History

SKB Environmental was founded in 1983 by Dorothy Bolander, as one of the first privately held demolition waste disposal companies to serve the construction industry in Minnesota.

In those early years, SKB Environmental’s primary function was to compliment the Carl Bolander & Sons Company demolition business, arranging cost-effective disposal services for construction and demolition (C&D) debris.

In 1989, we designed and permitted Minnesota's first state-of-the-art landfill for disposal of C&D waste. Typical of the company's commitment to environmentally responsibility, the Rich Valley Landfill is the first clay lined C&D landfill with leachate collection in Minnesota. In fact, it is one of a handful of C&D facilities in the nation that combine such rigorous design features with stringent operating practices and groundwater monitoring - becoming a model facility for the C&D industry.

Our commitment to environmental protection is also reflected in SKB Environmental's focus on recycling economically recoverable concrete, brick, block, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, corrugated cardboard, roofing materials, vinyl and wood waste in its operations. In the late 1990’s, the first large-scale state-of-the-art C&D processing facility in Minnesota's Twin Cities Area was installed at our Malcolm facility in Minneapolis. Today, SKB Environmental’s recycling operation has grown to a regional Integrated C&D Recycling system consisting of multiple locations and recycling and processing capabilities.

During the 1990's, SKB Environmental developed a yard-waste composting operation that became the largest in the Upper Midwest. SKB Environmental also pioneered the first Organic Waste Compost Facility in Minnesota. These facilities are still operating successfully today.

In 2000, SKB Environmental acquired the SKB Rosemount Industrial Waste Facility, a state-of-the-art landfill specializing in industrial waste and MSW incinerator ash disposal. Boasting a triple liner and dual leachate collection system, SKB Rosemount rivals the nation's most environmentally sound landfill designs. An on-site laboratory offers security unmatched nationwide for industrial waste. It was the facility's environmentally responsible design and operating structure that made it attractive to SKB.

In 2001, SKB Environmental acquired the Lansing Landfill located in Austin, MN. At present, Lansing accepts only demolition debris, but plans are underway to construct a liner and leachate collection system. The liner will greatly improve the facility's environmental protection measures. At that time, SKB Environmental plans to accept construction debris as well.

Early in 2006, SKB Environmental opened the Blaine Environmental Campus, which offers Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction & Demolition debris (C&D) processing and transfer services and will offer source separated organics processing capabilities.

In 2007, with renewed interest in C&D recycling fostered by green-building programs such as LEED and improved market dynamics, SKB Environmental acquired additional recycling and processing equipment. SKB Environmental is committed to always being on the cutting-edge of the recycling industry.

In 2012, SKB Environmental was acquired by Waste Connections, Inc., the premier waste management and recycling company in the United States.  Joining the Waste Connections family of companies will allow SKB expanded opportunities to grow and provide even more services to our customers. 

History of SKB Environmental

Commitment to Environmental Protection

"SKB Environmental means an exceptional commitment to environmental preservation, customer service and industry leadership. That's SKB Environmental's history and SKB Environmental's future."

- Richard O'Gara
Division Vice President, SKB Environmental