Dive summary:

• Last year Winona County, Minn., started a curbside recycling program and within the first year they have seen a 50% increase in participation.
• Previously the county used large collection sites but residents rarely used t hem and instead the bins were sometimes vandalized or used as trash bins.
• Anne Morse, the county’s recycling coordinator, said the program’s success can be attributed to manageable, single-sort containers that include a lid label that clearly indicates what materials can and cannot be recycled.

From the article:

Winona County was the first rural county in the state to implement a curbside program, which began in 1985 and included Winona, Goodview, Lewiston, and St. Charles. In the 1990s, the program was extended to smaller communities, but anyone who did not live within the limits of a city didn’t have curbside service. The program was expanded to all county residents last winter. According to Morse, Winona County has served as a model for other communities, including Olmsted County and metro counties considering a similar service.

“I think we have a program we can be extremely proud of,” Morse said. ...