Solid Waste Technical Advisory Work Group
In a series of four meetings that began in March 2001, the Solid Waste Technical Advisory Work Group evaluated barriers to implementing a totally integrated solid waste system and possible solutions that will achieve the hierarchy of preferred waste management practices as articulated in the state's Solid Waste Policy Report (January 2000).
Final report. Their work has been compiled and presented in a final report, with detailed appendices that show the progress of the work group through the systems mapping process. The work group developed ten recommendations aimed at improving solid waste management in Minnesota.
Final Report (175Kb) | Appendices (530Kb)
Next steps. The report and recommendations will be presented this fall to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, composed of policy makers from the state and local levels, generators of commercial and residential waste, the representatives from the waste management industry and environmental groups.
Beginning in October and ending in January 2001, the Advisory Committee will consider the recommendations developed by the Solid Waste Technical Work Group and The Citizens Jury to develop a series of options to address the state's growing solid waste stream.
Background
| Projected MSW Generation in Minnesota |
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| This graph reflects 4 scenarios for MSW growth in Minnesota. Data for 1992-1999 shows an average annual increase of over 3 percent. |
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| source: Solid Waste Policy Report (January 2000) |
Minnesota's generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) is growing at a fast pace.
At current rates of growth, projections suggest that by 2020, Minnesotans will generate over 12 million tons of garbage annually — more than twice the waste generated in 2000.
Handling this new waste will be challenging, and will stretch Minnesota's waste management system. Waste disposal trends in Minnesota suggest that much of the increase will be handled by landfilling MSW. Siting additional landfills is an expensive and contentious process.
An integrated waste management system
The significant increase in the volume of MSW generated in Minnesota and the difficulty and cost of siting new landfills are both of significant concern to our state. In order to address these issues, the Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) recommends that the state fully implement the legislative policy set forth in the Waste Management Act.
By developing a statewide integrated solid waste management system in which only processed waste is landfilled, as anticipated by the Waste Management Act, we will realize significant savings in greenhouse gas emissions and add value to Minnesota's economy through the development of recycling industries.
To reach this goal, the OEA is directing a two-phase dialogue to develop options. Integrating the concerns of industry stakeholders, policy-makers and citizens, the OEA wants to discuss implementing a fully integrated waste management system that can meet the demands of our growing waste stream and the needs of future generations.
Phase I: Solid Waste Technical Advisory Work Group (Systems Mapping)
The Solid Waste Technical Advisory Work Group, comprised of technical experts from Minnesota's solid waste field, will develop a "systems map" of the existing MSW system in the state. This systems map will help build a common understanding of the waste management system components, relationships between these components, and factors that affect the state's ability to implement a truly integrated solid waste system.
Ultimately, the group will present their findings and preliminary recommendations to a Solid Waste Advisory Committee to be appointed by the Governor's Appointments Committee in mid-2001.
Tasks of the work group
- Identify the component parts of the existing solid waste management system.
- Identify the relationships that exist between those sub-system parts and the trends or behaviors that affect the relationship between the parts.
- Identify the barriers faced by the system in meeting the growth in the state's solid waste.
- Work with a financial analyst to determine the current and long-term costs of the existing solid waste management system.
- Identify strategies to remove the barriers to developing an integrated solid waste management system — one that is protective of the state's environment and recognizes the true costs and benefits to the citizens of Minnesota.
- Determine the cost of the various strategies identified to remove the barriers.
- Prepare a systems map.
Membership
The group is composed of about 30 members, each with direct experience in and responsibility for the day-to-day operational activities of their organizations. Members are drawn from the private and public sector, as well as citizen representatives.
Selection process. Members were appointed by a seven-member selection committee — the Chairs of the House and Senate Environmental Policy Committees, Director of the OEA, Chair of the Metro Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, the Chair of the Association of Minnesota Counties Environmental Policy Committee, the Chair of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Environmental Policy Committee, and the Chair of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership.
Registered lobbyists and elected officials were excluded from participating in the work group.
State government
- Deb Bardnarz, Department of Finance
- Ginny Black, Office of Environmental Assistance
- John Ikeda, Supervisor, Pollution Control Agency
County Solid Waste Administrators
- Mike Hanan, Otter Tail County
- Randy Kiser, Hennepin County
- Gene Mossing, Olmsted County
- Norm Schiferl, Ramsey County
MSW Generators - Commercial
- Jim Bosch, Environmental Services Manager, Target Corp.
- Angela Ewald, Crystal Cabinet Works
- Pete Hill, Bernick Pepsi, St. Cloud
- Tim McGraw, Northwest Airlines
- Jeff Nelson, Andersen Windows, Bayport
MSW Generators - Residential
- Al D. DeRuyter, resident, Buffalo
- Jon Mitchell, rural resident, Renville County
- Roger Richman, resident, Moorhead
- Jeff Turner, resident, Maple Grove
Recycling Industries and Organizations
- Susan Hubbard, Recycling Director, St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium
- Ron Lifson, Vice Pres/Gen. Mgr, Liberty-Diversified Industries
Waste Processing
- Gary White, Newport Resource Recovery Facility, NRG
- Bill Wilson, Polk County
Waste Haulers/Collectors
- Mark Stoltman, General Manager, Randy's Sanitation
- Don Williamson, West Central Sanitation
Environmental interest groups
- Anne Morse, Grass Roots Recycling Network
- Neil Seldman, President. Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Landfills - Private
- Steve Batchelor, Regional Vice Pres., Waste Management, Inc.
- John Domke, Vice President, SKB
Landfills - Public
- Mike Kirchmeier, Cottonwood County Demo/MSW Landfill
- Ted Troolin, St. Louis County Regional Landfill
Meeting facilitation
To facilitate the activities of the Work Group, the OEA has contracted with Kristina Wile, a consultant in the area of systems thinking and organizational learning. Ms. Wile has worked with many organizations to identify and understand the feedback forces driving their organizations. She is a founding partner of the Systems Thinking Collaborative Inc, a networked organization that provides consulting, training and coaching in systems thinking and related disciplines.
Why systems mapping?
The Work Group will apply their knowledge of solid waste management within a "systems thinking" framework to develop a "systems map" of Minnesota's solid waste management system.
The systems mapping process combines group discussions and systems-analysis techniques that have been developed through the management fields of system dynamics and systems thinking. Systems thinking is both a philosophy and tool set for understanding the "big picture." The whole approach looks at the interconnections between the parts of a system and focuses on synthesizing them into a unified view of the whole.
The process will help build a common understanding of the system's components, relationships between these components, and factors that affect the state's ability to implement a truly integrated solid waste system.
Phase II: Solid Waste Advisory Committee
The Technical Work Group will submit a report to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
This Solid Waste Advisory Committee, with members appointed by the Governor's Appointment Committee, will be composed of elected officials and policy makers from state and local government, generators of solid waste (businesses and households), the waste management industry and environmental groups.
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee began meeting in October 2001, with meetings through January 2002.
Based on the Technical Work Group's findings, the Advisory Committee will develop options for implementating a statewide integrated solid waste management system — a system which will be protective of the environment, conserve the state's resources, minimize the use of landfills, and recognize the costs and benefits of each option and disposal method.
Advisory Committee Final Report
At the conclusion of its work, the Advisory Committee will provide a report to the Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Chairs of the House and Senate Finance Committees and the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committees. This report will outline the options that the state might adopt to develop a fully integrated waste management system that would be able to handle the state's growing waste stream. To the extent possible, the report will outline the costs and benefits of the various options.
Related resources
These publications provide insight into Minnesota's efforts to manage MSW.
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The Minnesota Solid Waste Policy Report provides an analysis of the status of the state's solid waste system, and makes recommendations regarding Minnesota's waste management policies, system improvements and research.
The report proposes several strategies and policies to begin the transition of waste management to the 21st century, based on principles of sustainability and resource conservation. It is intended to challenge both business and government to lead the way toward environmental sustainability.
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The Minnesota MSW Composition Study (March 2000) is a detailed examination of what Minnesotans throw away as garbage. Despite recycling 47.2% of waste in the state, Minnesotans threw away over 3 million tons of garbage in 1999.
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The annual Report on SCORE Programs is an examination of Minnesota waste programs and data. The figures are gathered through a formal survey of county solid waste officers. Analysis and evaluation of this data helps the OEA report on statewide recycling rates, waste generation, disposal of MSW, and the finance and administration of MSW programs. Statewide trends are examined, as well as providing detailed data by county.
