Advocacy

Compostable bags, food service ware and packaging labeling bill

The MNCC has been working with composters, product manufacturers, local units of government and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to amend MN Stat. 325E.046 Standards for Labeling Plastics Bags to apply to food service products and other packaging claiming compostability. The bill was introduced in the 2021 session but unfortunately, it did not pass. However, the bill carrys over to the 2022 legislative session.

The MNCC Legislative Committee is working with the MPCA and Representive Wazlawik to talk with opponents of the bill to try and resolve their issues.

Support the bill
If your organization wishes to support the bill we have developed draft letters for you to use. Those letters are below. You may send your letter directly to the Legislative Committee Chair, and Minority Party Lead for the committee. So the MNCC has a record of your support, please send letters of support or any questions to compostmn@gmail.com.  

MNCC Request for Support letter
2021 Bill supporters:
  • Compostable product manufacturers and composters
    • NatureWorks LLC
    • Nature-Tec
    • SelfEco​
    • Specialized Environmental Technologies (SET)
  • Non-profits
    • Environment Minnesota
    • Clean Water Action
    • Mankato Zero Waste
    • Conservation Minnesota
  • Government / industry trade groups
    • Solid Waste Administrator's Association (SWAA)
    • Association of Recycling Managers (ARM)
    • Pope Douglas Solid Waste
    • City of Richfield
    • ​City of Minneapolis
    • City of St. Louis Park
    • Partnership on Waste & Energy (Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties)

Join the Legislative Committee

The MNCC's Legislative Committee is very active. Join the committee to help influence policy and programs to support the industry. Coalition building is a lot of work and we welcome your participation.

The committee meets every other Monday from 10-11 a.m. during the off-season and every Monday during the legislative session. 


Current priorities include:
  1. Adoption of compostable product labeling bill
  2. Comments to MPCA PFAS Monitoring Plan
  3. Comments to MPCA's draft Food Hierarchy
  4. ​Updating the 2022 MNCC Legislative Policies and Priorities document
​
Email us if you're interested in joining the committee!

MPCA PFAS Monitoring Plan

The MPCA released a draft monitoring plan for PFAS chemicals at end-of-life facilities in November 2021. 

The MNCC's Legislative Committee are drafting comments to the monitoring plan on behalf of the composting industry. Those comments will be shared here after they are submitted to the Agency. 
MNCC's Comments on the 2022-2042 Metro Solid Waste Policy Plan
Every 6 years the MPCA update the Metro Solid Waste Policy Plan. The plan is a 20 year plan. The MNCC's comments focus on the organics section and goals for the next 6 years of the draft plan. ​Click here for the full comment letter.

2021 Legislative Platform and Policy Positions

The 2021 Legislative session finally ended on June 30th. While our Compostable Plastics bill did not pass, we were successful in working with our Author, Representative Wazlawik, to pass the bill requiring the removal of PFAS chemicals from compostable food serviceware.

The MNCC's priority in the 2022 Legislative session remains getting the Compostable Product Labeling passed. So the MNCC will be asking for your continued support. 

With all of this work occurring, our 2021 Legislative Platform and Policies remain very similar to 2020.

Economic Impact Study of the Minnesota Compost Industry

​The MNCC is proud to present the Economic Impact Study of the Minnesota Compost Industry! Published in December 2018, this study dives into the composting world and takes a comprehensive look at the economic impact and economic growth potential of Minnesota's composting industry. With direct comparisons drawn between recent data and data gathered in the MNCC's 2014 Economic Impact Survey, these newly released results showcase the vibrant, growing compost industry in Minnesota.

2018 Legislative Summary


The MNCC was very active this legislative session opposing legislation that preempts local units of government from requiring the use of compostable products in their organics collection programs. Letters were submitted opposing bills (HF3606 / SF3135 and HF3814 / SF 3253) that would preempt local units of government from banning, taxing or putting fees on auxiliary containers (including food-service packaging and bags) to both the House and Senate committees as well as the Governors Offices. Here are the links to those letters:

Letter to Governor - SF3135/HF3606 Auxiliary Containers
Audio of the March 28th hearing of HF3606
Letter To Senate SF3253/SF 3135 Auxiliary Containers and Prohibits a tax on non-compostable products

In addition, a bill was brought forward to expand the SCORE tax to include a refund for recyclables pulled from MSW processing facilities. The MNCC opposed this bill as the Board believed that it would detract from source separated recycling and organics collection programs. Here is the letter to the Governor.

Finally the MNCC supported the funding in the bonding bill which would earmark $5 million dollars for the expansion of compost facilities. Here is the letter sent to the Senate.
​News stories related to these bills:
April 5, 2018: Minnesota Daily: State bills would prevent local governments from regulating to-go containers, enforcing ranked-choice voting
April 2, 2018: Southwest Journal: Bill to nullify polystyrene ban draws opposition
April 1, 2018: Duluth News Tribune: Local View: Legislators looking to -re-empt locals on packaging, health, environment
March 30, 2018: Kare11: Lawmakers take on takeout containers
March 29, 2018: MPR News: Local control v. statewide standard -- battle over preemption continues
March 9, 2018: MinnPost: It's locals vs. the Legislature, round 2: The battle over pre-emption is back at Minnesota Capitol

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

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

Operating compost site
On November 18, 2014 The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Citizen Board unanimously recommended adoption of the proposed amendment to the State's 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.
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 requests 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.
  1. MNCC Post-hearing comment letter
  2. Attachment 1-Suggested language changes
  3. Attachment 2-AET Report
  4. Attachment 3-Compost Process
  5. 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 the 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.
  1. Rebuttal Comment Letter
  2. Attachments 1 & 2

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.
  1. MNCC response to ALJ Report
  2. Attachment 1 - AET Report – see link above.
  3. Attachment 2 - EOR Gravel road/pad report
  4. Attachment 3 - Research
Other Resources
USCC article keep organics out of landfill
USCC Position Keep Organics out of Landfill