Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility

The Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF) in Olmsted County, Minnesota has burned municipal garbage to produce steam and electricity since 1987, powering more than 20 buildings in the area and cutting waste volume by roughly 90%. Remaining ash goes to an ash monofill at the Kalmar Landfill. The plant uses modern pollution controls that keep emissions well below permitted state and federal limits, and a negative-air-pressure design keeps the site clean and largely odor-free. It is one part of Olmsted County's integrated system, which prioritizes waste reduction, recycling, and composting, with disposal as a last resort.