Olmsted County breaks ground on new materials recovery facility

Olmsted County celebrated an important milestone on June 9, 2026, with the official groundbreaking of the new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). The event took place at the construction site next to the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility in Rochester.

Community leaders, staff, and partners from across the region came together to mark the start of construction. Guests included current and former county leaders, representatives from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Dodge County, the City of Rochester, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Mayo Clinic, and Destination Medical Center (DMC), as well as members of the construction team.

The MRF is an exciting project for Olmsted County and the surrounding area. When finished, the 49,000-square-foot facility will sort and prepare recyclable materials here at home. This means fewer recyclables will be sent out of the region for processing, and less waste will end up in landfills or at the Waste-to-Energy Facility. The project will also help extend the life of the county’s current waste facilities and reduce our environmental footprint.

During the program, several leaders shared why this project is important for the community.

Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Chair Dave Senjem thanked the many partners who helped make the project possible.

“This is a big step forward for our community and aligns perfectly with our county’s strategic priority of embracing environmental sustainability,” he said. “A project like this takes years of planning and strong teamwork. We’re grateful for everyone who supported the idea of building a regional MRF right here in Olmsted County.”

Commissioner Senjem also highlighted the support of state leaders.

“In 2023, the state legislature approved $10 million for this project. That investment shows how important strong recycling and waste systems are for our region,” he said.

Olmsted County Environmental Resources Associate Director Mike Cook explained how the new facility will help the county reach its long-term sustainability goals.

“Right now, there is no MRF in southeastern Minnesota,” he said. “By building a regional MRF here in Olmsted County, we have the opportunity to work together with other counties, improve waste diversion, and move closer to our vision of Zero Wasted."

Cook also spoke about the environmental benefits.

“Sorting materials locally will reduce the need for hauling mixed recyclables long distances which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “It also means more materials can be recycled and sold, turning what used to be a problem into a resource.”

Construction of the MRF is expected to be complete in 2027, with operations beginning the same year.

Today’s event showed how collaboration can help build a cleaner and healthier future.

As Commissioner Senjem said, “Our county gets things done when we work together.”