Minnesota celebrates the 20th anniversary of its innovative Closed Landfill Program (CLP), the only program of its kind in the country. Before the CLP, the responsibility to properly close landfills was argued among neighboring communities and property owners through seemly endless lawsuits.

The CLP has been ensuring the proper closure and post-closure care of landfills located throughout the state. This voluntary program was established in 1994 by the MN Legislature and administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). As of November 2014, there are 109 closed landfills in the CLP. Five in Anoka County:

• Anoka-Ramsey Landfill (Ramsey)
• East Bethel Landfill (East Bethel)
• Johnson Brothers Landfill (Blaine)
• Oak Grove Landfill (Oak Grove)
• Waste Disposal Engineering Landfill (Andover)

For more information go to the MPCA Closed Landfill Program website or view the Closed Landfill Program Celebrates 20 Years YouTube video (MPCA, 6:15).