(a) There is established a program to encourage and assist cities, counties, solid waste management districts, and sanitary districts in the development and implementation of solid waste management projects and to transfer the knowledge and experience gained from such projects to other communities in the state.

(b) The program must be administered to encourage local communities to develop feasible and prudent alternatives to disposal, including:

(1) waste reduction;

(2) reuse;

(3) recycling;

(4) composting source-separated compostable materials or yard waste;

(5) resource recovery;

(6) waste separation by generators, collectors, and other persons; and

(7) waste processing.

(c) The commissioner shall administer the program according to sections 115A.49 to 115A.54 and rules adopted under chapter 14. In administering the program, the commissioner shall give priority to projects in the order of preference of the waste management practices listed in section 115A.02. The commissioner shall give special consideration to areas where natural geologic and soil conditions are especially unsuitable for land disposal of solid waste; areas where the capacity of existing solid waste disposal facilities is determined by the commissioner to be less than five years; and projects serving more than one local government unit.