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MnTAP trainings and assessments to help businesses and counties reduce solid waste [UPDATED]
Published 10:49am Monday, February 4, 2013 Updated 12:53pm Monday, February 4, 2013Solid waste is a growing problem in Minnesota that impacts businesses, counties, and communities. In 2010, Minnesota generated 5.6 million tons of solid waste, including 196,000 tons of organic waste. Even though over 2.5 million tons were collected for recycling, the State of Minnesota, through a variety of action plans and goals, recognizes that solid waste remains a priority and must be reduced, reused, recycled, and managed properly.
It is clear that when businesses prevent or better manage solid waste, they can not only save time and money, but also stay focused on the productive side of their business operation.
County solid waste officials are also working to increase source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting rates in their respective counties.
To begin tackling the issue of solid waste in rural communities, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota is partnering with counties in northern and western Minnesota to host half-day training sessions and assessments for local government staff and the business community.
These efforts are supported by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Utilities Program.
As part of this project, MnTAP is conducting twenty no-cost half-day solid waste trainings: ten for local government officials and ten for local businesses.
The events will provide resources, insights, and a forum for sharing ideas and information about solid waste management and diversion in a detailed and engaging format.
MnTAP is also conducting two no-cost half-day solid waste assessments for businesses in each training location. MnTAP will work with the businesses ahead of time to understand their waste generation and cost burden, and their priority waste issues, so that the assessments will be efficiently tailored to the businesses’ needs.
Five counties have already scheduled trainings beginning in February 2013, with five additional training sessions still available.
A complete list of training locations will be released soon.
The trainings are open to anyone who would like to attend. There is no cost to participate in either the training or assessments. If you have any questions about the current training calendar, partnering with MnTAP to bring a solid waste event to your county, or other details regarding this opportunity, please contact Anna Arkin, Solid Waste Specialist at MnTAP, at 612-624-0808, 800-247-0015, or aiarkin@umn.edu.
