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Minnesota rules identify 16 standing beneficial uses for which waste generators or end users can simply follow the applicable rules without contacting the MPCA. Only the specific solid wastes and uses designated in the rule have this status. Organizations that propose other uses for solid waste must seek approval for a case-specific beneficial use determination or demonstration/research project.

Standing beneficial uses

  • Unadulterated wood, wood chips, bark, or sawdust, when used as mulch, landscaping, animal bedding, erosion control, wood fuel production, bulking agent at a compost facility, or as a substitute for wood
  • Unadulterated newspaper and newsprint, when used as animal bedding, insulation, or a substitute for paper products
  • Uncontaminated glass, when used as a sandblast agent
  • Unusable latex paints, characterized as high solid content, off-specification colors, sour, frozen, or poor quality, when used to produce a processed latex pigment additive for ASTM-specified specialty cement
  • Reclaimed glass and porcelain fixtures, when used as a substitute for conventional aggregate or subgrade applications in accordance with Minnesota Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Construction
  • Crumb rubber, when used in asphalt paving or as a substitute for rubber or similar elastic material
  • Tire shreds, when used as lightweight fill in the construction of public roads in accordance with statute (Minn. Stat. § 115A.912, subd. 4)
  • Tire chips, when used as a substitute for conventional aggregate in construction applications and the substitution ratio is no greater than one-to-one by volume. Does not include use of tire chips as general construction fill or clean fill
  • Uncontaminated recognizable concrete, recycled concrete, and concrete products and brick, when used as a substitute for conventional aggregate
  • Salvaged bituminous, when used as a substitute for conventional aggregate in accordance with Minnesota Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Construction 2020 edition
  • Coal combustion slag, when used in manufactured products such as roofing shingles, ceiling tiles, or asphalt products or when used as a sand blast abrasive
  • Coal combustion fly ash as defined by ASTM C 618, when used as a pozzolan or cement replacement in high-strength concrete
  • Coal combustion fly ash or coal combustion gas scrubbing by-products, when used in aggregate that will be used in concrete or concrete products. Does not include use in flowable fill
  • Foundry sand, when used in Portland cement
  • Uncontaminated by-product limes, when used as agricultural liming materials and distributed in accordance with chapter 1508 and Minn. Stat. sections 18C.531 to 18C.575. Application rates must conform to the University of Minnesota Extension lime recommendations, and can't cause the soil pH to exceed 7.1. Site-specific application rates must be determined by crop-nutrient management professional. Learn more:
  • Manufactured shingle scrap and ground tear-off shingle scrap, when used in asphalt pavement or road sub-bases

Definitions

Uncontaminated material does not contain or carry substances that may be harmful to human health and the environment. For example, concrete painted with lead-based paint may be contaminated, while concrete painted with non-toxic latex paint is uncontaminated.

Unadulterated wood is defined as "wood that does not contain contaminants present as a result of manufacturing or use of the wood," such as paints, varnishes, stains, glues, resins or chemicals used to prevent rotting. Unadulterated newspaper must not contain contaminants from prior use (e.g., used to soak up oil).