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Communicated October 5, 2021 1 <br /> <br /> <br />I. Policy Overview <br /> <br />A. Background <br /> <br />The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has determined that residential waste reduction <br />and recycling programs support county goals to make progress toward zero waste, reduce <br />greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce disparities associated with waste disposal. The county <br />has adopted the goals established in State Statute and by the Minnesota Pollution Control <br />Agency (MPCA) in its Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan and developed a <br />Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy to help reach a 75% recycling rate by <br />2030. <br /> <br />B. SCORE funds <br /> <br />The county receives funding from the state’s Select Committee on Recycling and the <br />Environment (SCORE) for the development and implementation of waste reduction and <br />recycling programs. SCORE funds are based on revenue received by the State of Minnesota from <br />the solid waste management tax (SWMT) on garbage services and are subject to change based <br />on the SWMT revenue received by the state and funds allocated by the legislature. <br /> <br />C. Support for city programs <br /> <br />City recycling programs play an important role in the solid waste management system. The <br />county has funded city programs for over 30 years and will use this policy to make available all <br />SCORE funds to cities for residential waste reduction and recycling programs. SCORE funds will <br />be dedicated to four different purposes: 1) general funding for waste reduction and recycling <br />programs, 2) curbside organics recycling programs, 3) organics drop-off sites, and 4) multifamily <br />waste reduction and recycling. Funds distributed to cities for a calendar year will be based on <br />SCORE funds received by the county in the state’s corresponding fiscal year. <br /> <br />D. Term of the policy <br /> <br />Hennepin County is committed to implementing this policy from January 1, 2022 through <br />December 31, 2025. The county may revise this policy to align with strategic priorities developed <br />in the zero waste plan or solid waste management master plan. In addition, the county may <br />revise this policy if it determines changes are needed to assure compliance with state law and <br />MPCA goals established for metropolitan counties. If SCORE funds are eliminated from the state <br />budget or significantly reduced, the county will consult with cities at that time and develop a <br />recommendation to the board on future funding for residential waste reduction and recycling <br />programs. <br />63