Past RFP: February 2010

E-waste Collection for Areas Outside the 11-County Metro Area

In February 2010, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a Request for Proposals for collecting and recycling household-generated e-waste from Greater Minnesota (areas outside of the 11-county metro area as defined by the Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act).

Funded projects

Two registered e-waste collectors received grants for projects beginning in August 2010. 

Lac qui Parle County

Lac qui Parle County received $10,059.51 to add an "electronic waste collection site" at their county demolition landfill and offer free collection of electronic wastes in 2011 (May through October) in conjunction with the facility's summer hours. The goal is to collect 45,000 lbs. of e-waste free of charge. Upon reaching that goal, they will continue to collect e-waste at our permanent collection site for a small fee to cover actual expenses.

Lac qui Parle County has completed their grant. County collection of household e-waste began in May 2011 with the goal to collect 45,000 lbs of e-waste during the term of the grant contract, allowing for larger volumes of e-waste by a greater number of residents. A concrete slab was poured at the Lac qui Parle County Demolition Landfill Site that held a covered roll-off collection trailer. The county advertised through posters, flyers, postcards, newspapers and radio/public TV ads. A part-time employee was hired to help with collection and meticulously packed the trailer to use up all the space.

According to the 2010 Census, there were 3155 occupied households in Lac qui Parle County. Of those 3155 households, 523 households brought electronic waste to the Lac qui Parle County E-Waste Collection site during the six months it was in operation in 2011. The total number of items brought to the site totaled 2056. Seven and one half 20 yard roll-off trailers were filled with the weight totaling 53,585 lbs. On the grant application Lac qui Parle indicated 45,000 lbs. would be considered an excellent total, so 53,585 lbs. is considered outstanding.

The county felt there was a definite need to have an e-waste collection site based up the amount of pounds collected. Upon approval by the Lac qui Parle County Commissioners and the Landfill Operator, the office hopes to continue e-waste collection as an additional service at the Lac qui Parle County Demolition Landfill during the summer season for a nominal fee, with the landfill operator handling the e-waste drop-offs. It is expected that the volume of e-waste remaining in the county should now have decreased to the point that the landfill operator will be able to handle the e-waste drop-offs himself without the help of a part-time employee.

WLSSD: Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (Duluth) received $20,200 for eight collection event days with two collection sites per day. WLSSD used the project to test collection models for residents with a goal of improving the management of electronic waste in targeted rural areas. Grant funding gave the district the opportunity to pilot-test several scenarios, with variables including e-commerce payment options or more traditional routes, seasonality of collections, and timing of events. By utilizing local haulers and working with them to establish these logistical items, WLSSD hopes to create a sustainable model for rural e-waste collections that will be continued by participating businesses in the future.

Project status: Completed

An increase in awareness of the hazards and laws related to eWaste in rural townships.

Residents of rural townships were exposed to the importance of electronics recycling in a multitude of formats over 18 months.

• Township recycling sheds were provided with educational materials and information regarding electronics recycling.
• 2-4 direct mail pieces were sent to each of the approximately 7,000 households
• Posters were provided for each Township recycling shed to display
• Each Ewaste recycling event participant received instructions for how to manage additional electronic waste that they may acquire in the future.
• Townships were provided with collection event information to print in quarterly newsletters.
• A general survey of township residents was conducted to determine their overall satisfaction with the event. 131 residents participated.
  
  • 72% were aware of the collection events
  • 38% attended one of the collection events
  • Nearly 80% of participants disposed of more than one electronic item
  • 49% of survey participants stored their electronic items for over one year before recycling.
  • 93% of participants would likely attend a future event should one be held in their township.

An increase in eWaste recycling participation in rural townships.

• A total of 544 participants attended the WLSSD rural electronics recycling events. This represents a large number of households that had previously been unwilling or unsure of how to properly recycle their electronic waste.
• Many items that had obviously been sitting outside in the elements were recycled. Many large items that would have been very difficult to transport longer distances were recycled with the more convenient township recycling option.
• The timing of each event proved to have a significant impact on the participation. Overall, collections in warmer months were better attended. Saturday mornings also drew the largest numbers.

Total waste collected: 50,325 pounds of electronic waste were collected and recycled

• CRTs: 33,601 lbs.
• Computers (CPUs): 3,163 lbs.
• VCR/DVD/Peripheral items: 8,060 lbs.

Background

Through this RFP, MPCA was seeking projects outside the "Metropolitan Area" that increased e-waste collection and recycling opportunities outside of the  in areas where collection and recycling is not easily accessible. Approximately $150,000 was available.

• Metro Area county exclusion: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright

This notice was issued by MPCA under authority provided in Minn. Stat. § 115A.1314, subd. 2(b).