Advocacy
MNCC's Comments on the 2016 Metro Solid Waste Policy Plan
The MNCC has developed comments on the MPCA's Metro Solid Waste Policy Plan. The comments focused on the organics section of the draft report, but also include comments on other sections of the draft report. Topic covered in the comments include support for source reduction efforts, directing all organics, resident, commercial and industrial, to compost facilities, remove barriers to permitting the needed processing capacity, support strategies requiring large generators to divert organic materials to composting facilities, use designation to support composting infrastructure, assisting the private sector in developing markets for high quality finished compost, supports residential collection in the Metro by 2025, enforce 115A.93, stresses the importance of education for establishing successful organics collection programs, increase SCORE funding or organics and expand compostable labeling requirements to include ASTM D6868.
Other comments include: employing extreme caution when considering strategies that propose removing organics from the MMSW and diverting to composting, conduct studies to obtain a better estimate of organic materials in all waste streams, detail current processing capacity and estimate needed processing capacity.
For full comments click here.
Link to AET Report.
Other comments include: employing extreme caution when considering strategies that propose removing organics from the MMSW and diverting to composting, conduct studies to obtain a better estimate of organic materials in all waste streams, detail current processing capacity and estimate needed processing capacity.
For full comments click here.
Link to AET Report.
MNCC's Legislative Platform
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The MNCC Board of Directors developed its 2017 Legislative Agenda. The Platform has four pieces, they are:
The document also includes policy platforms and priorities. Please contact the MNCC if you have any questions on our Legislative Platform, policies or priorities. We are happy to go over this information in greater deail and we hope your organzation will support these initiatives as well. |
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MNCC's Comments on the 2015 Solid Waste Policy Report
On November 29th the MNCC submitted comments on the MPCA’s draft Solid Waste Policy Report. The comments focused on the Organics section of the report and offered comments on collection, facility capacity, compostable products and markets for finished compost. For complete comments click here.
Economic Value of Composting Industry in Minnesota Report Released
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Composting worth $148 million to Minnesota's Economy! Read the study for more information.
The MNCC hopes to continue to track the expansion of the industry and its value in the future. |
Minnesota Compost Rule Process
On November 18, 2014 The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Citizen Board unanimously recommended adoption of the proposed amendment to the States compost rule. The adopted changes to the rule include new tiers for small compost sites (less than 120 cubic yards of materials), and a new tier for source-separated organics material composting facilities.
The MN Composting Council provided on-going comments to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding changes to the compost facility siting and design rule (MN Rule 7035.2836). Below are links to the comments and supporting documentation submitted during the public comment period.
The MN Composting Council provided on-going comments to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding changes to the compost facility siting and design rule (MN Rule 7035.2836). Below are links to the comments and supporting documentation submitted during the public comment period.
MNCC's Public Comments to MPCA Compost Rule
Supporting Documents for MNCC's compost rule comments:
1.) Arboretum Pad Permeability Test – Braun Intertec Report – December 2013
2.) Effects of Septic Systems on Ground Water Quality – MPCA Study – May 1999
3.) Carver County Pilot Project – Final Grant Report – July 2008
4.) 2008 Annual Report – Carver County/RW Farms Demonstration Project – August 2009
5.) Carver County Demonstration Project – Final Grant Report - November 2012
6.) BioCycle – Supportive Rules for Small-Scale Composting – June 2012
During the public comment period the MPCA received over 100 request for a public hearing. That hearing was held on March 24, 2014, by an administrative law judge. The hearing was held open and the MNCC submitted additional comments during post-hearing comment period. The MNCC’s post-hearing comments and attachments are below.
The AET provided a combination of paid and pro-bono staff time to develop the AET report The MNCC Board of Directors Thanks AET for their work and the very valuable information that report brought forward to inform the rule process.
Following the close of the hearing record on April 14, 2014, there was a five day rebuttal period for stakeholders to rebut any information that was submitted to the Administrative Law Judge. The MNCC’s rebuttal comments are given below.
The Complete record of Testimony, both written and video, for the April 14, 2014 and the rebuttal comments submitted on April 21, 2014 can be at MPCA Compost Rule Web page.
The administrative law judge (ALJ) received all comments and issued her report on June 25, 2014. Commenters were given an opportunity to comment on the ALJ’s report. The full ALJ's report can be found on the MPCA's Compost Rule Web page.
The MNCC submitted comments regarding the ALJ's report to the Commissioner on July 28, 2014. Those comments are below.
Supporting Documents for MNCC's compost rule comments:
1.) Arboretum Pad Permeability Test – Braun Intertec Report – December 2013
2.) Effects of Septic Systems on Ground Water Quality – MPCA Study – May 1999
3.) Carver County Pilot Project – Final Grant Report – July 2008
4.) 2008 Annual Report – Carver County/RW Farms Demonstration Project – August 2009
5.) Carver County Demonstration Project – Final Grant Report - November 2012
6.) BioCycle – Supportive Rules for Small-Scale Composting – June 2012
During the public comment period the MPCA received over 100 request for a public hearing. That hearing was held on March 24, 2014, by an administrative law judge. The hearing was held open and the MNCC submitted additional comments during post-hearing comment period. The MNCC’s post-hearing comments and attachments are below.
- MNCC Post-hearing comment letter
- Attachment 1-Suggested language changes
- Attachment 2-AET Report
- Attachment 3-Compost Process
- Attachment 4-Grants 1-2-3 Summary
The AET provided a combination of paid and pro-bono staff time to develop the AET report The MNCC Board of Directors Thanks AET for their work and the very valuable information that report brought forward to inform the rule process.
Following the close of the hearing record on April 14, 2014, there was a five day rebuttal period for stakeholders to rebut any information that was submitted to the Administrative Law Judge. The MNCC’s rebuttal comments are given below.
The Complete record of Testimony, both written and video, for the April 14, 2014 and the rebuttal comments submitted on April 21, 2014 can be at MPCA Compost Rule Web page.
The administrative law judge (ALJ) received all comments and issued her report on June 25, 2014. Commenters were given an opportunity to comment on the ALJ’s report. The full ALJ's report can be found on the MPCA's Compost Rule Web page.
The MNCC submitted comments regarding the ALJ's report to the Commissioner on July 28, 2014. Those comments are below.
- MNCC response to ALJ Report
- Attachment 1 - AET Report – see link above.
- Attachment 2 - EOR Gravel road/pad report
- Attachment 3 - Research
Other Resources
USCC Position Keep Organics out of Landfill
