History of the Prairieland Compost Facility

In the mid-1980’s, both Martin and Faribault Counties were facing close-to-full landfills.  Each county established a waste management committee to search for alternative solutions to its garbage problems.  Committee members attended seminars, toured U.S. recycling facilities and gathered other information.

In the late 1980’s, Martin and Faribault Counties (as well as adjacent Jackson and Watonwan Counties, both of whom later decided to pursue other options) combined their waste management committees into a single task force.  Along with continuing research on the waste issue, the task force, known as the Prairieland Solid Waste Board, worked closely with legislators to develop the state’s grant program to assist counties in funding their waste management facilities.

The Prairieland Solid Waste Board also sent representatives to tour composting facilities in Europe. (Europe, with its severe shortage of landfill space, is a recognized leader in waste management, having been forced to address the garbage issue years ago.)

In the late 1980s, Seres Systems, presenting the advanced composting technology offered by OTVD of France/New York and solid track record in the construction industry, was selected to build Prairieland.

Because of its strong community support for the facility, Truman was selected as the site of the Prairieland Compost Facility.

Construction of the Prairieland Facility was approximately $6,900,000.  Prairieland was awarded a two million dollar grant from the State of Minnesota to help pay for the facility.  Faribault and Martin Counties financed the remaining costs through bonds.  The Prairieland Compost Facility will pay off the bonds by 2010.

© 2005 Prairieland Compost Facility