In 2022, Aitkin County Residents produced 2.2 tons of recyclables, and the county hopes to increase that number with the help of a near $92,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to subsidize the cost of curbside collection of recyclables outside of the city of Aitkin in rural communities. 聽The state of Minnesota began promoting and encouraging recycling in the early 1990s. Aitkin County received grant money to build its current recycling facility which was completed in 1991. Then in 2022, grant money was received to help bring easier recycling methods to the more rural parts of Aitkin County. To do that, the county has partnered with the company 鈥楻ecyclops鈥� to develop a 鈥楿ber-Like鈥� Curbside Pickup Service.
鈥淭hey hire local people of Aitkin County to use their own vehicles to go in a rural county and pick up curbside recycling for folks.鈥� says Andrew Carolstrom, the Aitkin County Environmental Services Director, 鈥淲e started in March of 2024 and we had hoped to sign up 625 customers. Right now, we currently have less than 100, but we were just hoping to get the word out to take more things out of our landfill and encourage people to recycle in rural Minnesota.鈥�
Since 2014, 鈥楻ecyclops鈥� has grown to provide recycling services to 19 states across major cities, but this will be the first venture for the company though into rural areas. 鈥淎itkin County is about 15,000 people and we only have to drop off recycling one in McGregor and one here in Aiken.鈥� adds Carolstrom, 鈥淎nd so we just thought it would be a great opportunity to make it more easily, easily accessible and bring the recycling right to their doorstep and offer that service.