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Regional Strategies Processing A. Introduction RETH INK 6a RECYCLING® Waste processing is an important element in the waste management system for waste that is not reduced, reused or recycled. By processing waste into energy, resource recovery facilities reduce landfilling and power residences and businesses throughout the Region. To manage waste in accordance with the solid waste management hierarchy, the SWMCB adopts processing as the preferred alternative to landfilling for MSW that is not otherwise reduced, reused or recycled. (Note: see the Regional Master Plan's "Organics Recovery" section for specific strategies regarding organics diversion). In 1985, the Minnesota Legislature adopted a law requiring all MSW generated in the seven metropolitan counties that is not reduced, reused or recycled to be processed at a resource recovery facility. There are currently four resource recovery facilities serving the Region: the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, the Newport Resource Recovery Facility, the Elk River Resource Processing Plant and Red Wing waste -to- energy facility. The Policy Plan highlights the need to ensure that waste generated by public entities is processed in a method that is consistent with its highest identified use per the State's solid waste management hierarchy. In response to that processing requirement and future waste management objectives identified in the Policy Plan, the MPCA and SWMCB agree that full utilization of the Region's waste processing capacity is a key component in achieving those desired outcomes. Full utilization of capacity is important to the achievement of current and future objectives. This effort must be coordinated with other available policy and regulatory tools to be as effective as possible. The MPCA and SWMCB acknowledge the need for MPCA to fully exercise its statutory authority to enforce Minn. Stat. §473.848; it is only through a combination of fully utilizing processing capacity and the exercise of statutory enforcement authority for how waste is managed that the Region's future solid waste management objectives will be fully achieved. B. Regional Strategies The SWMCB will: 1. Address waste processing issues throughout the Region on an individual county or sub - regional basis; 2. Support a market -based approach regarding privately owned and operated 2011 -2030 Regional Solid Waste Master Plan Approved by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board on December 14, 2011 Appendix V Page 41