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In Minnesota, certain tasks in the design, installation, repair, maintenance, operation, or inspection of septic systems can only be done by certified individuals. Find out what training, experience, and exams are required to fulfill the requirements for certification.
What is the blue-green scum that looks like spilled paint?In lakes that are over-enriched with phosphorus and nitrogen, algae tend to prosper and create algae blooms. Blue-green algae and one type in…
In Minnesota, wastewater treatment operators must be certified to ensure that facilities meet operational requirements.
The MPCA provides educational information about the status of Minnesota’s air, water, land, and climate and can point you toward beneficial actions you can take as students, teachers, and life-long learners interested in Minnesota’s sustainable future.
The 2026 Climate Action Framework prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting Minnesotans
Plastic can be recycled, but it’s often not, a situation the MPCA aims to resolve with grants to develop markets for recycled plastic.
Launched in 2022, the PFAS monitoring plan lays out a path for PFAS monitoring at solid waste, wastewater, and stormwater facilities; hazardous waste landfills; facilities with air emissions; and…
“Urban wood,” or wood salvaged from cities, suburbs, and towns, is a growing issue in Minnesota because of severe weather, urban expansion, and the emerald ash borer. Rather than burning the trees as waste, a preferred option for dealing with urban wood involves creating durable wood products like furniture, building materials, and wooden décor.
MPCA has released the first in a series of reports on industrial uses of PFAS in Minnesota and identifying alternatives.
Learn what you can do to protect yourself and your community from environmental problems caused by flooding.
How to prepare recycling for the curb
Minnesota passed a law in 2023 that restricts the use of lead and cadmium in 15 categories of consumer products, including toys and school supplies.
In early 2024, Minnesota became the first U.S. state to establish a product stewardship program for boat wrap, which must provide free collection, transportation, reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Underground storage tank (UST) facilities must designate owners, operators, or employees as Class A, Class B, and Class C operators.
Companies penalized for improperly releasing polluted stormwater at Xcel Energy’s St. Paul Service Center construction site on the east side of Saint Paul.
A waste is any material that can no longer be used for its original intended purpose. The type of waste generated can include recyclables, solid waste, and hazardous wastes, which may be subject to specific management and disposal requirements.
The MPCA investigates sites where hazardous substances have been or could be released to identify risks and appropriate remediation plans.
Profile of Karl Scheuer, a volunteer with the MPCA's Volunteer Water Monitoring Program
Data shows that ice cover on Minnesota's lakes doesn't last as long as it used to. That means a shorter ice fishing season, yes, but it also has implications for the environment and Minnesota's fish and wildlife.
Less than three years after Minnesota passed the country's first ban on TCE, a carcinogenic solvent, facilities around the state have removed it from their processes.