The North Shore extends through three large counties: St. Louis, Lake, and Cook. Lake County bridges St. Louis and Cook, spanning from Knife River to Little Marais, and extends inland to Finland and as far north as Ely. Two Harbors is the county seat and also houses an active recycling center with services that extend throughout the entire county.
The recycling center is owned and operated by the Lake County Environmental Services Solid Waste Department, which falls under the Planning and Zoning Department. The recycling center is located off Highway 61, on Recycling Center Drive, and has been part of the community for several decades.
This past year, residents may have noticed a shift in day-to-day operations of the facility because the former operator, the Developmental Achievement Center (DAC), chose not to continue its long-standing contract last April. Several changes to the public recycling center were necessary to keep costs down due to the loss of employees provided under the former DAC contract.
Lake County Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy notes, “The challenge has been finding ways to save money in a very flexible recycling market, while still remaining open for the disposal of materials.”
The biggest savings and noticeable shift have been utilizing two compactors, versus employees bailing each group of materials individually. However, this has not affected the items that are currently accepted at the site, as they are now able to be collected in a more efficient manner. One bin is available for cardboard, and one is for mixed materials, which include aluminum, paper, and plastics. A large trailer is now used to collect glass, which is brought directly to the landfill and used to assist in water drainage at the site.
McCarthy is excited to share that other harder-to-dispose-of items are now accepted, such as tires, mattresses, appliances, and electronics. Prior to last year, those items needed to be taken to the landfill, and this offers a much more convenient option. McCarthy says, “Utilizing the facility is easier than you think,” with the ultimate goal always being to keep trash and other waste out of yards, at low to no cost.
The facility in town is currently being operated by one full-time county employee who runs the machines and assists customers. With one year under their belts in this new format, McCarthy says, “We look forward to seeing what makes sense and how we can continue adjusting with extremely short staffing challenges while remaining cost-effective.”
This spring, household hazardous waste (HHW) will be easier to dispose of as well. The separate building at the current location, which has no heat or water, will be moved into the center to maximize the use of the large building and make it easier to maneuver. Users can now make one loop to dispose of all their items, including batteries, paint, and fluorescent bulbs.
In 2019, the county was awarded a grant through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to purchase two trailers that can be placed around the county for community recycling. Staff have named them Thelma and Louise.
During the summer months, they can be found at the Two Harbors Campground on Burlington Bay and at local festivals such as Bay Days in Silver Bay, Heritage Days in Two Harbors, and St. Urho’s Day in Finland. Folks are encouraged to request the trailers for events, which can be reserved on the county’s website or by calling 218-834-8373. There is no fee for this service, and it includes delivery and pickup. “They are always available for use,” says McCarthy. However, the more lead time for a request, the more likely staff will be available.
The county is also bringing back their Community Clean-up Day. The event is on Saturday, May 3, for Lake County residents at the Silver Bay Airport. This one-day event will offer disposal of all household and hazardous materials, including electronics, appliances, and mattresses at a flat rate per vehicle. More details can be found on the website.
The Lake County Recycling Center in Two Harbors is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and after-hour bins are available Monday through Thursday. The recycling center is located at 515 Recycling Center Drive. A full list of accepted items and the county waste and recycling guidelines are available online (under the Environmental Services tab) at: co.lake.mn.us.
