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Answers to frequently asked questions about compliance and MPCA's enforcement of environmental rules in Minnesota.

Recycling is good for Minnesota's economy. It supports more than 60,000 jobs in our state, paying almost $3.4 billion in wages and adds nearly $15.7 billion to Minnesota's economy.

Studies of Minnesota’s waters show that contaminants of emerging concern are widespread in the state’s lakes and rivers.

Under the new EPR program, Minnesota is phasing out all product packaging sold in our state that is not refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2032.

MPCA’s work on the climate-smart food systems grant from the EPA is ongoing amid strong interest

Lake of the Woods is a big lake with a big problem caused by one of nature’s smallest organisms: algae. Scientists from the MPCA and the Science Museum are working together to understand why.

MPCA permits are required for extensions, additions, or other modifications to sanitary sewer collection systems that result in new or increased discharges of pollutants.

Pollinators are essential to everyday Minnesotans, our economy, and our food production. Learn why these pollinators are so vital through exhibits at this year’s Eco Experience.

What consumers should know about new Minnesota laws prohibiting PFAS in consumer products and the MPCA’s efforts to minimize PFAS pollution by keeping it out of commonly used household products.

Minnesota has a new law that prohibits nonessential use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The MPCA provides workshops and conferences to help solid waste landfill operators get certified and stay up to date.

To ensure that every person in Minnesota has healthy air to breathe, the MPCA studies, monitors, and regulates air pollutants, primarily in three categories: criteria pollutants, air toxics, and greenhouse gases.

The MPCA uses the Environmental Quality Information System (EQuIS) to store water quality data from more than 17,000 Minnesota sampling locations.

The Otter Tail River Watershed encompasses three different ecoregions, covering more than 1.2 million acres in west-central Minnesota.

The MPCA is granting $4.4m from VW settlement funds to replace dirty diesel trucks with cleaner drivetrains. Similar previous grants show how the program works.

During the 2023 legislative session, legislators passed more than a dozen funding and policy proposals to address food waste, organics, recycling market development, and wood waste.

The law requires manufacturers of video display devices (VDD) to register, pay an annual registration fee, and meet a recycling obligation based on their market share of VDD sold in Minnesota.

The triennial standards review offers every Minnesotan the opportunity to comment on essentially every water quality standard the agency defines to protect the waters that they drink, swim in, and fish from.

Water softeners produce much of the chloride that pollutes Minnesota’s waters. An MPCA grant aims to reduce that pollution with water softener replacement rebate programs.

Increased rainfall from climate change damages river water quality, which in turn damages fishing and recreation.