Regional Organics Composting Facility
Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management • 2115 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 56308Steve Vrchota • 320-763-9340 • [email protected]
Concern #1: Lack of Regional Processing Infrastructure•Hightransportationcostslimitexistingandfutureregionalprogramgrowth•Mileagetonearestorganicscompostingsite(fromAlexandria):78miles•Tri-CountyOrganics(sitebeingusedtocompostnearSt.Cloud)doesnothavethecapacitytomeetthe5countyregionalneeds
Concern #2: High Volume of Organics in the Garbage•2019SolidWasteCompositionStudyshowsahighvolumeoffoodwasteandsoiledcompostablepapersinthewastestream(32%)•ProjectdoesnotcompetewithfoodsourcesthatarepromotedanddivertedtowardsfeedinghungrypeopleandotherusesthatarehigherontheFoodRecovery/RecyclingHierarchy•WetorganicsinthegarbagestreamreducestheWastetoEnergyFacilitiessteamgenerationcapacity.•ContributestoincreasedWastetoEnergyFacilitypollutioncontrolmeasures•Contributestodifficultiesinseparationoftraditionalrecyclables(cans/bottles/cardboard/metal)attheMaterialsRecoveryFacility•Organicsdisposedofinthewatertreatmentsystemcausehighphosphorousandnutrientlevelstosurfacewater
Pope/DouglasSolidWaste
Management5countyorganicscompostingpartnership
We are looking for your support to create a unified organics recycling and composting systemto meet the needs of 5 counties well into the future.
Pope/Douglas Solid Waste, located in Alexandria, MN, provides recycling services and household hazardous collection to Pope and Douglas counties
and processes garbage from seven counties in Greater Minnesota.
In 2017, we began a commercial and residential organics (food waste/compostable items) collection program. Participation in the organics
recycling program has grown significantly.
Concerns with Current Operation
Check out our vision
popedouglasrecycle.com
Growth Timeline
OriginalWaste to Energy
Facility
HouseholdHazardous
WasteAdmin Building
Waste to EnergyFacility Expansion
(added Third Combustor)
RecyclingDrop O�Center
MaterialProcessing
Facility
1987 1993 2010OrganicsRecyclingPrograms
20171997 2003
Total Project Cost $1 Million
Total Grant Request
$500 Thousand
Regional Approach(Stevens County)Morris:25miles
(Grant County)ElbowLake:16miles(Ottertail County)FergusFalls:39miles
(Pope County)Glenwood:28miles(Douglas County)Alexandria:20miles
(Stearns County)SaukCentertoSite:44miles
Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management • 2115 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 56308Steve Vrchota • 320-763-9340 • [email protected]
Our Solution toPut Waste in its Place!
Regional Organics Composting Facility
Project Scope•Constructaregionalorganicscomposting/processingsite.•Theproposedsitewillmanageleachate/contactwaterthroughanadvancedleachatecollectionsystemandoverheadhoophousebuildingtocontainactivecompostingoperations.•Thefacility/siteisinagreementwithoursolidwasteplan.•MultiplecountieshavecommittedtopartneringwithPope/Douglasfortheprocessingoftheirorganics(Pope/Douglas/Grant/Stevens/OtterTail).•Theboardhasreviewedthisaspartofourlong-termplanning.Preliminarydesignhasbeencompletedandthefinaldesignhascommenced.•Compostwillbeproducedforlocalprojects.•Projectwillbesupportedbytippingfees,finishedcompostsalesandsolidwastefees.
Details•TonstobeProcessed:2,500/year•Abilitytoprocessupto15,000tons/year
