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Date: April 15, 2002 <br /> Item: II. F. <br /> Public Collection <br /> Final Report: Study on Public Collection <br /> Executive Summary <br /> This is a report of a study about public collection in Ramsey and Washington <br /> Counties, Minnesota. It includes a description of current problems in solid waste <br /> management in the Counties, methods used, a description of public collection, results <br /> of a public engagement process, analysis of four options, conclusions and <br /> recommendations. <br /> Cities, townships and counties are charged by the State of Minnesota with protecting <br /> public health, safety and welfare, and protecting the environment. Garbage collection <br /> is a necessary public service to assure those charges, much as proper handling of <br /> sewage, provision of safe drinking water, providing safe roads, and fire and police <br /> protection services. Public collection of waste is when a city, township or county <br /> provides or arranges for collection services on behalf of residential, commercial <br /> and/or multifamily housing waste generators. The services can collect a wide range of <br /> wastes, including garbage, recyclables, compostables (such as yard waste or food <br /> waste), bulky items (such as major appliances), household hazardous wastes, and tree <br /> and shrub waste. <br /> This report has been prepared by the Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery <br /> Proj ect in response to County Board resolutions directing a full exploration of a <br /> public collection system for solid waste. This study has its roots in a crisis that <br /> emerged in early 2001 related to waste deliveries to the Ramsey/Washington County <br /> Resource Recovery Facility. During several workshops and meetings in 2001 the <br /> Ramsey and Washington County Commissioners came to recognize that the problems <br /> at the Resource Recovery Facility were but a symptom of overall problems in waste <br /> management, and that the current market for solid waste collection and disposal is <br /> preventing achievement of environmental, health and safety goals. In June 2001 the <br /> Ramsey and Washington County Boards each adopted resolutions to conduct a study <br /> of public collection. The Boards appropriated funds and authorized contracts to <br /> complete the work. The initial timeline, which called for the study to be complete at <br /> the end of 2001, was extended into 2002 to provide more time for public engagement. <br /> Problem Statement <br /> Minnesota law on solid waste establishes the policy of the state to protect the <br /> environment and public health and conserve resources by managing waste in a variety <br /> of ways. State law provides a hierarchy of preferred waste management methods, <br /> including reduction, recycling, composting, recovery of energy from waste, and <br /> landfilling being the least preferred. In response to State law, Ramsey and <br /> Washington Counties have State-approved solid waste management plans with clear <br /> long-term goals. These goals aim to 1) manage waste to protect the environment and <br /> public health, and to conserve resources; 2) use a variety of methods according to the <br /> State's hierarchy, in order to minimize landfilling; 3) manage waste cost-effectively <br /> and minimise potential liability for citizens, businesses, and taxpayers; 4) encourage <br /> Page 1 of 7 <br />