Polk County approves series of contracts and purchases to expand recycling and organics processing

Polk County commissioners on Monday approved a package of contracts and purchases to expand recycling and organics processing at the county’s transfer station and landfill, including grant‑funded equipment intended to improve glass recovery and to automate removal of organics from the waste stream.

County staff told the board the work is funded through two Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) grants plus local matching funds and county bonds. The board approved multiple, related motions: a systems integration contract, purchase and installation of a bag opener and fine screen, procurement of two robotic pickers for an organics line, and a larger integrator/installation contract for the back‑end modifications.

Why it matters: County presenters said the package is designed to raise material quality (especially glass) and reduce disposal of contaminated fines, which improves marketability and long‑term operating economics. The project also prepares the facility to accept new compostable bag streams being tested under producer responsibility (EPR) planning in…