Addressing Climate Change through Integrated Solid Waste Management

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Addressing Climate Change through Integrated
Solid Waste Management
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Waste Management Act (1980)
Reduction Reuse
Recycling
Composting yard food waste
Resource Recovery
Landfill
GOAL FOR STATE OF MN Decrease greenhouse gas
emissions 15 by 2015, 30 by 2025, 80 by 2050
(compared to 2005 base)
Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group
(MCCAG) (2007)
Next Generation Energy Act (2007)
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MCCAG
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Waste management has the 3rd and 10th largest GHG
reduction potentials(MCCAG report findings)

• Ranking of Policy Recommendations
• Forestry Management
• Biofuels
• Front-end Waste Management
• 10) End-of-Life Waste Management

Source reduction, recycling, composting
Landfilling, WTE
MCCAG Policy Recommendations


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MCCAG Targets
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Integrated Solid Waste Management Stakeholder
Process

• MPCAs 2007 Solid Waste Policy Report identified
  need for stakeholder input
• Stakeholder group formed to bridge the goals of
  the Waste Management Act and MCCAG
• 17 member workgroup facilitated by Minnesota
  Environmental Initiative (MEI)
• Charge ? Develop a plan to achieve greenhouse gas
  reduction through integrated solid waste
  management
• Focus to be on population centroids where
  majority of waste is generated

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Centroids

• Metro Centroid Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin,
  Ramsey, Scott, Washington and Wright Counties
• St. Cloud Centroid Benton, Sherburne and Stearns
  Counties
• Duluth Centroid Carlton, Cook, Lake and St.
  Louis Counties, and the Western Lake Superior
  Sanitary District
• Rochester Centroid Dodge and Olmsted Counties

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Percent of Total MN MSW
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GHG Reduction Goals by Centroid (based on waste
generation)
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Centroid Work

• Occurred Summer 2009 during Work Group break
• Calculated GHG releases from current Waste
  Management system Business as Usual
• Created a list of up to 3 proposals per centroid
  composed of multiple strategies (statewide and
  local)
• Documented the feasibility of the proposals -
  using information available now
• Reported back to the MPCAs Stakeholder Work Group

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Centroid Proposals
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Next Steps

• Work Group discussed centroid work and is
  refining strategies
• Next two meetings (Oct. 23 and 29) will continue
  discussion and begin making decisions on
  strategies to include in plan
• Work Group meets Nov. 10 to refine draft plan
• Public meeting on November 18
• Last meeting to finalize plan on Dec. 9
• MEI will document the Workgroup process and
  provide a report to the Commissioner of the MPCA
  by December 31, 2009

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Questions or comments?

• Dave Benke
• [phone]
• david.benke_at_state.mn.us