Prior Lake, Minn. — The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) today celebrated the grand opening of its new organics recycling facility Dakota Prairie Composting in Louisville Township. Dakota Prairie Composting is one of only two large-scale composting facilities processing source-separated organics in the Twin Cities metro area and one of the top composting facilities in the Midwest. It collects and recycles commercial and residential organics, and sells compost, soil blends and mulch.

Dakota Prairie Composting will process more than double the amount of the SMSC’s former organics recycling facility, recycling 155,500 tons of organics and diverting an additional 25,000 tons of food scraps per year from local landfills – a reduction of 21,000 metric tons of carbon per year. 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. The facility has the permitted capacity to expand in the future, with the ultimate goal of processing 212,500 tons including 35,000 tons of food scraps for composting annually.

“At its core, this history-making facility reflects our commitment to transforming waste into a resource and honors our Dakota tradition of safeguarding the environment for seven generations,” said SMSC Chairman Cole W. Miller. “Dakota Prairie Composting is reducing our state’s reliance on landfills, conserving energy and natural resources, and reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. We are glad to celebrate this milestone and appreciate the dedication of our tribe’s staff, partners, agencies and government officials that have supported this project and brought this vision to life.”

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

“The opening of this new facility will expand the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s work to divert organic material from landfills and reduce carbon emissions – tripling their current impact,” said U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. “We worked with our tribal partners to secure federal funding for this facility to reduce waste and support the environment for years to come.”

“A heartfelt congratulations to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community on the grand opening of the Dakota Prairie Composting recycling facility,” said U.S. Senator Tina Smith. “The positive impact that this facility will have on our environment and the local economy is great news for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe and the State of Minnesota.”

“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 former organics recycling facility is now closed to the public, as all compost and yard waste operations have been transitioned to the Dakota Prairie Composting facility. The SMSC will continue its mulch operation at the former organics recycling facility site. From 2013-2020, the SMSC’s facility accounted for 22.9% of organic material composted in the metro area.

In addition, the tribe funded improvements to the Trunk Highway 41 intersection in Louisville Township as part of this development. The improvements added bypass and turn lanes and installed rail crossing safety improvements to ease congestion and improve road safety.

Learn more about Dakota Prairie Composting, the enterprise’s services and products, and the state-of-the-art facility by visiting dakotaprairiecomposting.com.

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About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community 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 dedicated to helping build strong, healthy communities. The tribe is a committed 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. For more information, visit shakopeedakota.org.