Douglas County proposes to adopt Solid Waste Designation Ordinance

Did you ever wonder where all of your garbage goes after it’s picked up by your service provider?  Douglas County residents can now learn more about the process and have a say in a new ordinance that seeks to control where it goes. The county will be hosting a public hearing on April 18 at 9:02 a.m. during the regular County Board of Commissioners meeting. These meetings are held at 821 Cedar Street in Alexandria.

The specifics of the plan are outlined below by Douglas County Land and Resource Management Director Dave Rush. 

Douglas County is working in cooperation with Pope County and the Pope Douglas Solid Waste Management (PDSWM) District to designate that all solid waste generated in the county be delivered to the Resource Recovery Facility at 2115 Jefferson Street in Alexandria.

Pope and Douglas Counties cooperate on certain waste management programs as part of the PDSWM Board, which owns and operates a Solid Waste Management Resource Recovery Facility.  In 2020, the counties held public hearings prior to adopting a Joint Waste Designation Plan which was approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as being consistent with state statutes and state goals.  The purpose of the plan was to ensure that all acceptable solid waste generated in the counties was delivered to the recovery facility. 

Since the adoption of this Plan,  PDSWM has been negotiating with haulers to contract for waste delivery.  Each county has begun the process of implementing this waste designation through the adoption of a waste designation ordinance.  The purpose of this ordinance is to regulate the transportation and delivery of solid waste generated within the county; define the geographic area and the types and quantities of solid waste subject to designation; specify points of delivery of the waste; require acceptable waste be delivered to the designated facility; except from the requirements certain types of solid waste materials, and enact additional regulations governing the hauling of waste and other matters.  PDSWM anticipates that waste designation, along with anticipated improvements to the Resource Recovery Campus, will yield an increase in the amount of solid waste processed and recycled, while reducing the amount sent to landfills.

Douglas County is seeking input on the proposed waste designation ordinance via a public hearing to be held on April 18, 2023 at 9:02 at the County Board of Commissioners meeting.  A copy of the proposed Solid Waste Designation Ordinance can be viewed at the County Land & Resource Management Office or on the County website at www.douglascountymn.gov.  The Joint Designation Plan and other information regarding waste designation and waste management in Pope and Douglas Counties are available at www.popedouglasrecycle.com.

View more information below:

Public Notice

Draft Ordinance