KOOTENAI COUNTY PRESS RELEASE: SCHOOL RECYCLING

The Kootenai County Board of Commissioners is electing not to renew the current recycling contracts the County has with the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland School Districts. The current contracts expire on June 1, 2012.
The Solid Waste Department of Kootenai County currently subsidizes the recycling program with the school districts at an approximate cost of $170,000.00 per year to the Solid Waste Department. In addition to the cost, the implementation of single stream recycling in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and surrounding areas has had a dramatic impact on reducing the volume of recycling being dropped off at the school sites.
Recycling will continued to be offered at three District 271 schools, Hayden Meadows, Dalton Elementary and Hayden Kindergarten. These three schools continue to be high volume sites for recyclables.
The County is committed to facilitating recycling. Consequently, recycling will be offered at several of the rural dumpster sites and other convenient locations throughout the County. The Mica Flats dumpster site was the recipient of the first recycle bin. After only 12 days, the recycling dumpster at Mica Flats had collected over 2800# of recyclable material. This material will not end up in our landfill thereby extending its life and saving taxpayer dollars.
The Commissioners appreciate and value the relationship we’ve experienced with area school districts. We look forward to facilitating and evaluating opportunities for greater waste reduction in the future.
For further information please contact:
Roger Saterfiel, Director
Kootenai County Solid Waste Department
446-1444