Committee approves Green Circle Recovery junk‑dealer license, waives 1,000‑foot restriction in committee vote

The Judiciary & Administration Committee voted in favor of recommending a junk‑dealer license and a waiver of the municipal 1,000‑foot setback requirement for Green Circle Recovery LLC, for operations at 3019 Commerce St. The committee vote in favor passed with 6 yeses and one abstention; the item will appear on next week’s full council agenda.

The applicant described planned activities that focus on mechanical processing and recycling — including mattress processing and construction and demolition (C&D) material handling — and emphasized compliance steps such as obtaining industrial stormwater permits from the DNR and working with a consulting engineering firm. The applicant said the operation would not include metal melting and therefore would not require a DNR air permit.

Council members asked about neighborhood notification and the practical effect of a waiver (longer‑term on‑site storage in commercial quantities to enable batch shipping). Council member Trost raised concerns that notices were mailed to a single PO box for a multi‑unit housing provider and asked the applicant to reach out to residents; the applicant said he had mailed an explanatory letter with a cell‑phone contact and offered to furnish additional outreach and to obtain letters of support from county solid‑waste staff.

Applicant Mike Harder emphasized the environmental benefits of local processing and diversion from landfills and said he would plant arborvitae screening and continue neighbor outreach. Council members indicated they wanted supplemental documentation (e.g., DNR correspondence or solid‑waste letters) included for council consideration.

Votes at a glance: Committee recommended approval of the license and waiver; committee vote was 6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention. The matter will be considered by the full council next week.