The Minnesota House Rochester delegation toured the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility as it seeks capital investment to build and equip a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which improves recycling by removing non-combustible waste items like metals, glass, and grit. Construction of an MRF facility, which would reside on the same site as the Olmsted County Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF), would also increase local recycling rates, enhance the county鈥檚 current solid waste system, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions emitted in transport to other facilities, none of which currently exist in Southeastern Minnesota.
The Rochester Delegation of the Minnesota House is made up of Representatives Tina Liebling (DFL 鈥� Rochester), Andy Smith (DFL 鈥� Rochester), and Kim Hicks (DFL 鈥� Rochester). The delegation released the following statement:
鈥淏uilding an MRF right here in Rochester is a smart move for our state recycling goals, reducing emissions, and helping local businesses. It would also be a great benefit to neighboring municipalities and counties, helping the entire region manage and recycle parts of waste rather than continuing to send trash to the Twin Cities for disposal or incineration. As we look to 2040 energy goals, an MRF facility would allow meaningful use of discarded materials and help bring Rochester a step closer to being a vibrant energy center for Minnesota.鈥�
Last year, the Capital Investment committee stopped at the OWEF facility to learn about Olmsted County’s recently adopted 10-year solid waste management plan, which identifies strategies for rethinking “waste” and addressing materials in terms of resource management.