Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management
2115 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, Minnesota, United States

Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management is a partnership created by Pope and Douglas Counties in 1983. This partnership was created to manage the solid waste stream generated in both counties.Please take a few moments to explore our site and learn how your garbage is managed, and see how we can help you reduce, reuse, recycle and compost.

History

• 1988 - 17,202 tons of waste processed in the first year and 31,671 tons of waste processed 2007 - Total tons of waste processed during 20 years of operation - 476,009

• 1989 - Implemented Curbside Recycling Programs and Satellite Collection Sites in Pope and Douglas Counties

• 1993 - Opened Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off/Reuse Center

• 1993 - 441 Residents dropped items at HHW and 384 Residents picked up

• 1994 - Constructed an Ash Monofil

• 1997 - Opened Recycling Drop Center at Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management facility.

• 1997 - Replaced Combustors, Boilers and Air Pollution Control Equipment as required to meet new E.P.A. Standards

• 2003 - Constructed Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to remove more recyclable materials from waste stream - from 2004 thru 2007, the MRF processed 97,800 tons of MSW removing an additional 6,800 tons or 7% of recyclable materials

• 2010 - Expanded Waste to Energy Facility by adding Third Combustor

• 2014  - Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) had 4,720 Residents dropping items off and 2,402 Residents picked items up in the Product Reuse Room

Material Recycling Facility

In 2003 a Material Recycling Facility (MRF) was added to the front end of the waste combustors. The purpose of the MRF is to remove recyclables, hazards and problem items from the trash before combustion.

How the Process Works

• The trucks dump the trash on the tipping floor.

• The front end loader employee removes very large metal pieces.

• The trash is then dumped onto a conveyer then brought to an air conditioned and/or heated enclosure where employees pick out large unburnables like microwaves and mufflers.

• Next, employees pull out corrugated cardboard and toss onto a large chute or storage bunker. When it's full, it's conveyed to a baler and baled for market.

• Employees don't touch unopened bags.

• After the trash passes through the picking station, it goes into a large trommel screen (a rotating drum) that is 10' diameter x 40' long. The drum has two sizes of holes called fines which are 2" and 6". The trommel screen has knives to rip open the garbage bags. As the drum rotates it mixes everything up.

• During the process the fines (small bits of broken glass, lottery tickets, gravel, cigarette butts and etc.) fall through unto a conveyer and then are passed over a magnetic head pulley which pulls only small items such as button batteries, pins, screws, nails and etc. The collected remaining combustibles continue on to the storage pit where they are mixed with other MSW that is to be fed to the waste combustor.

• The next separation process is cans and other items of the same size. They fall through onto a magnetic separator. All items which are magnetized fall into one bunker. The similar shaped objects which were not removed by the magnet continue on and are then separated by an eddy current separator which repels the aluminum into a bunker where it is ultimately baled. The collected remaining combustibles continue on to the storage pit where they are mixed with other MSW that is to be fed to the waste combustor.

• All other items not removed fall out the end of the trommel onto a belt conveyor. This belt also runs under a magnet picking up other larger metal objects. All three lines merge and are conveyed to the storage pit.

Electronics Recycling

lid Waste Management does not accept electronics/e-waste.E-waste does need to be managed correctly due to hazardous materials in the items.Several options exist for Pope and Douglas County residents and businesses to safely recycle obsolete or unwanted electronics or e-waste.

CELL PHONES/PRINTER CARTRIDGES/etc

All inkjet and toner cartridges, cell phones, GPS devices, digital cameras, MP3 players and headsets are accepted regardless of brand or condition. Simply drop these items at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.Pope/Douglas does not recycle landline phones. However, recycle the telephone cords/wires and rechargeable batteries from cordless phone handsets.

Hazardous Waste

Residential hazardous waste is accepted from Douglas County and Pope County residents at no charge. Because of State restrictions, business and agriculture wastes are not accepted. For information on how to contact companies who handle wastes from businesses and agricultural please call 320-763-9340 or 1-800-972-6318.Household Hazardous waste (HHW) is any substance containing ingredients that could negatively affect your safety, health or the environment. Signal words found on hazardous products include poison, danger, warning and caution. They can be found on a wide range of products, including furniture polish, bleach, antifreeze, insecticides, paint, mothballs and much more. Also look for indications of hazardous properties on the label.

Unacceptable Wastes and Other Problem Items Brochure

• Hazardous Wastes such as pesticides, insecticides, chemicals, or other toxic materials, paint and solvents, gasoline and inflammable liquids, aerosol cans, explosive waste and ammunition.
• Automobile Wastes, including large items, gasoline tanks, hardened steel shafts, engine blocks and steel wheels, tires, used auto oil.
• Electronic waste (Ewaste) Including but not limited to, Computer Monitors, TV's, Printed Circuit Boards, Batteries, Mercury Containing Components, PCBs (found in TV's and Computers made before the early 1980's). As of July 1, 2006 Minnesota residents may not put electronic products containing a cathode ray tube (CRT) in the trash.
• Animal remains in large quantities.
• Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, stoves, and microwaves.
• Demolition or building waste including sheetrock.
• Asbestos (Insulation, tile, shingles, etc) How to Dispose of Asbestos? MN Asbestos Contractor Finder
• Furniture such as mattresses, boxsprings, bedframes, couches, recliners, tables, and chairs.
• Fluorescent Tubes including Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and all light bulbs containing Mercury (Hg).
• Hospital Waste which is infectious (including sharps), inflammable or toxic.
• Liquid waste of any type in large quantities. Cooking Oil/Grease Disposal/Recycling- Midwest Grease
• Metals such as large metal items, steel banding, steel fence materials, or propane tanks.
• PVC plastics in large quantities.
• Radioactive waste
• Thermostats containing Mercury (Hg).
• Wood items, large in size
• Yard waste such as leaves, grass, and branches.
• Ash from structural fire.