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A feature article from APWA-MN Platinum Sponsor Dakota Prairie Composting

As communities across Minnesota strive to meet sustainability and climate goals, one critical question remains: what happens to the organic waste we generate every day? Traditionally, much of this material has ended up in landfills, where it decomposes slowly and produces methane, a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting offers a better alternative, transforming food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organics into a valuable resource for soil health and climate resilience.

Landfills and Methane: A Hidden Climate Challenge
When organic waste is buried in a landfill, it breaks down without oxygen (anaerobically), creating methane. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for roughly 15% of total emissions. Methane is a short-lived but highly impactful greenhouse gas, trapping heat far more effectively than carbon dioxide during its atmospheric lifetime.

Even with landfill gas capture systems, a significant amount of methane escapes into the atmosphere. This makes reducing organic waste in landfills one of the most effective strategies for lowering emissions at the local level.

Composting: A Climate-Friendly Solution
Composting uses aerobic decomposition (meaning oxygen is present), which is a completely different chemical process than anaerobic decomposition. Methane is not produced as a byproduct of aerobic decomposition. Instead, carbon is stabilized in the finished compost, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping communities meet climate action targets. The EPA estimates diverting organics to composting can cut methane emissions dramatically while creating a product that benefits soils and ecosystems.

Soil Health and Water Management
When recycled organic waste becomes compost, it turns into a soil amendment that improves structure, fertility, and water retention. Public works projects that incorporate compost into roadside plantings, stormwater basins, and erosion control areas see long-term benefits:

• Enhanced water infiltration reduces runoff and flooding risks.
• Increased organic matter supports healthy vegetation and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Carbon sequestration in soil helps offset emissions from other sources.

Healthy soils sustain green infrastructure projects such as rain gardens, bioswales, and pollinator-friendly landscapes. Compost provides the foundation for these systems, making it a practical tool for cities and counties striving to meet environmental standards.

Closing the Loop: Local Impact
Facilities like Dakota Prairie Composting (DPC) play a key role in this system by processing organic materials from local communities and returning finished compost for use in public projects. This closed-loop approach keeps nutrients in the local ecosystem, reduces landfill dependency, and supports a circular economy.

For example, compost produced at DPC has been used in roadside restoration projects and erosion control efforts, improving soil stability and reducing sediment runoff into waterways. Through these types of applications, composting supports both environmental and infrastructure goals.

Public Works Leadership in Sustainability
Public works professionals are uniquely positioned to lead the transition from landfilling to composting. By integrating compost into construction specifications, landscaping projects, and stormwater management plans, agencies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving long-term project performance.
Minnesota’s growing emphasis on sustainability and climate resilience makes this shift even more important. Composting is a smart waste management strategy as well as a tool for building healthier communities and stronger infrastructure.

Owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC). To learn more about the SMSC, visit shakopeedakota.org.