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2025 Dakota County School Recycling Workshop

Dakota CountySaturday, September 13, 2025
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11th annual school recycling workshop

Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act (EPR)

Compostable products and packaging labeling law

Bulk milk systems in school cafeterias

Strategies for reducing school food waste

School district food donation models

Best practices for recycling and waste management

Full Document Analysis

Notable Quotes (3)

This law extends a producer's financial and managerial responsibility for its products and packaging beyond the manufacturing stage.

— Mallerie Anderson
Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction ActExplaining the definition of Extended Producer Responsibility.

So you and I won't see a change on the receipt when we buy products associated with this law. It'll have to be sorted out behind the scenes by the producers.

— Mallerie Anderson
Economic impact of EPRClarifying that the law does not allow producers to pass costs onto consumers as a direct fee.

The reason we went down this path were the three taglines here: the waste, taste and trash.

— Barb Shank
School cafeteria sustainabilityExplaining why Waconia Public Schools transitioned to a bulk milk system.

People (6)

Alli VanderookSchool recycling program coordinator

Dakota County employee managing the 11th annual school recycling workshop.

Rachel KennedyStaff

Assisting with technical setup, polling, and chat management on Microsoft Teams.

Mallerie AndersonPackaging EPR coordinator

Works for Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) implementing the new packaging waste law.

1 quote

“The producers are paying this producer responsibility organization and then that producer responsibility organization is facilitating the program on behalf of its member producers.”

Explaining the financial model of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law.

Barb ShankDirector of Nutrition Services

Represents Waconia Public Schools, focusing on sustainable meal programs and bulk milk implementation.

Tracy BraunAssistant Director of Nutrition Services

Dairy farmer and expert in school nutrition operations and scratch cooking.

Chris BrunworthAssistant Kitchen Manager

Handles hands-on kitchen operations at Waconia High School, focusing on minimizing food waste.

Places Mentioned

Dakota County, MinnesotaWaconia Public SchoolsWaconia High School

Events & Meetings (1)

  • 11th annual school recycling workshop; ending at 11:35 AM

Ordinances & Resolutions (2)

Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act

Requires producers to fund a statewide program to ensure all packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2032.

Compostable products and packaging labeling law

Mandates proper labeling for food packaging to clarify compostability and prevent contamination.

Transcript