Report on 2001 SCORE Programs

Report on 2001 Programs (750Kb)

Data and analysis of state, county and municipal solid waste management activities in Minnesota that involved SCORE funding. (December 2002)

For the first time, Minnesota's statewide recycling rate showed a year-on-year decline, falling to 46.9% in 2001. Greater Minnesota's recycling rate (48.2%) surpassed that of the metropolitan counties (46.5%).

The report was prepared using data from all 87 counties in Minnesota, and the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. Information was submitted to the Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) through the annual SCORE survey, which contains sections for annual program information, finance and administration, source reduction, recycling, and waste generation.

Highlights

		1999	2000	2001
	Greater Minnesota	2.16	2.21	2.33
	Metropolitan Area	3.30	3.42	3.42
	Statewide	5.46	5.63	5.75
(Millions of tons)

Waste generation

Minnesota continues to produce more municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2001, 5.75 million tons of mixed MSW were generated in Minnesota. Statewide, this represents a nearly 3.5% increase from 2000, and a 47% increase since 1991.

The average Minnesotan now creates 2,309 pounds of waste per year. In the past ten years, per capita waste generation increased by 31%, while the population grew by just 13%.

Recycling

Minnesota's statewide recycling rate for 2001 declined by 0.8%, to 46.9%. Nearly 2.3 million tons of recyclable materials were collected.

Paper	810,280 tons		Metal	344,979 tons
Glass	109,170 tons		Plastic	41,925 tons
Food waste	175,670 tons		Problem Materials	162,518 tons
Textiles & carpet	17,512 tons		Other	605,333 tons

Waste processing and disposal

Waste from Minnesota goes to waste-to-energy and compost facilities and landfills in and out of state. Some citizens still burn or bury their wastes on-site.

Although it is last on the "solid waste heirarchy," landfilling of Minnesota garbage continues to increase. Over 35% of Minnesota's MSW went to landfills in Minnesota and surrounding states - over 2 million tons (658,000 tons landfilled outside of Minnesota).

Waste reduction

Minnesota's efforts are not restricted to managing waste—minimizing waste before it is generated is a major focus. Product stewardship efforts with manufacturers, reuse activities, and residential waste reduction activities are all key strategies to cut the rapid growth of the garbage we generate.

The OEA continued its statewide education campaign focused on waste reduction—Reduce Waste: If not you, who?

The Minnesota Materials Exchange program facilitated exchanges that reused about 630 tons of products in the Metro Area, connecting businesses with waste materials with organizations who needed those materials. Those exchanges saved over $372,000.

Finance and Administration

Minnesota's recycling and solid waste programs have succeeded thanks to long-term funding commitments from the Legislature and local governments. State funding has remained the same since the early years of the SCORE program, while volumes of waste and recyclables have significantly increased. As programs have changed, counties have shouldered the additional costs.

In 2001, Minnesota counties spent $46 million in state and local funds for SCORE-related programs, an increase of over $4 million from 2000. Cities, townships, and other local units of government also fund programs for waste management, reduction and recycling.