Recycling options not lost in county

LAKE COUNTY — With the unveiling of the new Recycle Montana license plates last week, the upcoming closing of the Folkshop recycling center in Polson later this month, and global warming and green conversations at a peak, it’s time to take a close look at recycling in the county.

Mark Nelson, program manager at the Lake County Transfer Station in Polson, explained that Montana is looking to reduce the amount of state landfill waste to 22 percent by 2015.

“Recycling is a key component,” Nelson said of waste diversion efforts at the transfer station.

The station has accepted cardboard, aluminum cans, magazines and newspapers for more than 4.5 years, and antifreeze, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, lead-acid batteries, and used motor oil and propane tanks for more than 10 years. Phone books can also be dropped off at the station for recycling.

It was recently announced that the station it is now able to recycle No. 1 and No. 2 plastic bottles and office paper.

The numbers can be found at the bottom of containers, but it is a general rule that pop bottles are commonly number one containers and milk jugs and shampoo containers are often No. 2’s.

“We’re trying to walk before we jump into the swamp,” Nelson said of the make-shift recycling receptacles at the station. There are bins for office paper, No.1 and No. 2 containers, and aluminum cans. There are large bins for newspaper and cardboard as well.

It is important to sort recyclable items before bringing them to the station: this is called source separation. The station has to meet a certain percentage of “contamination,” as they do not typically separate the items.

“If you’re selling wheat, you don’t want a bunch of corn mixed in,” Nelson said. He also used the metaphor of a pink shirt in a white laundry load, for this same reason the station does not accept neon office paper, manila envelopes or tissue paper in their office paper bin.

The station also does its part in the waste reduction cycle by recycling more than about 6,700 tons of scrap metal a year.

“We’re not in it to make money,” Nelson said. “Our primary reason is waste diversion.”

It costs the station about $36 for every ton of waste delivered to the Missoula Landfill.

“We’re actually saving the county money,” Nelson said.

There are several other locations that accept recyclables throughout the county.

The RadioShack in Polson, and new Alltel in Ronan takes rechargeable cell phone and camera batteries. The Extension Service in Pablo also takes used batteries and cell phones. Safeway, Harvest Foods, SuperOne and Wal-Mart all accept plastic grocery bags. There are also recycling bins for newspapers, magazines, copy paper and aluminum cans by the Arlee Missionary Alliance Church.