Monthly construction update: Olmsted County’s new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

A Materials Recovery Facility, or MRF, is a place where recyclables are sorted so they can be reused instead of thrown away. Olmsted County’s new MRF will help our community recycle more, keep reusable materials out of the landfill, and support a cleaner environment. Construction of the MRF continued to make steady progress in September 2026, and several big steps are coming soon.

Foundations and site work

Crews made major progress on the building’s foundations this month. Most footings and concrete walls are now in place, with only final foundation work left to complete. Because the building sits over existing steam tunnels and electrical lines, crews also added stronger supports in those areas to help the facility operate safely for years to come.

Workers placed ash‑amended gravel across areas that will eventually be paved. This mix includes nearly 400 tons of processed ash from the Olmsted Waste‑to‑Energy Facility. Using this material supports the project’s goal of reducing waste and reusing local resources.

Building materials arrived

All materials for the pre‑engineered metal building—the main structure that will house the sorting equipment—have arrived and are stored on site. Steel components are now ready for assembly. Crews plan to begin putting up the building structure in October 2026, which will be one of the most visible changes on the site so far.

Other construction updates

Additional work completed in September 2026 includes:

• Nearly all parts of the heating system, which uses steam from the Olmsted Waste‑to‑Energy Facility to warm the MRF, are now installed.
• Stormwater piping is finished, and the new stormwater pond is close to completion.

Equipment contract signed

Olmsted County officially signed the equipment contract this month. This is a major step toward securing the machinery that will sort and process recyclables once the MRF is operating.

Project schedule

The project remains on schedule. Current and upcoming milestones include:

• Underground utilities: complete
• Concrete footings and slab work: underway through November 2026
• Pre‑engineered metal building materials: arrived in early September 2026
• Metal building construction: September 2026 through February 2027
• Equipment arrival: December 2026 through February 2027
• Equipment installation: February through September 2027
• Testing and commissioning: September 2027
• Commercial operations: September 2027

Looking ahead

October 2026 will bring a major milestone as crews begin erecting the building’s frame. Olmsted County will continue to share regular updates as construction moves forward and as we prepare for a facility that will strengthen recycling across our region.