SWMCB 2010 Legislative Policy Positions
Approved: December 16, 2009
Introduction
The mission of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board is to increase the efficiency and environmental effectiveness of the region's solid waste management system.
SWMCB's 2010 Legislative Policy Positions
1. Product Stewardship
SWMCB strongly supports product stewardship among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, with the emphasis placed on industry through an Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Approach. The Framework would create effective producer led reduction, reuse and recycling programs, to deal with the a product's lifecycle impacts from design through end of life management, without relying solely on state and local governments. SWMCB also supports specific product stewardship efforts.
2. SCORE Funding and SCORE Reporting
An increase in SCORE funding was received in 2009 but more money continues to be needed to manage solid waste according to the State's solid waste hierarchy. Evaluating the possibility of more solid waste tax dollars being used for SCORE should occur this session as well as State guarantees for capital funding of solid waste facilities.
SWMCB supports working with the MPCA to further streamline SCORE reporting requirements to avoid the need for legislation.
3. Continued Support for Solid Waste as Renewable
Solid waste is classified as biomass and renewable energy by State law. Gas recovered from landfills has always been considered renewable. The SWMCB supports the continuation of this renewable energy status for waste-to-energy and landfill gas recovery.
4. Establishment of the Legislative Commission on Waste Management (LCWM):
In the 1990's, the LCWM, as well as other legislative commissions, were eliminated by the Legislature. The LCWM provided a venue to discuss key waste management policy issues as well as develop a comprehensive waste management bill. Many complex issues remain in waste management, the resolution of which could benefit from the re-establishment of the LCWM. Citizens of the State would also benefit since waste management in Minnesota is a billion dollar industry. The SWMCB supports the Legislature establishing a LCWM. Since there is a cost associated with legislative commissions, solid waste tax dollars not currently funding SCORE could be identified to cover the commission costs.
5. State Support for Solid Waste Management Hierarchy
SWMCB supports legislative action that provides effective tools to counties or the private sector to support successful implementation of the State's solid waste management hierarchy. SWMCB opposes legislation that would eliminate existing solid waste management tools in support of the hierarchy, such as the Certificate of Need process. SWMCB supports increased implementation of programs consistent with the hierarchy in order to address global warming concerns related to solid waste management.
6. Streamlining the Designation and Organized Collection Process and Inverse Condemnation
The SWMCB supports streamlining existing legislative processes to implement designation by counties and organized collection by counties or cities.
SWMCB opposes any legislation, such as creating the potential for a judgment for inverse condemnation, that would jeopardize in any way counties' and local units of government's ability to protect public health and the environment and assure the proper management of waste in accordance with Counties' statutory obligations.
7. Organics
Environmental information is needed as well as rulemaking for new compost facility sites. Grant funding that is specifically for composting of organics should be modified to include a broader listing of organic management options.
2009 Legislative Final Report
Download the 2009 Legislative Final Report.
