Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to promote recycling and responsible waste management in Minnesota by providing financial incentives to operators of facilities that process solid waste. Specifically, the bill introduces a rebate on the solid waste management tax for recyclable, compostable, and reusable materials that are removed from the waste stream.

Main Provisions

• Rebate for Recycled and Reused Materials: The bill proposes a rebate for materials that are recycled, composted, or reused after being separated from solid waste. The rebate is designed to encourage more processing of waste for recycling rather than disposal.

• Reporting Requirements: By February 1 each year, operators of resource recovery and waste-to-energy facilities must report to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The report should include:

  • Tons of recyclable materials separated and recycled.
  • Tons of recyclable materials separated and reused.
  • Tons of compostable materials separated and composted.
  • Tons of recyclable materials recovered from combustor ash and recycled.
  • Tons of combustor ash used in road construction or other approved uses.

• Rebate Calculation: Based on the reported data, the rebate amount is calculated by:

  • Applying a 30% rebate rate to the weight of materials reported for recycling, reuse, and composting.
  • Applying a 20% rebate rate to the weight of materials used from combustor ash.

• Funding Appropriation: The amount necessary to pay the rebates will come from existing tax revenues specified in Minnesota Statutes, allocated to the Department of Revenue.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill amends an existing statute by integrating a financial rebate program for facilities that actively recycle and manage waste through composting or reuse, encouraging better environmental practices and reducing landfill use.

Relevant Terms

solid waste management, recycling, composting, reuse, resource recovery facility, waste-to-energy facility, combustor ash, rebate, tax incentive.