Solid Waste Management in the Twin Cities Metro Area

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Metro Area

• Seven Counties• Population: 2.9 Million• Households: 1.14 Million• Employment: ~1.6Million• Generates 60% of Minnesota’s MSW

Waste Categories in Minnesota

Key Points• The State of Minnesota sets the purpose and

goals for waste management• Local waste management is deliberately

planned• A variety of tools are used to achieve goals• Focus is on reducing risk: public health,

environment, economic• System is operated by a combination of public

and private participants

Observations about the System

• Blend of public/private sector services• Private sector landfills drive the economics• U.S. Court decisions have limited government tools to

manage waste• Conflict between public sector goals, private sector

competition• There is little connection in Minnesota between

energy policy and waste policy• Despite that, the region is one of the leader in waste

diversion in the U.S.

2030 (High)

2030 (Low)

2015 (Low)

2013

2012

2011

2010

6%

4%

1%

60%

54%

45%

48%

47%

45%

44%

15%

9%

3%

4%

4%

4%

4%

24%

28%

32%

32%

30%

27%

25%

9%

9%

20%

21%

22%

25%

28%

SWMCB Regional Progress Towards State Waste ObjectivesSource Reduction & Reuse Recycling Organics Resource Recovery Land Disposal

Trends

• Legislature has established significantly higher recycling/organics management goal: 75%

• Continued challenges to use the market to achieve State goals

• Emphasis on organic waste management• Looking to new methods for waste conversion