MPCA has provided talking points as requested at the July 11, 2018 "State of Recycling" meeting.  These talking points can be used as needed in talking with citizens/others about the state of recycling in Minnesota. 

If you have any questions, please contact Wayne Gjerde wayne.gjerde@state.mn.us 651-757-2392 or Susan Heffron  susan.heffron@state.mn.us 651-757-2417

The MPCA has a wealth of photos available on the agency's Flickr site. You don't need to sign in or have an account to access our Flickr photos. The images are organized by topic and easily downloadable. To download, click the image you want, click on the down arrow icon on the right side under the photo, and choose the image size.

MPCA photos cover topics such agriculture, air pollution, solid waste and recycling, water quality, alternative energy, blue-green algae, stormwater, and more. You can also find images from the MPCA's annual Eco Experience exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair.

Images on the Flickr site generally have caption and background information included. We request that you attribute the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as the source of any image you use.

If  you have questions about these images or their use, please contact Mary Connor (651-757-2629).

As we all work to prevent food waste and compost what isn’t prevented, it will be increasingly important to eliminate confusing and look-alike packaging that is not compostable, but appears to be.

Earlier this week, Seattle City Council passed first-in-the-nation legislation to address the growing problem of non-compostable bags being mistaken for compostable bags. The legislation passed unanimously and does the following:

•       Non-compostable plastic bags provided to customers must not be tinted green or brown

•       Such as produce bags

•       Compostable bags provided to customers must be tinted green or brown and must be labeled compostable

•       Bags provided to customers cannot be labeled biodegradable, degradable, decomposable    or similar terms

•       Establishes definition for compostable

•       Makes a mandatory minimum charge of $.05 for large paper carryout bags permanent

The legislation and the presentation to Council can be viewed at ordinance. Click the Text tab for the legislation. Supporting documents include a summary and fiscal note, the presentation and an adopted amendment regarding reporting.

Press release is attached.

For more information, to request a paper copy of the draft policy plan, or to submit comments on the proposed policy plan revisions, contact Johanna Kertesz, johannakertesz@state.mn.us.

A draft version of the policy plan was placed on public notice on July 11, 2016. A copy of the draft is available at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/public-notices (search for notices from July 11, 2016). The direct link to the draft is https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/w-sw7-21a.pdf.