Prairieland Compost Facility

Priairieland Information Sheet

WHY SUPPORT THE PRAIRIELAND COMPOST SYSTEM?

The Prairieland Compost Facility, was built in 1991, to recover recyclables, organic materials and refuse derived fuel from garbage produced in Martin and Faribault counties. State law requires the recovery of waste. We are doing the right thing for the environment and our community by recovering natural resources through this composting process. Along with curbside recycling and household hazardous waste collections, municipal composting represents the ultimate recycling system.

As a resident or business in Martin and Faribault County, we should support the Prairieland Compost Facility because:

	Composting of municipal waste is an environmentally friendly approach to dealing with solid waste.
	Converting waste to compost is a way of reducing the amount of waste that needs to be placed in a landfill.
	Metals are recovered and recycled.
	The organic portion of the garbage is made into compost, a beneficial product.
	It fulfills Minnesota state requirements for recovery of solid waste.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PRAIRIELAND SYSTEM

Martin and Faribault County residents and businesses can show their support for the Prairieland Compost Facility by doing one or more of the following:

	Call your garbage hauler and ask where your garbage is going. Require that your hauler bring your garbage to the Prairieland Compost Facility.
	Compare the prices for garbage collection. It may not be more expensive to send your garbage to the Prairieland Compost Facility.
	Sort garbage to ensure recyclables and household hazardous waste are not sent to be composted.
	Call or write your city Administrator, Mayor or County commissioner and show support for using the Prairieland Compost Facility.
	Ask for a representative of Prairieland Compost Facility to come to a community group for discussion.
	Take a tour of the Compost Facility and see how garbage is recovered for compost and fuel.
	Participate in meetings regarding the future of Prairieland compost Facility.

HOW MUNICIPAL WASTE IS USED

Municipal compost consists of organic matter, which is vital to healthy soil. When tilled into a sandy soil it improves the soils capacity to hold water and nutrients. This capacity will help the soil tolerate drought conditions. Added to clay soil, compost increases the air spaces between clay particles and improves drainage and increases solid aeration. Compost holds the fertilizer and reduces leaching through the soil so that plants are benefited.

Municipal compost has also proven to be beneficial as livestock bedding in beef production.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PRAIRIELAND SOLID WASTE PROGRAM CONTACT:

Prairieland Compost Facility Director - Mark Bauman, (507) 776-3232
Educational materials about the facility and tours.

Prairieland Solid Waste Coordinator - Billeye Rabbe, (507) 238-3115
Educational information, presentations, displays, collection dates, program information about household hazardous waste, recycling, school programs, research data about research with Prairieland compost, business waste information, very small quantity generator of hazardous waste program.