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Solid waste director wins board approval for new gas monitor; department reports recycling and operational improvements
Summary
The board approved purchase of a QED GEM 5000 gas monitor for the landfill and received a comprehensive solid-waste update covering household hazardous waste, recycling, compactor replacement, leachate hauling, staff reorganization and plans to address new construction/demolition (C&D) rules.
The Clay County Board of Commissioners on March 11 approved buying a QED GEM 5000 landfill gas monitor and heard a departmental report on recycling, leachate hauling and staffing changes from Solid Waste Director Corey.
Corey told the board the county's existing gas monitor could not be calibrated or upgraded and recommended a QED GEM 5000, saying the model matches the county's consultant (Stan Tech) and avoids field challenges the alternative (an Elkins unit using an iPad interface) could pose in winter operations. The quoted price for the QED unit was $19,345; the Solid Waste Advisory Committee had recommended the purchase. A motion to purchase the unit passed on a voice vote.
Corey summarized 2024 operations: household-hazardous-waste processing totaled 99,314 pounds (49.7 tons) serving 1,745 households; the RRC averaged about 46 private customers per day (approximately 12,450 customers for the year); recycling figures included electronics, mattresses (program began in July), tires, metal and other streams. The landfill compacted about 47,801.64 tons of material in 2024 across municipal solid waste, mixed demolition, fines/bypass, ash and sawdust.
The department delivered 1,549,800 gallons of leachate to Pelican Rapids in 2024, yielding estimated county savings of $32,545.80, and continued load-sharing with Becker County (95 loads held for Becker; Becker returned 100 loads). The department replaced an end-of-life compactor in September 2024; the new machine has a seven-year expected lifespan with options to rebuild twice.
Corey described a staff reorganization after three senior departures; the department filled four positions with minimal budget impact and created roles to increase on-site continuity (landfill technician, office clerk, recycling/education coordinator). He said the department is exploring options to handle new, stricter C&D rules being proposed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, including regional approaches, on-site grinding, improved sorting for recycling and potential use of existing landfill capacity.
Commissioners praised the department's partnerships and operational improvements; Corey said he would bring further recommendations (for example, heating/insulating a garage to support year-round Freon removal) in future budget items.
