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Ramsey County Organics Strategies 1. Ramsey County municipalities shall offer residents the opportunity to recycle organic materials by the end of 2016. 2. The County will evaluate progress in meeting the State's policy plan objectives for organic waste management, as well as the level of service availability and the status of the market for organic waste management. Should the evaluation show that there is not significant progress towards enhancing organics collection by 2017, the County will explore the use of regulatory tools. Ramsey County will develop and implement an outreach and education program, technical assistance and consultation program, and a targeted grants program for non - residential generators of organic waste and recyclables. The County will evaluate and may provide financial support to stimulate the market for non - residential organic waste management. Ramsey County will coordinate this program with Washington County through the Ramsey /Washington County Resource Recovery Project. 4. Ramsey County will work with the SWMCB to explore the expansion of regional hauler licensing to include organics haulers. 5. Ramsey County will work with other agencies and entities to identify and monitor current and emerging diseases and insect threats to the urban forest, including Emerald Ash Borer, which may affect the volume of yard waste managed at County yard -waste sites, and will respond as appropriate. 6. Ramsey County will continue to operate its system of seven yard -waste sites. The County will continue to accept soft - bodied yard waste at all sites and tree and shrub waste at four of the sites. The County will periodically review aspects of its yard -waste management system, which could lead to improvements in operation. 7. Ramsey County will provide compost and wood mulch, when available, at the yard -waste sites, at no charge to County residents. Ramsey County will provide access to compost and wood mulch, when available, to government agencies and other public entities, including community gardens. Saint Paul — Ramsey County Public Health will develop criteria to manage requests for finished compost and mulch from government agencies, community gardens, and public entities. 8. Ramsey County will work with other entities to promote availability of products such as backyard composting bins and rain barrels that provide sustainable approaches to managing organic waste and storm water. 9. Ramsey County will provide access to its property at the Frank and Sims yard -waste site called the "Big Urban Woods' through joint powers agreements with participating schools, for use as a School Forest. Ramsey County will work with the schools, the Department of Natural Resources, the University of Minnesota's Extension Service, and community groups to develop and maintain the property as a School Forest. Ramsey County Solid Waste Master Plan 2011 -2030 Page 120 Approved by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on 3120112