Lake County offers special collection events at local container sites
Next event to be held in Ravalli
photo courtesy of Lake County Solid Waste
photo courtesy of Lake County Solid Waste
A large number of household and construction items were brought to the Ravalli container site during the “Landfill to You” event held there April 26. The event will again be held at the transfer station Saturday. Similar collection events are scheduled in coming weeks at other container sites around Lake County to make it easier for residents to dispose of large items.
photo courtesy of Lake County Solid Waste
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It can be difficult for residents in rural communities to get rid of larger solid waste materials like mattresses, worn furniture and debris from home construction projects.
Normally, Lake County residents have to haul such items to the landfill near Polson, a long and inconvenient drive for some. However, Lake County Solid Waste is making it a bit easier by bringing the landfill closer to residents through special collection events in a one-year trial initiative.
This year, the department is hosting “Landfill to You” events at each of its six container sites twice on various dates, one time in the spring and one time in the fall for each site, said Stacey Kintigh, Lake County Solid Waste director.
The next such event is planned for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Ravalli container site, 66972 North Valley Creek Road, for the benefit of residents in the southern part of the county. The standard landfill fee of $10 minimum or per cubic yard will apply at the time of disposal.
“This event is designed to offer Lake County residents a more convenient way to dispose of construction and demolition waste at our rural sites, eliminating the need for them to transport the waste to the Polson landfill,” said Kintigh. “The costs are still there, but people won’t have to drive as far. We’ll do the driving and transport the trash to the landfill.”
In addition to construction and demolition materials, items such as mattresses, furniture, carpet, padding, rugs, doors and wood waste will be accepted. For more information about other items, call Solid Waste at 406-883-7323.
The event is exclusively for Lake County residents and households, who will be required to show proof of residency (driver’s license with current address) or proof of residency and a valid yellow 2025 yellow tag. Businesses will not be permitted to dispose of materials at the events.
Kintigh explained that in the past, residents of Missoula and Flathead counties were disposing of their trash at Lake County container sites at a cost to Lake County. That’s why the county began its tag program and staffing each site with someone to monitor them. This staffing necessitated limiting the days each week the various sites are open. For example, the Ravalli container site currently is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
To further improve service to residents, Solid Waste tried a pilot project last year of having a centralized construction and demolition collection day at the Ferndale site, Kintigh said. “We had a great response. People liked not having to take their trash clear to the Polson landfill.”
Therefore, the program was expanded this year to all six sites twice a year. It began in April and all the events have been well attended, Kintigh reported. Five events remain to be held this year. They include:
Aug. 16 – Ravalli
Aug. 30 – Woods Bay
Sept. 13 – Ferndale
Sept. 20 – Proctor
Oct. 11 – Swan Lake
“I urge everyone to use this service,” Kintigh said. “The word is getting out. It’s good for everyone.”
