Scott County commissioners hear presenters on recycling targets, organics programs and funding shortfalls

Scott County Board of Commissioners received a briefing on solid waste management and recycling from county staff and a Dakota County waste regulation supervisor, who together framed organics collection, product stewardship and regional cooperation as keys to raising the county’s recycling rate.

Katie Mllica of Scott County introduced the panel and thanked Dakota County’s Dave Magneson for joining the discussion. Nick Raichus, Scott County environmental services, told commissioners that the only statutory target he was aware of is a 75% recycling rate by 2030 and that the metro plan recently adjusted targets by material. "Organics — especially food waste — is currently 25 to 35% of the MSW waste stream," Raichus said, adding that diverting organics will both increase recycling rates and reduce methane emissions from landfills.

Panelists explained the decline in some headline recycling percentages is partly a measurement change: the state has tightened what counts toward recycling (for example, removing industrial scrap metal from the metric), and lighter packaging can reduce the weight-based rate even when more items are collected. They also described improvements in single-sort material recovery facility (MRF) technology that may allow new materials — paper cups were cited as an example — to be captured in the near term, while noting contamination and very small items still cause losses.

Dakota County described a more regulatory approach to raising diversion. Dave Magneson said his county's 2019 ordinance (implemented in 2022) requires haulers to offer weekly recycling and mandates paired trash-and-recycling containers with standardized labels for curbside service; larger generators must meet training and diversion requirements. "We made it illegal to throw a pop can in the trash," Magneson said when describing the county's enforcement steps.

Scott County staff described local measures already in place: a Scott County household hazardous waste (HHW) site that accepts cardboard, shredded paper and plastic bags; partnerships with private processors (Demcon, Buckingham Companies) for drop-offs; grants and technical assistance for businesses through Minnesota Wastewise; and pilot organics collection programs. Staff said organized collection (one hauler per city) and offering a second recycling cart free to customers are among practical steps that increase residential participation.

Funding and capacity concerns drew sustained attention. Presenters walked commissioners through a chart comparing metro counties’ per-household costs and percent landfilled, noting that counties that collect more local fees tend to landfill less. Dakota County’s staff reported roughly $1.1 million in landfill host fees last year and described additional license and permit revenues; presenters estimated SCORE grant dollars (the state fund derived from waste taxes) cover roughly 25–30% of counties’ recycling program costs and are insufficient for the increased work needed to reach 75% by 2030.

Commissioners asked about the regional implications of facility closures. Panelists said that if a major incineration or processing facility in Hennepin County were to close, much of the displaced municipal solid waste would likely travel to nearby landfills; one estimate discussed during the briefing suggested 75–80% of displaced waste would route to Dakota County, with potential impacts on the lifetime of area landfills such as the Burnsville sanitary landfill.

Speakers also reviewed business-focused programs: the VSQG (very small quantity generator) appointments at Scott County’s HHW site, Wastewise business outreach and grants that funded balers, densifiers and organics programs in restaurants and schools, and PaintCare, a manufacturer-funded paint disposal program that covers paint disposal costs at participating sites. Staff emphasized that targeted education, paired containers, and practical incentives remain the most reliable ways to change household and business behavior over time.

No formal motions or votes were taken during the briefing. Commissioners thanked presenters and scheduled further discussion: staff flagged a 30-minute joint session with Dakota County at an upcoming board meeting to deepen intercounty planning and coordination.

Next steps identified at the end of the briefing included continued collaboration with Dakota County on regional planning, pilot organics programs, expanding HHW drop-off access for oversized cardboard and partnering with Wastewise to expand business recycling participation.