Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community breaks ground on new, state-of-the-art organics recycling facility in Louisville Township - P2

Prior Lake, Minn. - On June 27, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) broke ground on its new organics recycling facility named Dakota Prairie Composting in Louisville Township. Dakota Prairie Composting will replace the tribe's current organics recycling facility in Shakopee, which is one of only two large-scale composting facilities processing source-separated organics in the Twin Cities metro area. Construction will begin in July, and the facility is expected to be fully operational by summer 2024.

The new Dakota Prairie Composting facility will collect and recycle commercial and residential organics, and sell compost, soil blends, and mulch. This facility will help Minnesota reach its goal of recycling 75% of the state's waste by 2030 while protecting and enhancing the environment for current and future generations. It is located on 93 acres near the intersection of highways 169 and 41 in Louisville Township.

Drawing on several years of research and site visits across the country, the new facility's design will incorporate state-of-the-art technology. Using an aerated static pile system and biofilter, the facility will compost materials efficiently and effectively with minimal odor. An advanced stormwater reclamation system, funded by a federal 2023 Community Project Funding appropriation, will allow for water reuse and containment protecting area surface and groundwater.

"Guided by our tribe's Dakota values and commitment to caring for the Earth, our organics recycling facility will protect and preserve the environment for future generations," said SMSC Chairman Keith B. Anderson. "This history-making facility will help our state reduce its reliance on landfills, conserve energy and natural resources, and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. We are glad to celebrate this milestone and appreciate the dedication of the agencies and government officials that have supported this project."

The current SMSC Organics Recycling Facility prevents an average of 70,000 tons of organic waste from entering landfills each year. The new facility will process more than double that amount, diverting up to 172,000 tons of organics per year from local landfills – a reduction of 21,000 metric tons of carbon per year. From 2013-2020, the current facility accounted for 22.9% of organic material composted in the metro area.

"Having worked closely with Sens. Klobuchar and Smith and leaders of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) to secure federal funding for this project, I'm confident it will help ensure that the region's water is clean of environmental concerns," said U.S. Representative Angie Craig. "This is what happens when we work together at all levels of government – we can make real progress and improve people's lives."

Located in Shakopee since 2011, the SMSC's current organics recycling facility will be closed once all compost and yard waste operations are transitioned to the Dakota Prairie Composting facility, likely by the end of 2024.

In addition, the tribe will fund improvements to the Trunk Highway 41 intersection in Louisville Township. The improvements will add bypass and turn lanes and install rail crossing safety improvements, which will ease congestion and improve road safety.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC's government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.