From left: Mayor Ron Case; representatives of Applewood Pointe; Chris Adams; representatives of Buy Nothing Eden Prairie; and a representative of Winnebago Industries stand for a photo at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting after being recognized as 2025 Sustainable Eden Prairie Award winners. Photo courtesy of the City of Eden Prairie
Four recipients were honored with the 2025 Sustainable Eden Prairie Awards at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting.
The annual awards, overseen by the city’s Sustainability Commission, recognize residents, businesses, and community groups that make significant contributions to environmental stewardship and waste reduction.
Applewood Pointe honored for resident-driven organics recycling
Applewood Pointe, a 100-unit senior cooperative, was recognized for a two-year, resident-led effort to expand organics recycling.
Sixty households now participate in the program, and the cooperative has introduced an organics system for large events while switching to compostable paper products.
Buy Nothing Eden Prairie cited for reducing waste through reuse
Buy Nothing Eden Prairie, a Facebook group with nearly 5,000 members, received an award for promoting the free exchange of items — from furniture and clothing to kids’ gear and home goods — that might otherwise end up in landfills.
The group’s reuse model encourages mindful consumption and reduces waste and manufacturing impacts.
Chris Adams recognized for salvaging construction materials
Contractor Chris Adams was honored for prioritizing waste reduction in his remodeling work.
Adams salvages materials such as lamps, faucets, lumber, and other fixtures that would typically be discarded. Many items are given a second life through his family-run thrift store, where they are resold and repurposed.
Winnebago Industries awarded for environmental stewardship
Winnebago Industries, headquartered in Eden Prairie, was recognized for its volunteer support of Friends of Eden Prairie Parks and its contributions toward planting materials.
Most recently, Winnebago employees helped plant more than 500 native woodland plants and shrubs in Miller Park.
Commission-led program highlights community commitment
The Sustainability Commission — made up of resident and student members — reviews nominations each year and selects the winners. Student commissioners presented the awards at the meeting.
Mayor Ron Case said the program reflects values widely shared across the community.
“The City Council, as individual representatives of the people who elect us, reflects our residents’ opinions,” Case said. “We have a strong interest in sustainability and in addressing global warming and climate change. It’s been one of our key initiatives for the five or six years we’ve all been on this council. Sustainability means a lot to us, and we appreciate the residents and students who carry on with the initiatives that matter so much to our community.”
More information is available at edenprairiemn.gov/SustainableAward.