County Road 9 Reconstruction Enters Phase 2
Phase 2 of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 9—aka Collegeview Road—project began on Monday, August 3. As a result, access to the Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus, Hazardous Waste Facility, and Compost Site changed from the west end of County Road 9 to the east.
- CSAH 9 (Collegeview Road) is open to traffic from CSAH 22 (East Circle Drive) to the east entrance of the RCTC Heintz Center.
- CSAH 9 (Collegeview Road) is closed from 19 Ave SE through the Campus Drive SE - RCTC Heintz Center main entrance.
 Silver Creek Road Reconstruction
As a separate project in coordination with phase 2 of the CSAH 9 project, CR 155 (Silver Creek Road) will be reconstructed north of Campus Drive with a tentative start date of mid-late August. A press release specific to the Silver Creek Rd project will be distributed in the coming weeks.
 During this project, visitors to solid waste facilities should expect lengthy delays. The following tips will help reduce delays:
- Plan your visit during the middle of the week when traffic is lighter.
- Visit olmstedwaste.com and enter your disposal items into the Waste Wizard. This one-stop information hub will tell you where to take your items, when to drop them off, and whether or not fees apply.
- Bring cash or a check to pay for items with a fee; the facility cannot accept credit cards and no change can be given.
- Having the correct amount of cash (or check) will reduce traffic by preventing duplicate trips to a facility.
- Bring a variety of bill sizes.
Olmsted County and Rochester Public Utilities Seeking Environmental Achievement Award Nominations
The Olmsted County Environmental Commission and Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) are seeking nominations for the 2020 Environmental Achievement Awards. The awards honor individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses that have made a significant environmental contribution over the past year in Olmsted County.
Award categories include climate change, education, renewables, sustainable food production, conservation, energy, water, and "other."
Since 1992, the awards have recognized the positive environmental impact of over 100 Olmsted County community members and groups.
To submit a nomination or to see last year's award winners, visit our website. Completed nominations are due by Friday, October 2, 2020, to Anthony Wittmer—wittmer.anthony@co.olmsted.mn.us.
 This year's cover photo courtesy of Keith Anderson
Illegal Garbage Dumping
We've seen a rise in illegal garbage dumping across the county. These incidents pose a danger to motorists, harm the environment, and draw public resources away from their intended purpose. Those who illegally dump their waste are subject to fines of $1,000 per instance.
To report illegal garbage dumping within the City of Rochester, call Rochester Community Development at 507-328-2950.
To report illegal garbage dumping outside of Rochester's city limits, call the Olmsted County Planning Department at 507-328-7100.
The Olmsted County Recycling Center Plus is available to process a variety of household waste items. Visit the facility's website for more information.
 Garbage illegally dumped on Olmsted County Road 116; photo credit: Joe Connell
Turning Yard Waste Into Compost - One Row at a Time
Olmsted County’s composting management process begins when residents and commercial lawn care businesses deliver their leaves and grass clippings to the drop-off area at the Compost Site. This yard waste material is then hauled by a front-end loader to the composting area and placed into windrows.
 A windrow of compost getting turned; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
Large quantities of leaves collected at the site in the fall are stockpiled so they can be combined with grass clippings received during the growing season. This mixture of leaves and grass in the windrows provides an adequate carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio for composting.
The windrows are aerated weekly using a windrow turner. This is necessary to promote the survival of aerobic microbes. If dry conditions exist during the compost season, a watering truck can be used to add needed moisture to the material. As the composting process proceeds, the windrows lose approximately 1/3 of their volume. This size reduction allows for windrows to be combined so that new windrows can be added to the site.
 A windrow of compost getting turned; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
Turning the compost also moves organic matter on the pile's exterior towards the center where it will be subject to temperatures as high as 160 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures are necessary to destroy pathogenic organisms and undesirable weeds seeds. Turning the piles also distributes moisture more evenly which can reduce unpleasant smells if the material gets too wet.
In general, it takes approximately 60 to 90 days to transform the raw materials into finished compost during the compost season (mid-April through October). Finished compost is available on a self-serve basis at the north end of the Compost Site.
Donation boxes are available on-site for residents and businesses who wish to support the Compost Site's daily operations.
Suggested Donation Rates
 Windrows of compost; photo credit: Anthony Wittmer
Disposal Discussion - Temporary Electronic Waste Fees
The Recycling Center Plus has undergone numerous operational changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, disposal transactions have moved from inside the building to the facility's parking lot.
Because of this change, staff can no longer weigh electronic waste to assess a fee per pound. As a result, the following temporary fees apply to e-waste items (not an inclusive list):
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Flat Screen Televisions & Computer Monitors
- Up to 32" = $10.00 each
- 33" - 60" = $20.00 each
- 61" and up = $30.00 each
CRT Televisions & Projection Computer Monitors
- Up to 32" = $20.00 each
- 33" - 42" = $40.00 each
- 43" and up = $60.00 each
Home Office Equipment = $5.00 each
- Computers
- Laptops
- Printers
- Home Fax/Copy Machine
- Keyboards, mice, cords, etc. included with equipment piece or up to one small box alone for $5.00
Home Entertainment Equipment = $5.00 each
- Stereos, DVD Players, Blue Ray Players, VCRs
Commercial Copiers & Fax Machines
- Small = $10.00 each
- Large = $20.00 each
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