County Recycling Program Funding and Challenges

What is SCORE Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) What this does is creates a source of state funding for recycling programs to reduce waste, manage household hazardous wastes, and handle problem materials. 87 Counties & Western Lakes District(Duluth) provide an annual report to the MPCA based on our recycling in the county to receive this funding. This funding can only be used on Recycling, Reduction, Reuse efforts. We receive funding based on population. Then county matches 25%.

Recycling In general Plastics are the hardest issue. Most plastics do get landfilled. Recycler Facilities choose based of profitability of items or need on what really gets recycled. Cardboard, metals, glass, paper are most commonly recycled. Items if placed in bin must be emptied, clean. Just because a facility can recycle it doesn t mean if you put it in your curbside it will be recycled. Questions reach out to myself or Recycling Center to better assist or give you a location that you can take it or use our Waste Wizard search.

2023 Countywide Report 38,153.12 Total tons all Recyclables and Reused Materials. 91,357.05 Total tons of all MSW. That gave us a 41.76% recycling rate. State Mandates Greater Minnesota Counties 35% by 2030. Here is where it could be tricky. If we are included in the metro in the future, its 70% requirement. If goal is not met, MPCA will step in and provide guidance, force funding and other means to meet that percentage.

Woodland Twp 2024: Quarter 1: 15.15 Tons for $578.00 Quarter 2: 19.24 Tons for $659.80 Quarter 3: 20.47 Tons for $687.40 To Date in Reimbursement: $1925.20 for 54.86 Total tons. 429 Total Households; 252 Active Participants; 58%

Ordinance Wright County Tried to implement an ordinance change and being proactive with keeping Townships & Cities in mind. We were met with resistance from Private Haulers. Ordinance was scrapped due to that resistance and guidance from the Haulers. Current Situation with Ordinance Requirements:156.031 County Ord. Opportunity to recycle State Statue 115A.551 Organized & Mandatory Collection 115A.94 Haulers to provide the option to recycle to the resident by ord.

Funding Numbers Wright County Received in 2024 $536,775 with county match included. Quarterly Reimbursements: Projected: $163,000 for the year. 30.36% of Operating Budget to pay for recycling bills Countywide.

Why is the Funding Being Cut New Facility. Cost of the new facility is not being paid out of general fund. The total amount given was 4.6 Million. SCORE must pay back annually the balance not allocated. Current operation costs, other needs to further educate cannot be done without additional funding. MPCA met with us at a special meeting last winter where we were told that giving cities and townships was not good practice with the money in that meeting. No other County participates in doing so. Wright County Licensed Haulers, that gave the county more accurate reporting.

Next years Recycling Program Look to build a new County Facility. Build off a record year. Enforcement Review on Haulers not providing information. Talking with Local Business on different things being hauled. More engagement with Cities and Townships. Ordinance Review in 2025. We will follow process by including Cities, Townships, and Haulers Representation in review of a change that works for residents More Engagement with Countywide Newsletter(s) Update Compost/Recycling Webpage