The use of e-commerce and deliveries has seen a dramatic rise in recent years, and alongside it the amount of packaging waste that ends up in Minnesota landfills each year. About 40% of waste statewide now comes from packaging, prompting lawmakers to put the onus on the manufacturers of that packaging.
The Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act passed by the Legislature last month aims to remedy old problems and new ones. Lawmakers and advocates hope it will lessen the environmental impacts of packaging made up of plastic and other non-recyclable waste, while also creating sustainable funding for recycling efforts that have become too expensive for many residents and local governments statewide.
Currently, counties and cities either contract with recycling hauler companies, have their waste hauler provide recycling services or use city crews to collect recyclables from residents. The state runs a recycling grant program called SCORE grants, where they offer funding to municipalities to help pay for recycling efforts, along with food waste management, waste reduction and composting.