Solid waste requirements may be suspended, trust fund appropriations extended

Commissioners of Revenue and the Pollution Control Agency are now authorized to suspend certain requirements related to recycling and composting if implemented to address the COVID-19 virus, and one-year extensions are now available to recipients of appropriations from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Effective June 19, 2020, a new law authorizes those commissioners to suspend the requirement that less than 15 percent of mixed municipal solid waste received by recycling or composting facilities be disposed of rather than recycled or composted, provided that not meeting the requirement is related to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Suspending the requirement may allow those materials to retain their exemption from the solid waste management tax.

The law also provides a process for one-year extensions for those whose Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriations are set to expire June 30, 2020. Such recipients must notify the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources to modify the applicable work plan.

Also under the law, the Department of Natural Resources must develop recommendations to increase access to wildlife management areas for hunting and other recreational opportunities. At least one wildlife management area must have a pilot accessibility project by Oct. 1, 2020.

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) sponsor the law.

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