1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to solid waste; amending uses of state grants to counties for solid 
1.3 	waste reduction and recycling; amending allocation of solid waste management 
1.4 	tax revenues; requiring a study; requiring effective recycling efforts by state 
1.5 	government; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 
1.6 	115A.557, subdivision 2; 297H.13, subdivision 2.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 115A.557, subdivision 2, is amended to 
1.9 	read:
1.10 		Subd. 2.Purposes for which money may be spent. (a) A county receiving money 
1.11 	distributed by the commissioner under this section may use the money only for the 
1.12 	development and implementation of programs to:
1.13 	(1) reduce the amount of solid waste generated;
1.14 	(2) recycle the maximum amount of solid waste technically feasible;
1.15 	(3) create and support markets for recycled products;
1.16 	(4) remove problem materials from the solid waste stream and develop proper 
1.17 	disposal options for them;
1.18 	(5) inform and educate all sectors of the public about proper solid waste management 
1.19 	procedures;
1.20 	(6) provide technical assistance to public and private entities to ensure proper solid 
1.21 	waste management;
1.22 	(7) provide educational, technical, and financial assistance for litter prevention;
1.23 	(8) process mixed municipal solid waste generated in the county at a resource 
1.24 	recovery facility located in Minnesota; and
2.1 	(9) compost source-separated compostable materials, including the provision of 
2.2 	receptacles for residential composting.;
2.3 	(10) food waste prevention or collection and transportation of food donated to 
2.4 	humans or to be fed to animals; and
2.5 	(11) process source separated compostable materials that produce Class I or Class II 
2.6 	compost as defined by Minnesota Rules, part 7035.2836, following anaerobic digestion.
2.7 	(b) Beginning in fiscal year 2015 and continuing thereafter, of any money distributed 
2.8 	by the commissioner under this section to a metropolitan county, as defined in section 
2.9 	473.121, subdivision 4, that exceeds the amount the county was eligible to receive under 
2.10 	this section in fiscal year 2014: (1) at least 50 percent must be expended on activities in 
2.11 	paragraph (a), clause clauses (9) to (11); and (2) the remainder must be expended on 
2.12 	activities in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (7) and (9) to (11) that advance the county toward 
2.13 	achieving its recycling goal under section 115A.551.

2.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.15 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 297H.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.16 		Subd. 2.Allocation of revenues. (a) $33,760,000, or 70 percent, whichever is 
2.17 	greater, Of the amounts remitted under this chapter, 75 percent in fiscal years 2016 and 
2.18 	2017, 80 percent in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and 100 percent thereafter, must be 
2.19 	credited to the environmental fund established in section 16A.531, subdivision 1.
2.20 	(b) The remainder in fiscal years 2016 to 2019 must be deposited into the general fund.
2.21 	(c) Beginning in fiscal year 2016 and continuing each year thereafter, the difference 
2.22 	between the amount deposited in the environmental fund under paragraph (a) and the 
2.23 	amount that would have been deposited under paragraph (a), before being amended by 
2.24 	this act, must be expended on activities in section 115A.557, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), 
2.25 	clauses (1) to (7) and (9) to (11).

2.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.27 	Sec. 3. RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT; STUDY.
 2.28 	(a) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, in consultation with the 
2.29 	commissioner of employment and economic development, the University of Minnesota, 
2.30 	and representatives of Minnesota counties and Minnesota businesses that process 
2.31 	recyclable materials, selected by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency,  shall 
2.32 	analyze current and projected recycling markets and the potential for developing new 
2.33 	products using recycled materials for the state to consider to assist counties in meeting 
3.1 	the 2030 recycling goals of 75 percent in the metropolitan area and 35 percent in greater 
3.2 	Minnesota. The analysis must:
3.3 	(1) estimate the quantity and quality of recyclables, including source-separated 
3.4 	organics, available currently and projected to 2030;
3.5 	(2) examine current recyclable materials markets available to Minnesota and 
3.6 	opportunities for market growth and diversification;
3.7 	(3) analyze individual components of recyclable materials used in new product 
3.8 	development, focusing on opportunities for value-added processing opportunities;
3.9 	(4) compile a schedule that includes the need for and cost of recycling infrastructure 
3.10 	in areas that are currently unserved or underserved; and
3.11 	(5) report on current and planned research to develop new products incorporating the 
3.12 	use of recycled materials and discuss future research needs and potential funding sources.
3.13 	(b) The analysis must include recommendations on ways the state can advance 
3.14 	opportunities for new product and market development and help to increase the financial 
3.15 	investment necessary for the state to reach its established recycling goals. By February 
3.16 	15, 2017, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall report the findings and 
3.17 	recommendations of the analysis to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate 
3.18 	and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over economic development, 
3.19 	workforce issues, and environment.

3.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

3.21 	Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE RECYCLING EFFORTS REQUIREMENT.
 3.22 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. It is important for state government to serve as a model for 
3.23 	responsible environmental practices and providing leadership in sustainable stewardship 
3.24 	of resources.  Minnesota state government should implement exemplary waste reduction, 
3.25 	reuse, and recycling practices, especially in public facilities at the Capitol and all state 
3.26 	agencies.  To increase rates of recycling in state and legislative buildings and facilities, 
3.27 	recycling must be convenient, effective, and easy to use.
3.28 		Subd. 2.Requirements. The Department of Administration shall partner with the 
3.29 	legislature to implement effective methods for increasing recycling rates and reducing 
3.30 	waste generated at buildings housing a state agency or the legislature.
3.31 		Subd. 3.Methods for increasing recycling. Effective methods for increasing 
3.32 	recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste generated by state and legislative 
3.33 	operations must include, but are not limited to, the following:
3.34 	(1) colocation of recycling containers with each trash container;
4.1 	(2) maintenance staff collection of recycling from every location from which they 
4.2 	collect trash;
4.3 	(3) use of containers and signs that are color coded and include graphics to illustrate 
4.4 	what to place in each container; and
4.5 	(4) establish policies requiring employees to recycle and handle waste responsibly.

4.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

4.7 	Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION.
 4.8 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
4.9 	commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for completion of the report required under 
4.10 	section 3. This appropriation does not cancel.

4.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.