Cook County and its solid waste management partner, North Shore Waste, are asking residents to complete a short online survey to gather data to inform changes to the county’s recycling systems that could streamline and expand recycling efforts.
The survey aims to identify what is working now for residents and businesses that recycle, from recycling center hours and days of operation to use of the main facility and outlying trailer facilities. It also asks questions about what steps might make it easier for more people to recycle if they aren’t already.
The county offers two surveys: one for residents and one for businesses and organizations. They can both be found at cookcountymn.gov/government/departments/land_services/recycling/index.php
Although the surveys collect a small amount of demographic information, they are completely anonymous. The surveys are open through November 20, 2026. Everyone is encouraged to participate, whether they recycle regularly, occasionally, or not at all. There are no right or wrong answers.
Neva Maxwell, who became Cook County Land Services Director in June, said the survey is intended to better understand residents’ recycling habits, gauge community priorities, and identify where changes can be made.
The public-private partnership between Cook County and local waste hauler North Shore Waste focuses on replacing aging, open-air waste-handling facilities with a modern, fully enclosed central transfer station in Grand Marais, along with upgraded satellite facilities across the county.
Cook County coordinates solid waste planning, zoning, and environmental oversight through the Land Services Department. The county helps secure state bonding, regional environmental grants, and federal/ state infrastructure funding to offset capital construction costs.
North Shore Waste serves as the primary operational partner, managing day-to-day waste collection, sorting, and hauling out of the county. It works directly with residents, county leaders, and regional stakeholders to design and co-fund infrastructure ready for emerging waste technologies.
Cook County’s modern recycling infrastructure began taking shape in the late 1980s and early 1990s, after Minnesota passed the Waste Management Act and the SCORE Act (Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment) in 1989. The SCORE legislation mandated county-level waste reduction and recycling goals across Minnesota.
In 1994, the dedicated Cook County Recycling Facility was established, creating a centralized hub for sorting and processing recyclable materials for Grand Marais and surrounding communities.
