Grand Portage Trust CASE STUDY

Grand Portage is the reservation land of the Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, a federally recognized tribe in Minnesota. This reservation is wholly owned by the tribe. In 2019, the community set out to revolutionize their waste management practices by maintaining ownership over their organic waste stream and transforming it into a beneficial soil amendment that could be used for community gardening. Under the expert guidance of their dedicated environmental specialist, the community successfully diverted recyclable and organic materials from households and at the Casino. A comprehensive feasibility studies & waste stream analysis was conducted to determine that a composting program could be operated at the transfer station using an in-vessel composting system capable of enduring harsh winter conditions and mitigating odors and environmental concerns associated with organic waste management. Their specific requirements included a composting system capable of handling diverse waste streams while addressing the guidance of their environmental specialist and MPCA funding.

Grand Portage secured funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to acquire a 20’ Earth Flow In-Vessel composter from GMT. The tribe's unique challenge was to integrate this composting solution into their waste management processes, ensuring compliance with waste disposal regulations, and simultaneously promoting sustainability in alignment with their tribal ownership and management of the transfer facility. Embracing the composter, Grand Portage not only fulfilled their waste management goals but also ignited a thriving community composting initiative. This newfound endeavor further exemplified their commitment to sustainable waste solutions, harnessing the Earth Flow composter to transform waste into a valuable resource for the tribe and its community.