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Minnesota's legislative framework for composting was built 13 years ago with the passage of the Waste Management Act. The basis of the Act is a hierarchy of source reduction and food waste composting, mixed waste composting and incineration (on the same level) and finally, land disposal. The hierarchy has moved the state to focus its compliance activities, including technical and financial assistance, to develop composting facilities for yard waste and mixed solid waste.
Another provision of the Waste Management Act, a yard waste ban, has led to significant investment in yard and tree waste composting operations.
The framework established by the Waste Management Act, along with state pass-through funding, have led to more than 400 yard waste dropoff sites (1992) and 220 residential curbside yard waste collection programs serving almost 2.5 million people (nearly 60 percent of the state's population).
Minnesota also has eight municipal solid waste (MSW) composting facilities in operation, more than any state in the nation. These facilities received slightly over 95,000 tons of MSW in 1992.
In 1991, the Minnesota legislature appropriated $225,000 to develop markets for mixed MSW compost and to help improve operations at existing facilities that will enhance the product marketability. The Compost Utilization Program (CVP) at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) provides directed research and demonstration of MSW compost in various applications and will characterize the product quality of all MSW compost in the state. Results from the agricultural growth trials funded by the CUP were due out at the end of 1993.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
In 1988, MPCA adopted solid waste facility permitting and operation rules that included composting. The composting components cover design and operation, operator training, and product distribution.
The MPCA uses the waste management hierarchy as a basis for action on permit applications. For example, a mixed solid waste composting facility permit has priority over any landfill permit. Currently, a developer can expect about six months for a final permit to be issued to a mixed waste composting facility, including environmental review requirements. If a facility is greater than 50 tons per day, an environmental assessment worksheet is required. Facilities proposing to process over 500 tons per day must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). The MPCA Citizens' Board also has required an...