Image: Avonna and her husband Mike on a summer trip to the North Shore of Minnesota.
Summer in Minnesota is pure magic. Whether you’re camping in the Northwoods, boating on one of our 10,000 lakes, or dancing at a neighborhood festival, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the season. But all that fun can also mean a lot of waste—plastic cups at the beer tent, food wrappers at the beach, and trash left behind at campsites.
This summer, let’s protect the places we love by treading a little lighter. Here’s how you can camp, boat, and party sustainably across our beautiful state:
Camping is all about connecting with nature—so let’s keep it clean.
- Ditch single-use plastics. Pack food in reusable containers and use real utensils instead of disposable ones. If you need disposables, choose compostable products and bring a bin to collect them.
- Plan meals ahead. Prep your portions so you don’t overpack or waste food. Bring a cooler to store leftovers and compost scraps when you get home.
- Leave no trace. Bring garbage and recycling bags, and make sure your campsite looks better when you leave than when you arrived.
Boating is a Minnesota rite of passage—but lakes and plastics don’t mix.
- Say no to bottled water. Bring a reusable water bottle and a jug of water to refill it. This one swap keeps tons of plastic out of our waterways.
- Secure your trash. Wind + waves = litter. Make sure everything is tied down and bring a trash bag onboard so nothing flies away.
- Eco-friendly sunscreen. Choose reef-safe and lake-safe sunscreen to protect our water from harmful chemicals.
Minnesota’s summer festivals are legendary. Keep them green with a few smart swaps.
- Bring your own cup. Many events now allow or encourage reusable drinkware—check ahead and BYO if you can.
- Pack a low-waste kit. A cloth napkin, metal fork, and tote bag go a long way in reducing trash.
- Support local and sustainable vendors. Look for booths that use compostable packaging, source food locally, or offer plant-based options.
The Minnesota State Fair signals the end of summer, it can also signal the end of waste!
- Bring a reusable bag. There’s countless shops to buy from, and countless plastic bags being given out. Replace a vendors plastic bag with your reusable bag!
- Rideshare instead of driving. Beyond reducing fossil fuel use, ridesharing can save you parking fees (so you can afford more cheese curds)!
Plastic and food waste aren’t just ugly—they’re harmful. When trash blows into our parks or washes into storm drains, it ends up in our lakes and rivers, polluting the water and threatening wildlife. And food waste decomposing in landfills creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
By making a few thoughtful choices, we can enjoy everything Minnesota has to offer without harming what makes it so special.
Let’s make this a summer to remember—for all the right reasons. Follow Clean Water Action Minnesota for more tips, events, and ways to protect our water and communities.
Together, we can keep Minnesota wild, beautiful, and clean.
