Recycling working, could be better
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June 21, 2013 |
A number of people have asked staff at the
Boundary County Landfill of late if, after going
through the extra effort of sorting and putting
recyclables in the proper places, their
household garbage is just going in the ground.
There's reason to suspect that, but according to
landfill supervisor Claine Skeen, the answer is
a resounding "NO!"
Last fiscal year, 440 tons of materials from
Boundary County's trash was hauled away, either
to Bluebird Recycling in Coeur d'Alene or to
Waste Management in Spokane to be recycled and
reused. So far this fiscal year, 372 tons of
material have been taken.
That's one to two semi loads each week.
People might be concerned the program isn't
working, Skeen said, when they happen to see
people sorting through those recyclables ...
sorting the wheat from the chaff.
"We're still getting garbage in the recyclables,
and we have to dig it out," Skeen said, "The
people of Boundary County are doing a good job,
but we need to do better."
It might sound like a bit of trouble, but doing
better at separating and keeping the "garbage"
out of the recycle bins and piles will prolong
the life of the Boundary County Landfill and
save county taxpayers millions of dollars.
In the mid-1990s, Boundary County faced the
threat of closing the landfill and being forced
to ship all its solid waste to federally
approved disposal sites miles away. The costs,
both immediate and long term, would have been
devastating to everyone in the county.
Fortunately, county commissioners at the time,
along with a lot of work, help and good advice
from Skeen and his then boss, the late Woody
Watts, were able to keep Boundary County safe
from a costly fate that befell many small
communities ... earning a "Subtitle D" exemption
to federal regulations regarding solid waste
disposal that allowed the landfill to remain
open.
A robust recycling program was and is critical
to retain that exemption, as there are strict
limits now on what and how much material can go
in the ground.
In the years since, Boundary County's recycling
program has grown progressively better.
One idea that started early and continues today
... tomorrow, in fact, is "Take it or Leave it
Day," which capitalizes on the idea, "one
person's junk is another's treasure."
Sponsored now by the Helping Hands of Naples,
this year's Take It or Leave It Day takes place
at the fairgrounds from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, and it's where to take thinks that are
junk to you but a bit too good to throw away.
It's like a massive yard sale wherein everything
offered is free.
You see something you like or have use for, you
take it, free of charge. And each year, people
seem to find things they've wanted or been
looking for for years ... turning trash to
treasure.
It's become so popular, a second Take It or
Leave Day will be held in August.
With the day-to-day stuff, though, a wee bit
more attention should be paid by the recycler to
make sure that recyclables go into the
appropriate bin and that they are ready for
recycling. It's getting easier, but a bit of
effort is still involved.
You don't have to separate cardboard, paper, tin
or aluminum cans or plastic containers anymore;
they can all go in the same bin. But you do need
to rinse; no scraps of tuna in the tin cans, no
mayonnaise, relish, catsup or mustard in the
plastic containers.
Glass must be separated, and it, too, needs
rinsed. Plastic film; Saran wrap, grocery bags,
visquine, the baggies you pack the kid's lunches
in, go into a separate container. It, too, has
to be free of food residue.
There are separate places for wood (including
lumber, brush, trees, leaves and grass
clippings) ... lumber can have nails, paint,
screws or staples, but hinges, turnbuckles or
other hardware should be removed or you could
pay a fee ... Lead acid batteries (big
batteries, not those you put in toys or cameras)
and electronics, which includes anything that
plugs into the wall that doesn't have a picture
tube.
You can even recycle oil and antifreeze and
tires.
You don't even have to drive to the landfill;
the county has recycle stations at 197 Deep
Creek Loop in Naples, 963 Kootenai Trail Road in
Paradise Valley and at the junction of Highways
95 and 1 in Copeland, all manned with people to
help from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except on
national holidays, when all landfill locations
are closed.
Everything you can do to reuse and recycle is a
benefit; to find out more, call (208) 267-3812. |
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