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115A.551 Recycling.

Subdivision 1. Definition. (a) For the purposes of this section, "recycling" means, in addition to the meaning given in section 115A.03, subdivision 25b, yard waste composting, and recycling that occurs through mechanical or hand separation of materials that are then delivered for reuse in their original form or for use in manufacturing processes that do not cause the destruction of recyclable materials in a manner that precludes further use.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "total solid waste generation" means the total by weight of:

(1) materials separated for recycling;

(2) materials separated for yard waste composting;

(3) mixed municipal solid waste plus yard waste, motor and vehicle fluids and filters, tires, lead acid batteries, and major appliances; and

(4) residential waste materials that would be mixed municipal solid waste but for the fact that they are not collected as such.

Subd. 2. County recycling goals. By December 31, 1993, each county outside of the metropolitan area will have as a goal to recycle a minimum of 25 percent by weight of total solid waste generation; and by December 31, 1993, each county within the metropolitan area will have as a goal to recycle a minimum of 35 percent by weight of total solid waste generation. Each county will develop and implement or require political subdivisions within the county to develop and implement programs, practices, or methods designed to meet its recycling goal. Nothing in this section or in any other law may be construed to prohibit a county from establishing a higher recycling goal.

Subd. 2a. Supplementary recycling goals. (a) By December 31, 1996, each county will have as a goal to recycle the following amounts:

(1) for a county outside of the metropolitan area, 35 percent by weight of total solid waste generation;

(2) for a metropolitan county, 50 percent by weight of total solid waste generation.

Each county will develop and implement or require political subdivisions within the county to develop and implement programs, practices, or methods designed to meet its recycling goal. Nothing in this section or in any other law may be construed to prohibit a county from establishing a higher recycling goal.

(b) For a county that, by January 1, 1995, is implementing a solid waste reduction program that is approved by the director, the director shall apply up to three percentage points toward achievement of the recycling goals in this subdivision. In addition, the director shall apply demonstrated waste reduction that exceeds three percent reduction toward achievement of the goals in this subdivision.

(c) No more than five percentage points may be applied toward achievement of the recycling goals in this subdivision for management of yard waste. The five percentage points must be applied as provided in this paragraph. The director shall apply three percentage points for a county in which residents, by January 1, 1996, are provided with:

(1) an ongoing comprehensive education program under which they are informed about how to manage yard waste and are notified of the prohibition in section 115A.931; and

(2) the opportunity to drop off yard waste at specified sites or participate in curbside yard waste collection.

The director shall apply up to an additional two percentage points toward achievement of the recycling goals in this subdivision for additional activities approved by the director that are likely to reduce the amount of yard waste generated and to increase the on-site composting of yard waste.

Subd. 3. Interim goals; nonmetropolitan counties. The director shall establish interim recycling goals for the nonmetropolitan counties to assist them in meeting the goals established in subdivision 2.

Subd. 4. Interim monitoring. The director shall monitor the progress of each county toward meeting the recycling goals in subdivisions 2 and 2a. The director shall report to the environment and natural resources committees of the senate and house of representatives, the Finance Division of the senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and the house of representatives Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance on the progress of the counties by July 1 of each odd-numbered year. If the director finds that a county is not progressing toward the goals in subdivisions 2 and 2a, it shall negotiate with the county to develop and implement solid waste management techniques designed to assist the county in meeting the goals, such as organized collection, curbside collection of source-separated materials, and volume-based pricing.

The progress report shall be included in the report required under section 115A.411.

Subd. 5. Failure to meet goal. (a) A county failing to meet the interim goals in subdivision 3 shall, as a minimum:

(1) notify county residents of the failure to achieve the goal and why the goal was not achieved; and

(2) provide county residents with information on recycling programs offered by the county.

(b) If, based on the recycling monitoring described in subdivision 4, the director finds that a county will be unable to meet the recycling goals established in subdivisions 2 and 2a, the director shall, after consideration of the reasons for the county's inability to meet the goals, recommend legislation for consideration by the environment and natural resources committees of the senate and house of representatives, the Finance Division of the senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and the house of representatives Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance to establish mandatory recycling standards and to authorize the director to mandate appropriate solid waste management techniques designed to meet the standards in those counties that are unable to meet the goals.

Subd. 6. County solid waste plans. Each county shall include in its solid waste management plan described in section 115A.46, or its solid waste master plan described in section 473.803, a recycling implementation strategy for meeting the recycling goal established in subdivision 2a along with mechanisms for providing financial incentives to solid waste generators to reduce the amount of waste generated and to separate recyclable materials from the waste stream.

Subd. 7. Recycling implementation strategy. Each county shall submit to the director for approval the recycling implementation strategy required in subdivision 6. The recycling implementation strategy must be submitted by October 31, 1995, and must:

(1) be consistent with the approved county solid waste management plan;

(2) identify the materials that are being and will be recycled in the county to meet the goals under this section and the parties responsible and methods for recycling the material;

(3) provide a budget to ensure adequate funding for needed county and local programs and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to spending the money on recycling programs; and

(4) include a schedule for implementing recycling activities needed to meet the goals in subdivision 2a.

HIST: 1Sp1989 c 1 art 18 s 12; 1991 c 337 s 19-21; 1992 c 593 art 1 s 14-16,54; 1993 c 249 s 13,14,61; 1994 c 639 art 5 s 3; 1995 c 247 art 1 s 14-17; art 2 s 15; 1996 c 470 s 27; 1999 c 73 s 4

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes