Photo by Chad Koenen
The Henning Transfer Station will undergo a major transformation as the county officially broke ground on a new transfer sttion last week. The transfer station is currently located just south of town near the airport and is open six days a week during the summer months.

Otter Tail County officials and partners celebrated the groundbreaking of a new solid waste transfer station near Henning. The $6.4 million facility is to be constructed by BCI Construction of Sauk Rapids.  ¶  “We are dedicated to carrying out the goals of our long-range strategic plan,” said Board Chair Wayne Johnson. “And this investment will improve services and continue our commitment to fiscal responsibility.”  ¶  Johnson noted that the solid waste industry has evolved significantly from managing a single waste stream to managing different materials, with recycling taking precedence over landfilling whenever possible.

Solid Waste Director Chris McConn highlighted the future facility’s numerous improvements, including:

• Separate areas for residential and commercial traffic

• Infrastructure to advance single-sort curbside recycling countywide

• Indoor tipping floor for residents

• Indoor storage for most materials

• Indoor restrooms

• Household hazardous waste drop-off and reuse center

The project was funded entirely through solid waste service fees, with no impact on general levy dollars. The county also received a $250,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for single-sort loadout equipment. The Board of Commissioners thanks everyone who made this project possible, including MPCA partners.

Learn more and sign up for project updates at the project webpage: ottertailcounty.gov/project/henning-transfer-station/

More about the Henning Transfer Station

The Henning Transfer Station property was originally owned by the City of Henning, where garbage was burned and buried. As state and federal solid waste rules emerged, the facility closed. Otter Tail County purchased the property and, in 1990, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permitted the construction of the transfer station operating today. 

The demolition landfill was permitted in 1991. Since then, significant progress has been made in improving waste management, and this new facility represents an exciting advancement in services.

The transfer station is located south of Henning at 51122 Rocky Ridge Rd.

The current facility is open during the summer months on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12  p.m.