Open to City of Prior Lake Residents Two Saturdays a Month

Prior Lake, MN – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community compost site utilized by residents of the City of Prior Lake is expected to remain open through November 13, 2010, although good weather and strong demand may keep it open later into the fall. The compost site is only open to Prior Lake residents on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Prior Lake residents drop off an average of 30 loads per day at the site. Some days the site has been visited by as many as 150 vehicles.

Staff from the SMSC and the City of Prior Lake typically operate the site from May through mid-November depending on the weather. The site is located on the reservation just west of the corner of County Road 42 and County Road 83 in Prior Lake.

Leaves, brush, grass clippings, sod, and other yard waste are dropped off for recycling. The site does not accept root wads, tree stumps, and branches larger than eight inches in diameter, building lumber, soil, or compost materials in plastic bags of any type.

“This fall we will begin separating compost material intended for Mdewakanton Wozupi, the Community organic garden, from other compost material. We will ultimately produce organically-certified compost following strict guidelines,” said SMSC Director of Land and Natural Resources Stan Ellison.

In a unique collaboration, the compost site created by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community was opened for joint use by residents of neighboring Prior Lake in May 2008 at no charge. In exchange the SMSC is able to use the City of Prior Lake’s tree range to grow native trees and shrubs for planting on the reservation.

As a steward of the land, the SMSC engages in a number of restoration activities to preserve and protect the land for future generations. For more information, visit www.shakopeedakota.org.

For more information about the compost site, contact City of Prior Lake employees Danette Parr at (952) 447-9813 or Al Friedges at (952) 447-9892.