HF4747

Purpose

This bill provides a financial plan to support regional solid waste facilities. It authorizes the sale of state bonds to fund an ash recovery and recycling waste processing project and a waste transfer station for the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority, which serves several counties in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation of funds
  • Amount: 7,267,000 dollars from the bond proceeds fund.
  • Recipient and purpose: The Pollution Control Agency will provide a grant under the solid waste capital assistance grant program (Minnesota Statutes §115A.54) to Otter Tail County, acting on behalf of the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority Joint Powers Board (comprising Clay, Becker, Wadena, Otter Tail, and Todd Counties).
  • Projects funded:
  • Predesign, design, and construction of an ash recovery and recycling waste processing plant. The plant would divert ash from landfills and use it as road construction material, and it would also recover ferrous and nonferrous metals.
  • Predesign, design, and construction of a waste transfer station to receive municipal solid waste and demolition waste for transfer to regional facilities.
• Bond sale
  • The money appropriated will be raised through the sale of state bonds up to the amount of 7,267,000.
  • Bond terms and authority: The bonds will be issued under Minnesota statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and in accordance with the Minnesota Constitution, Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Financial and Legal Implications

• This bill creates a new funding stream (bond proceeds fund) for a specific waste management project and authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover the cost.
• It directs funding through the Pollution Control Agency to a regional authority for capital improvements in solid waste processing and transfer capabilities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill adds an appropriation and bond-issuance authorization to support the Prairie Lakes Regional Solid Waste facilities.
• It leverages existing programs (solid waste capital assistance grant program) and existing bonding processes under current statutes and constitutional provisions. No new statutes appear to be created; rather, money is allocated and bonds are authorized to support the described projects.

Significance and Potential Impact

• Environmental benefits: diverting ash from landfills and recycling materials could reduce waste and support more sustainable road-building materials.
• Infrastructure improvements: the ash processing plant and waste transfer station could enhance regional waste management efficiency and capabilities.
• Economic aspect: funding through bonds spreads the cost over time, aligning with long-term capital investments in waste infrastructure.

Relevant Terms prairie lakes municipal solid waste authority Otter Tail County Clay County Becker County Wadena County Todd County ash recovery and recycling waste processing plant ash diversion road construction material ferrous metals nonferrous metals waste transfer station municipal solid waste demolition waste solid waste capital assistance grant program Minnesota Statutes §115A.54 bond proceeds fund Pollution Control Agency joint powers board bond sale Minnesota Statutes §§16A.631 to 16A.675 Minnesota Constitution Article XI §§4–7 appropriation amount 7,267,000 preddesign, design, and construction