History

Specialized Environmental Technologies was established in 2000. Since then, SET has become a leader in the development of sustainable organic waste solutions in the Twin Cities metro area. SET owns or operates four yard waste processing and retail outlets in the region. We are proud to be a Minnesota business serving customers, clients, and communities.

In addition, it has established the largest sustainable organics composting operation in the Midwest at their Empire location. This organics operation is supported by an infrastructure of transfer stations, and receives and processes over 25,000 tons of Source Separated Organic Material annually.

Currently, SET employs 35 people with has six operations and affiliates locally. As one of the largest processors of residential yard waste and organics in the Midwest, SET accepts and processes over 80,000 tons yard waste, brush and biomass each year. These organic materials are composted and turned into soil amendments and blends used for the horticultural, organic farming, infrastructure and other industries around the State.

Organics Recovery

More than one-third of what is being thrown in the trash could be recovered and composted. Instead of trashing it, turn food scraps into a rich compost resource—a soil additive that increases the nutrients in soil, reduces erosion and decreases the need for chemical fertilizers along with so much more. We are experts in Minnesota organics recovery and recycling.

Commercial scale organics recovery is the newest form of recycling available to businesses and residents in a growing number of communities. It involves the collection of organic materials such as unused food or scraps along with BPI Certified food related serving or packaging items. These are collected in compostable bags that get separated out of trash or put in a separate collection container altogether for processing. It must be collected separately from yard waste as well due to current regulations by the State. This material is received at our Empire Township compost facility where our professional composting staff processes it into a valuable soil amendment.