Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in North Idaho
How those of you in the Idaho Panhandle can manage your garbage
Just do it!
The average American generates 1,650 pounds of garbage per year—more than citizens for any other nation.
One of the biggest issues facing North Idaho communities today is what to do about all that garbage!
Some counties haul their garbage hundreds of miles away, while others are witnessing their landfills rapidly filling up with a lot of stuff that shouldn't be there.
We can reduce our waste by recycling and composting. Recycling takes a personal commitment—but it's still practical, even in communities where curbside bins are lacking.
It starts at the store: Can you buy something with less packaging or recyclable packaging?
For instance, if you have to buy plastic, at least get the kind you can recycle (typically #1 and #2).
For those who live outside Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene and other towns that offer curbside service, you might have to work harder to recycle. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has tried to make the job easier with a directory of recycling centers.
Check it out and help shrink our waste stream!
