Item Description:
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Approve Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy, negotiate SCORE grant agmts
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, be approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate residential waste reduction and recycling grant agreements for the period of January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028; that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
City waste reduction and recycling programs are integral to meeting county zero waste and climate action goals. To support that work, the county has funded city programs for almost 40 years. The Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy, last amended in September 2021, establishes the terms and conditions of distributing funds (Resolution 21-0389).
In 2024 the county provided $4.4 million in Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) program funds to cities. The state’s SCORE program was established in 1989. SCORE funds are based on revenue received from the state’s solid waste management tax on garbage services and are subject to change based on the tax revenue received by the state and funds allocated by the legislature.
The county has made 100% of SCORE funds available to cities in accordance with the county’s Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy. Cities must meet several basic requirements to receive funding, including standards for program implementation, partnership on education and outreach, reporting, and performance.
A draft of the 2026-2028 funding policy was shared with the cities for their review. The draft was also discussed with city recycling coordinators at the recent quarterly update meeting that county staff have with the coordinators. No changes to the draft policy were proposed by the cities.
The 2026--2028 funding policy allocates funding to the same three areas as the previous policy: 40% to general waste reduction and recycling programs, 50% to curbside organics recycling programs, 10% to organics drop-off sites and multifamily recycling. Cities receive funding based on the number of households with recycling, the target number of households signed up for organics, the number of multifamily households, and other criteria specified in the funding policy.
The 2026-2028 funding policy includes four minor changes to the previous policy.
First, the new term is for three years instead of four years, to align with the timeline for implementation of the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act, a producer-funded system to expand reuse, recycling and composting of packaging and paper products. The implementation of the packaging stewardship plan begins in 2029 and includes program cost reimbursement starting at 50%. The county will need to take the details of that plan into consideration when allocating SCORE funding in 2029 and beyond.
Second, cities will receive a minimum of $3,300 to support curbside organics programs. Currently, some small cities receive less than that amount. Establishing a minimum funding level recognizes the efforts needed to administer an organics program and provides a stronger incentive for implementing a curbside organics program.
Third, this new funding policy ensures that all multifamily funds are passed through to cities. In the past, if a city did not apply for multifamily funding, those unclaimed funds went back to the county for use in county led multifamily initiatives. Going forward, those unclaimed funds would become available and redistributed to the cities that applied for multifamily funding.
Fourth, the county has established new participation targets for curbside organics participation: 60% for cities that contract for organics and 30% for cities with a hauler requirement. The county funds cities at those target levels to support the growth of organics programs. The county provides more funding to cities that contract for curbside organics because that type of organics program has a long, proven history of achieving higher sign-up and has more potential for growth.
Finally, in accordance with BAR 25-0296 R2 and in coordination with city staff, the funding policy includes requirements for cities of the first class, including measurable performance standards for local abatement of solid waste through waste reduction and recycling programs, standards and procedures to be used in determining annually whether the city has implemented and satisfied the performance standards for local abatement, and whether the city’s policies and programs are consistent with state policy and purposes as outlined in Minn. Stat. §§ 115A.02, 115A.551 and Minn. Stat. §§ 473.842 to 473.849 (Resolution 25-0296 R2).
Current Request:
This request seeks approval of the Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.
This request also seeks approval to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate residential waste reduction and recycling grant agreements from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028; authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and authorize the Controller to disburse funds as directed. An estimated $4.5 million will be available to cities in 2026.
Impact/Outcomes:
Residential waste reduction and recycling programs help accelerate progress toward zero waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and eliminate disparities associated with waste disposal. This funding policy continues county support for city programs, which play an important role in the solid waste system.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval