Shakopee, Minnesota – The Organics Recycling Facility’s (ORF) yard waste collection program drew a record 5,024 participants in 2017. Each Sunday during the months of April, May, September and October, the ORF accepted yard waste free of charge from Scott County residents.

Now in its fifth year, the participation in the program has more than doubled since it began in 2013. On the final day of this fall’s program, the ORF served nearly 800 people – a record number of participants for a single day.

The residential drop-off events complement the ORF’s ongoing partnerships with the cities of Prior Lake, Shakopee, and Savage to accept leaves, brush, food scraps, and other organic waste at no cost. Other ORF partners include local waste haulers, food manufacturers, grocers, and school districts. The ORF uses the natural waste to make a variety of products, including compost for gardening, landscaping, and turf management – which eliminates the need to use chemical fertilizers and herbicides.

For more information, visit www.smscorf.com.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe 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 Native American tribes 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.