Report a concern

Welcome to the Olmsted County Environmental Resources Report a Concern webpage, your central hub for contacting us about various issues, including illegal burning, illegal dumping, public health nuisance, and service-related concerns related to garbage collection within our county. Our dedicated staff is at your service Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

To ensure swift resolution, we recommend that residents first address service-related concerns by contacting their haulers directly. If your hauler can't resolve the issue satisfactorily, please don't hesitate to submit a report, and the county will try to help you. If you are a resident of the City of Rochester, please remember that your complaint may be referred to the city for resolution as part of our collaborative approach to maintaining our community's cleanliness and safety.

We appreciate your commitment to keeping our community clean and safe. We're here to help you navigate these matters as quickly as possible.

Service-related concerns

  • To promptly resolve service-related concerns, we advise residents to contact their haulers directly. If your hauler cannot resolve the issue satisfactorily, please do not hesitate to submit a report; the county will try to assist you in any way we can.

Reporting possible ordinance violation(s)

  • To report incidents of illegal garbage dumping within the City of Rochester, please contact Rochester Community Development at 507-328-2600.
  • For cases of illegal garbage dumping outside Rochester's city limits, please submit your report using our General Incident Form.

Why burning garbage should be avoided

Burning garbage in any form, whether in a burn barrel, fire pit, wood stove, or other methods, is generally prohibited in Minnesota due to its significant health and environmental risks. This practice not only endangers your well-being but also adversely affects the environment. Even seemingly harmless items like paper products, printed materials, and plastics can emit harmful toxins when burned, including arsenic, mercury, chromium, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, lead, and dioxin-like chemicals. Because burn barrels lack proper combustion and air pollution control equipment, these hazardous substances are released into the air and ash, creating potential threats to public health and the environment.

Reporting possible illegal burning or dumping

  • To report incidents of illegal burning within the City of Rochester, please contact Rochester Community Development at 507-328-2600.
  • If you suspect or witness possible illegal garbage burning outside Rochester's city limits, we strongly encourage you to report them using our General Incident Form. Your cooperation is vital in helping us maintain a cleaner and safer environment for all residents.

MN-DNR Permit inquiries

  • Residents in rural areas seeking authorization to burn brush should contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at 507-522-5062 or apply online to obtain the necessary permits.

Reporting possible Public Health nuisance

  • To report potential public health nuisances within the City of Rochester, don't hesitate to contact Rochester Community Development at 507-328-2600.
  • For possible public health nuisances outside of Rochester's city limits, please submit your report using our General Incident Form