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November 1984 Issue No.4 Editor: Joan Steinmann WASTELINE REAPPEARS ment Act in 1980,Council members have become frustrated with the job of approving sites for potentially Since the last issue of the Waste line was published more harmful landfills—often on farm land—and slow progress than a year ago,the Metropolitan Council has launched an toward alternative methods of waste management. During effort to reorient the region's management of its solid waste 1984 the Council resolved to systematically steer the away from landfills and toward alternatives like recycling region to a minimum use of landfills, as quickly as possible. and waste incineration. The Wasteline will appear regularly to report on these efforts and the work of other groups, To support this goal,the Council is recommending a three- such as local governmental units and the private sector,to part program for solid waste management to the legislature. develop alternative waste management practices.The First, it calls fora prohibition of land disposal of unprocessed Wasteline will also cover other, related waste management municipal waste by 1990. Only by-products of waste reuse issues of regional importance. processes and unuseable materials would be accepted at landfills. COUNCIL STEERS REGION AWAY FROM Although the Council now has the authority to deny LAND DISPOSAL OF TRASH certificates of need for new landfills when it finds that there are feasible alternatives, it needs firmer and more Legislature Will Be Asked For Help precise direction from the state legislature to make it clear • to the public and private groups involved in waste manage- The Metropolitan Council wants to eliminate the use of ment that burying unlimited quantities of garbage in landfills for most solid waste produced in the Twin Cities Minnesota land is no longer acceptable. Area. In the years since the passage of the Waste Manage The benefits of such a ban are numerous—remaining landfill space would be conserved, many fewer new landfills would WHAT IS MUNICIPAL WASTE? be needed in the future, buried wastes would be less likely to contaminate the environment, landfills would be less offensive to nearby communities,and the economic advantages of reuse and recycling would be enjoyed. Metals The second part of the Council's legislative program on &Glass waste management proposes that separation of compostable 21% yard refuse and recyclable materials from the landfill-bound Paper 'waste stream' be required by 1988.Counties and cities 33% would use their authority to ensure that wastes like leaves, grass clippings,glass bottles and newspapers are not mixed with other trash. Yard Waste (grass,branches, This requirement would assure governments and private leaves) groups that these readily useable materials will be available, 18% so that dependable reuse programs may be developed.And a significant portion of the wastes going to landfills would Food Waste 17% be immediately diverted. Plastic The third part of the Council's recommendation to the Rubber legislature calls for two means of financing waste recover Cloth g g y Wood projects. One proposal is to broaden the Council's authority 11% to sell bonds. It may now sell $15 million in bonds for new Source: Land Disposal Abatement Options for Solid landfills;this proposal would allow that money to be used • Waste Reduction and Recovery, Metropolitan by local governments to finance waste reduction and Council, 1981 recovery programs. 1