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Anoka County board adopts updated solid waste ordinance aimed at meeting state diversion rules
Summary
After a staff presentation and a public hearing with no commenters, the Anoka County Board voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2026-1 to align county rules with recent state requirements and metro-county practices for waste diversion.
The Anoka County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 28 to adopt Ordinance 2026-1, an updated county solid waste ordinance intended to align local rules with recent Minnesota Pollution Control Agency requirements and emerging metro-county practices.
Janelle Hubbard, public health staff, told the board the county’s existing ordinance is “nearly 30 years old” and that industry changes, facility closures and new state rules over the past decade necessitated the rewrite. “We really took a look at the state language… and we will be working through this and partnering,” Hubbard said, describing coordination with Dakota and Hennepin counties to ensure consistent infrastructure for diversion efforts.
County Attorney Johnson opened the public hearing at about 9:49 a.m., noting the notice was published July 10 and July 17. No written comments were received and no members of the public came forward to speak during the live hearing; the board proceeded to consider the ordinance.
Commissioner Jepsen asked about the legal implications of statutory language that “requires” counties to meet certain goals by 2030. Hubbard replied that the MPCA has set rules and guidance but “has not identified clear consequences if it is not met,” and emphasized that meeting the targets will require regional partnerships and new infrastructure. Commissioners also discussed a state requirement referenced in the ordinance that would make residential curbside collection of food organics available to cities with populations greater than 5,000 by 2030 and the county’s work to identify feasible collection strategies.
The board’s adoption of Ordinance 2026-1 follows staff recommendations in the board packet and will move the county toward implementing the diversion strategies described by Hubbard. The ordinance was approved on a unanimous vote; no effective date beyond the adoption action was specified in the meeting discussion.
