Show All Product stewardship for beverage containers
Minnesota's current recycling system is missing opportunities to reduce energy use and the generation of greenhouse gases when it comes to the disposal of beverage containers.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) intends to pursue a voluntary product stewardship agreement with the beverage industry to arrange for the recycling of beverage containers and ensure an 80 percent recycling rate of these containers by 2012. The components of the agreement may include expanded collection opportunities, enhanced outreach and education, and innovative incentive programs. See the 2007 Solid Waste Policy Report: Policy Area 3B (Feb. 2008).
Beverage Container Stewardship Initiative for Minnesota and Wisconsin
The goal of this initiative is a voluntary product stewardship agreement with the beverage industry, creating a signed document (e.g., Memorandum of Understanding) that articulates the roles and responsibilities for various parties to achieve an 80 percent recycling rate for beverage containers in Minnesota and Wisconsin by 2012.
This effort is conducted by the MPCA in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The MOU process is modeled on established negotiated agreements: National Carpet Recycling Agreement (2002), the National Memorandum on Product Stewardship for Paint (2007), and the National Mercury Auto Switch Agreement (2006).
Summary
The MPCA has compiled this summary of the stakeholder process for beverage containers. For more information, contact Peder Sandhei, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: 651-757-2688 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Summary of the Beverage Container Stewardship Initiative for Minnesota and Wisconsin (July 2009 - 2Mb)
Meeting resources
January 2009
Meeting held at the offices of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Eau Claire, Wis.
* Reschedule of cancelled Dec. 19 meeting
- Agenda
- Meeting notes
- Sector Strategies (Gjerde)
- Measurement Proposal (Gjerde)
November 2008
Stakeholders met in Bloomington, Minn.
October 2008
Meeting held at the offices of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Madison, Wis.
- Agenda
- Meeting notes
- Data Inventory and Assessment (Data subcommittee)
- Minnesota and Wisconsin Recycling Profiles (Wolbert, Gjerde)
August 2008
This initial meeting of stakeholders was held in Bloomington, Minn.
- Agenda
- Meeting notes
- Invited to attend
- Meeting participants
- A Wisconsin Perspective (B. Wolbert, Wisconsin DNR)
- Desired outcomes (G. Hickle, MPCA)
- Introduction: Recycling Economics (W. Gjerde, MPCA)
- Agenda. A small group will provide input on process, future meeting dates, and future agenda items. This addresses concerns that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency had too much influence on the meeting. This small group will work to ensure that future meetings are as productive as possible. Initial members: Joan Archer, Mike Madigan, Lynn Morgan, Tim Pratt, Tim Scherkenbach, Ellen Telander, Milt Thomas, Eric Uram, and Brad Wolbert.
- Data development. A second group will develop baseline data that the group can use to measure success. Initial members: Kevin Dietly, Wayne Gjerde, Jongbae Kim, Peder Sandhei, and Brad Wolbert.
Primary contacts
- Peder Sandhei, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: 651-757-2688 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Brad Wolbert, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: 608-264-6286 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
