Northwoods Solid Waste Transfer

Northwoods Solid Waste Transfer in Ely is the local transfer station where residents drop off household trash and smaller loads instead of driving out to a distant landfill. People from town and nearby cabins use it for regular cleanouts, seasonal hauls, and anything that won’t fit in curbside service. The site sits right off Hwy 21 north of town and is set up to receive, compact, and load waste for transport elsewhere.

A small entrance booth and scale are visible as you pull in; traffic usually lines up a bit on busy weekends and during spring cleanup. Vehicles pull up to specific receiving bays or compactor areas, and larger trailers will need room to maneuver and back in. There are typically recycling drop-off bins off to one side and covered or indoor areas at many Minnesota facilities for cold-weather drops, so expect a mix of open pits and sheltered spots. Staff handle the compacting and loading, so residential visits are mostly unloading into the correct bay and then driving back across the scale.