WM acquires Minnesota organics collection operator

WM has acquired all Minnestrista, Minnesota-based Specialized Environmental Technologies’ (SET) assets, including an organics composting company with sites strategically located throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area. SET’s assets include compost sites in the Minnesota cities of Shakopee, Minnestrista, Burnsville and Empire, a transfer station in Empire and The Mulch Store located in Burnsville.

SET was established in 2000 and has led the way on organic waste solutions in the Twin Cities.

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WM has offered organics collection to businesses and residents for several years.

“The 75 percent recycling goal in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, along with city and county ordinances requiring organics collection and our customers’ interest in organics services, were key considerations in our decision to purchase SET,” WM Area Public Affairs Manager Julie Ketchum says. “This acquisition will allow us to internalize the volume that we collect and continue to provide compost capacity to third-party collectors. SET is a great fit that will expand our service offerings to our customers, help our customers meet their sustainability goals, and allow the WM Upper Midwest area to strategically grow its business. With this acquisition, we welcome 31 new team members to WM, and we are very excited to have them join our company."

 The company says it processes more than 80,000 tons of yard waste, brush and biomass annually. The materials are tuned into various mulch products and soil amendments and sold to organic farms, horticultural centers and other industries in the Midwest, the organic solutions company says. The firm also sells various landscaping projects from The Mulch Store.