Beltrami County warns of July 3-5 solid waste facility closures

Beltrami County will close all manned solid waste facilities from July 3 through July 5, giving residents a three-day window when regular disposal trips will not be an option. Solid Waste Director Brian Olson laid out the shutdown during a recent ChatAbout podcast appearance, while also warning that the county is tightening enforcement at its disposal sites.

The county’s locations-and-hours page lists Independence Day among its holiday closures. Under normal schedules, the Bemidji Transfer Station at 751 Industrial Park Drive SE is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., while remaining closed to the public on Tuesday. The Blackduck Transfer Station at 33003 Hwy 72 NE operates Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Blackduck is also a self-service site, and the county tells residential customers to have a Solid Waste ID card available. That matters for households trying to squeeze in yard waste, recycling or construction debris drop-offs around the holiday, especially for anyone who normally builds a trip around the Blackduck schedule or the Bemidji site’s Saturday hours.

Olson said the Bemidji transfer station has completed upgrades but still has more work ahead. County records from Oct. 24, 2025 showed the Bemidji site nearing completion, with pavement work beginning that day and the parking lot expected to be finished afterward. The same county update said Blackduck was getting new concrete and an awning in front of the compactors, with construction expected to continue into mid-November 2025.

The county has been making other operating changes as well. A 2025 public works update said the Demolition Landfill would reduce its extended Saturday hours starting Nov. 1, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. County materials also say its solid waste division is working on a 10-year planning horizon, with a goal of providing an environmentally responsible, reliable, sustainable, convenient and cost-effective waste program.

Olson’s sharper warning focused on illegal dumping. He said staff and the Solid Waste Committee will review video footage in cases where people leave trash on the ground instead of using the proper collection systems, and fines may be issued. County materials say future increases in waste charges will be tied to the costs of proper waste management, underscoring the pressure on the system as Beltrami County keeps expanding and updating its disposal network.