I admit I was surprised to see a Zoom invite for March 20th to attend a Northeast Communities Recycling and Composting Collaborative presentation. The meeting was to talk about entering phase 3 and 4 of their 5-part feasibility study. I was surprised because phase 2, which I had been a part of when I attended the community meeting, had only occurred at the end of February. In a world where it seems nothing moves very quickly, the Northeast Communities Recycling Composting Collaborative means business.
The presentation included feasibility study information and possible pilot projects. It was co-led by Natalie Lavenstein, a Sustainability Project Coordinator for the UMN Extension Northeast Regional Sustainability Development Partnerships (RSDP) and David Abazs, UMN Extensions Northeast RSDP’s Executive Director.
While business level survey results are still in the works and will be shared in the summer of 2024, the presenters were ready to provide a summary of what they had learned through a survey that was conducted about recycling and composting. They combined this information with feedback provided at community meetings that occurred in Two Harbors, Tofte, Finland, Silver Bay, and Grand Portage.
RSDP, who collaborates with Grand Portage, Lake County Environmental Services, Cook County, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are likely moving quickly due to the looming deadline for the closing of Moccasin Mike Landfill. Located in Superior, Wisconsin, Moccasin Mike Landfill is slated to reach capacity in 2026. As a result, our garbage is likely going to have to be transported much further south.
Considering that on average fifty percent per weight of household waste is organic material, there are opportunities to find ways to increase availability and participation in recycling and composting. There were a lot of barriers and opportunities discussed at the meetings. These were considered for the suggestions the organization was ready to make.
The summary provided made it evident that there were a lot of concerned citizens with a ton of good ideas that live and work in our communities. Many displayed support for increased access to recycling and composting and provided ideas such as drop off sites and more recycling options.
Lake County Recycle Center recently made changes to make recycling easier by requiring less sorting. Only three categories need to be separated: glass, cardboard, and “everything else” (paper, cans, plastics #1 and #2).
Work has already started with a pilot project in Finland, where a recycling trailer will be parked at the community center. Other possibilities that had been explored were related to finding a buyer for plastics #4, #5, and #6. There may be an opportunity at a company located in Proctor. This would, of course, require transportation and it was unclear in the presentation how much the company would be willing to use.
Suggestions from the community and David’s crew include organic drop off sites, such as grocery stores, restaurants, farmers markets, or recycling centers. If the organic food waste could get to a farm with a compost turner and tractor, it could be made into compost to be used by the farmers, sold, traded, etc. This model is being piloted in Grand Marais.
At the end of the session, David and Natalie encouraged the participants to look at steps to move forward with the initiatives presented. David advised that there are grants and funds out there that could help make some of the ideas from the community a reality.
To contact David Abazs, email dwabazs@umn.edu. Natalie Lavenstein can be reached at natlav@umn.edu. Christine McCarthy, the Environmental Services Director for Planning and Zoning is at christinem.mccarthy@co.lake.mn.us.
