Hazardous Waste Facility Expansion

February 5, 2008 Commissioners Meeting


Are you one of Rice County's residents forced to fight for a parking space at the Hazardous Waste Facility? Or, are the days and hours of the facility inconvenient for you? Well, if so, help is on the way! (Maybe later than sooner - but, hey - this is county government we're talking about.)

Citing the growing popularity of the Hazardous Waste program, increasing storage limitations and future safety issues, Mike Cook, director of the Solid Waste Department, asked the County Board's permission to have an architect draft plans for the facility's expansion.

Currently, the facility is responsible for the Ag Pesticide Program and the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program as well as being the sponsor for Steele and Waseca counties. With so much space being required for each program, Cook expressed concern that if the facility did not expand, further restrictions on hours or discontinued programs could result.

The request was supported by a vote of 4-0, Jake Gillen being absent.

Commissioner speaks:

"I think that we will be in the hazardous waste business for a long time." Milt Plaisance

There is an ongoing discussion between the County and Bridgewater Township about the landfill and hazardous waste disposal facility which is located in that township. I was able to reach Bridgewater Township Supervisor, Leif Knecht, for a comment:

"The handling of our waste is very important and Bridgewater Township has been accepting waste from the whole County going on 35 years. I am encouraged that the County is starting to look at longer range solutions and I am encouraged that Bridgewater, through the use of the Hosting Fee provided for in the Minnesota Statutes, can make preparations for the day when funding is needed to take care of the problems 3 million yards of deposited waste can generate. Further, it is a good thing that both the County and Township are addressing the issue."

Other Solid Waste Topics:

1) Commissioners expressed interest in going to a "single sorter" processing for recyclables. This means all recyclables can be set out for haulers, mixed in one container, and they will be sorted at the Recycling Facility. Evidence from other recyling facilites shows this to be the most popular option and is credited with encouraging more recycling. This, in turn, extends the life of landfills.

2) The IRS turned down Rice County's request for a 0% interest federal bond to construct a wind generator. Most of the money went to smaller turbines in the $2 Million range while Rice County would require $3 Million. This will not stop future efforts to establish wind power at the landfill.

3) Jake Gillen and Milt Plaisance will be Commissioner-Delegates in a multi-county initiative to determine future possibilities of waste disposal. Some options that may be investigated are composting and incineration of waste.