Contact: Nancy Miller, 507-206-2612
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking public comment on a report about achieving compliance with restrictions on disposal of waste in the Twin Cities metro area. The Metropolitan Waste Disposal Restrictions Report is available for review on the MPCA Public Notices webpage.
The metropolitan waste disposal restrictions have been part of state statutes for a number of years. Renewed attention on enforcement of these restrictions stems from the Metropolitan Solid Waste Policy Plan developed in 2010. The plan emphasizes moving waste away from landfills and toward more sustainable practices, such as waste reduction, recycling, organics recovery (composting), and energy recovery through combustion.
According to the plan, all existing, operating waste-to-energy (waste combustion) facilities serving the metro area must be operating at full capacity before any waste generated in the metro area can be disposed of in a landfill. The Metropolitan Waste Disposal Restrictions Report explains how the state will comply with statutes governing this restriction. For more information, visit the MPCA Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan webpage.
Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the draft report from Aug. 1 until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2012. Comments should be sent via email to Sigurd Scheurle at sig.scheurle@state.mn.us or to Tina Patton at tina.patton@state.mn.us. Email submittals are preferred, but comments may also be mailed to Sigurd Scheurle or Tina Patton, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4100.
In addition, the MPCA will host an informational meeting from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at its St. Paul office at 520 Lafayette Road N. The purpose of the meeting is to describe the main elements and conclusions of the report, answer clarifying questions, and obtain public feedback. Interested persons can also view the meeting via webcast at http://stream2.video.state.mn.us/mnoet/Viewer/?peid=ad1226af7cc24f0c85bd6141303fe4431d.
