Expanding Commercial Composting

 

To help Minnesotans become more eco-friendly by reducing food and yard waste and expanding commercial composting.

 

Composting has been proven to be beneficial to the environment, by supporting healthy soil, managing stormwater and

promoting healthy plant growth. Commercial composting also helps to reduce the spread of invasive species and diseases.

In Minnesota approximately 2% of the state population is agricultural farmers. Many of these farmers buy compost from

commercial composting facilities because of the benefits it has for the soil. Currently, mainly large cities and

counties have commercial composting options. There is a bill that says that all counties in the Twin Cities metro area

have until 2030 to have commercial composting. This bill seeks to expand that to all counties in the state of Minnesota.

 

 

Compost: Decaying organic matter such as leaves and food waste that is used to fertilize and enrich soil

Commercial composting: The large-scale process of decomposing organic matter in controlled facilities

 

 

The counties involved will partner with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to gain funding.

 

If a county has 1 year to get commercial composting once they exceed a population of 5,000 people or they will be fined

in accordance with the MPCA. If a county does not get commercial composting by the time this bill goes into effect, they

will also be fined an amount deemed appropriate by the MPCA.

 

January 1, 2030