20230927 Environmental Board Packet Combined

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Commenting open: June 05, 202312:00AM CT -September 17, 202311:59PM CT. Twin Cities Metro Area - Solid Waste Management Plan We invite you to comment on the solid waste management plan for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The MPCA is responsible for developing the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan every six years for the seven-county metro area. The Metropolitan Policy Plan provides guidance to counties, waste haulers, recycling and composting facilities, and others responsible for solid waste management. The plan describes broad regional system objectives, a land fill diversion goal, and the strategies necessary for solid waste programs and services to meet the region's needs for the next 20 years- In 2021, the Twin Cities generated 3.3 million tons of garbage, and is expected to grow to 3.92 million tons by 2042. That is a nearly 19% increase in garbage. The Twin Cities metro also achieved a 45.2% combined rate for recycling and organics diversion. State law requires the seven-county metro to meet a 75% recycling goal by 2030. The draft plan includes 70 strategies to reduce waste, increase recycling and composting, and focus on reuse, including • Collect recyclables, organics, and trash on the same day \ • Collect recycling weekly by 2025 • Make residential curbside organics collection available in cities with a population greater than 5,000 • Educate restaurants and other establishments that have excess prepared food to donate • Adopt an ordinance with a mandatory consumer charge for take-out single-use cups, containers, and utensils • Establish a reuse location for residential drop-off and pick-up. Incentivize deconstruction over land filling garbage and demolition debris • Improve recycling data collection at businesses The draft plan was developed from input from state agencies, county staff, representatives of the waste industry, environmental groups, businesses, and citizens.