Olmsted County approves updates to solid waste ordinance after hauler testimony

The Olmsted County Board voted to approve amendments to Chapter 3500 of the solid waste management ordinance after staff presented revisions and local haulers spoke during a public hearing.

Kathy Hall, the county’s environmental resources director, opened the presentation and said the changes strengthen operational standards, clarify points of delivery, tighten record-keeping, codify safety protocols identified during an OSHA audit, and address cannabis waste and fee structure alignment. Alex Kremenga, the county’s solid waste assurance coordinator, walked through specific edits including improved definitions, clarified inspection and insurance requirements for licensed haulers and revised record-retention requirements.

During the public hearing, Brady Staysk, owner of Junk It LLC, said he and other small local haulers have lost revenue in recent years and urged the board to consider capping Class D (small/junk) hauler licenses to preserve locally owned businesses. "If it was 15 licenses, I would feel is reasonable," Staysk told commissioners. The board did not adopt a licensing cap at the meeting but several commissioners said they would seek further conversation with physical development staff to better understand small-hauler concerns.

Matthias Harder and another industry representative spoke in support of the ordinance updates and said they appreciated county staff coordination, noted safety improvements and expressed interest in supporting the county’s new material recovery facility.

After closing the public hearing, a motion to adopt the Chapter 3500 amendments was seconded and approved by the board. Commissioners asked staff to continue dialogue with haulers about licensing and potential policy implications before any additional changes are implemented.