Saint Paul – The annual Spring Planting Day returns to the Minnesota State Capitol with local students joining the Department of Administration Grounds Crew to plant pollinator-friendly flowers in various gardens around the Capitol Complex. The annual event will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24.

The compost used for flower beds this year has been produced from the Capitol Complex organics recycling program. Implemented at the State Capitol complex one year ago, the enterprise-wide organics recycling program allows employees and visitors to recycle food scraps, food-soiled paper, and other compostable products.

The recycled organic material is turned into compost at Specialized Environmental Technologies, Inc. (SET), a local Twin Cities commercial composting facility. Compost helps make soil healthier, reducing runoff and the use of pesticides and fertilizer. The use of compost highlights the reduction of waste throughout the Enterprise, as well as state government’s commitment to sustainability and sustainable practices.

In the first quarter of 2017, the enhanced recycling initiative has captured more than 54 tons of organic waste and reduced the amount of trash produced on the Capitol Complex by 43.4 percent. The program is projected to reduce the total amount of trash collected at complex facilities by nearly 280 tons in 2017.

The enhanced recycling program is the result of a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Administration, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Waste Wise Foundation. The initiative has increased Capitol Complex recycling rates to nearly 80 percent, which exceeds the statutory mandate of 75 percent by the year 2030 – meeting our goal 13 years ahead of schedule.

Event Details

• Students will arrive at 9 a.m.
• Commissioners Massman and Stine will join students in front of the Capitol at 10 a.m.
• Tours of the compost facility will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Specialized Environmental Technologies Empire Township location: 16454 Blaine Ave. East Rosemount, MN 55068 | Contacts: Chuck Joswiak - cjoswiak@setinc.net or (612) 799-8108 | Anne Ludvik - aludvik@setinc.net or (952) 356-4622.

• Video of recycling in the Transportation Building Cafeteria
• Video of the compost facility that processes organics material from the Capitol Complex
• Photos from the 2016 Capitol Planting Day (available for re-use with attribution to “Minnesota Department of Administration”)