Norman County Applies for EPA Solid Waste & Recycling Grants

Ada, MN — Norman County is teaming up with 8 other counties in Northwest Minnesota to help solidify the future of solid waste in the county. The permit for the current Norman County Demolition Landfill expires in 2029 and its unlikely to be renewed after that. But nine total counties facing similar issues are now working together to find a solution for their solid waste needs. Those counties include Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Polk, and Red Lake. Together, they are applying for a $4 million Environmental Protection Agency Infrastructure grant to create a “hub and spoke” system between them, according to Garry Johanson of Norman County Environmental Services.

The Norman County Board of Commissioners also recently approved applying for another $4 million EPA SWIFR grant, but this would be for the purchase robotic sorters at the Municipal Solid Waste and Recycling facility in Fosston. The robotic sorters would help offset the need for manual sorting stations, which have been vacant for more than 3 years due to a lack of laborers. Norman County is joined by Polk County, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, and Mahnomen County for this grant application.