Make a pledge to commit to recycling

Today is America Recycles Day – the day each of us should step up our commitment to recycling. While our community doesn’t celebrate the day in a big way, like some do, it is still a good day to join the millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work, and to buy products made with recycled materials.

Determining what is recyclable in our community, and then using those recycling programs, is a great first step in pledging to increase our recycling habits. A few basic recycling programs are in place and a growing number of specialty recycling programs have recently begun. The following is a list of some of those programs, including those offered by Kootenai County.

Community Green Cross – This nonprofit organization collects used clothing and fabrics including shoes, purses, hats, belts, backpacks, sheets, towels and draperies for shipment to Third World countries. Some materials are recycled into wiping rags, pet products, moving blankets and pads and craft supplies. Bins are in place at the Ramsey Transfer Station and at Hospice Thrift Store, 503 E. Seltice Way in Post Falls.

School Drop Box Recycling Program – Kootenai County provides collection boxes at participating local schools for newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans and cardboard. The schools receive the revenue from the collectibles plus reduced solid-waste fees. Many local schools also have fundraising programs for inkjet cartridges, cell phones and plastic bags.

Last year a few area schools participated in Wal-Mart’s Kids Recycling Challenge program. In May 2007, Wal-Mart awarded nearly $30,000 to Idaho schools in the largest plastic bag recycling program ever undertaken. A new Kids Recycling Challenge began this fall.

AT For All – Assistive Technology includes any tool that can be used by a person to make life easier. This nonprofit coalition seeks to collect used medical and physical equipment like wheelchairs, glasses, crutches, computers, hearing aids, etc., for distribution to those in need. For more information, visit their Web site at www.idaho.at4all.com, or call (208) 640-1383.

Kootenai County offers recycling through the Ramsey Transfer Station at 3650 Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene. Rows of collection boxes and green bins for recyclables are just inside and just before exiting the Transfer Station. Recyclables accepted include: aluminum cans, automobile batteries, corrugated cardboard, glass, household batteries, magazines, plastic bags, plastic milk jugs, mixed office paper, telephone books, newspaper, plastic beverage containers (soda and water bottles), steel and tin cans, textiles including clothing, textiles, plastic bags and cellular telephones.

Some types of carpet padding are accepted for recycling. Attendants will make the determination for you. Rimless tires are also recyclable. Most are chipped and used as a fuel source. Others are used for rubberized running tracks, shoe soles, playground cover and crumb rubber asphalt in roads. There is a charge for accepting tires on rims. Wood and organic materials including lumber, loose pine needles, grass, leaves, wood, branches, and stumps are chipped and then shipped out to be used as fuel to produce electricity.

The Transfer Station accepts and recycles most metals including: aluminum, copper, steel, lawn mowers, bicycles, metal roofing, car body parts and household appliances. Asphalt is accepted and recycled for use on roads at the landfill. Materials such as rock, bricks, clean soil, concrete, cinder blocks, ceramic tiles, and metal or wood poles that have concrete attached are accepted as inert fill.

The Transfer Station also accepts and disposes of home, lawn/garden and automotive products that can be dangerous to the environment. These hazardous waste products include: paint, thinners, solvents, cleaning fluids, adhesives and glues, stains, pesticides, herbicides, rodent poison, garden dusts, tree spray and Weed & Feed, gasoline, diesel, antifreeze, motor oil and car batteries. Ash bins for the safe disposal of fireplace, wood stove, or burn barrel ash are also provided.

There is no charge for these recycled products. Call (446-1430 for more recycling guidelines and requirements, or check out www.co. kootenai.id.us/departments/ solidwaste/.

Post Falls Curbside Recycling – Customers are offered curbside pickup service for recyclables including: newspapers, magazines, clean corrugated cardboard, steel/tin cans, aluminum cans, household batteries, plastic pop bottles and milk jugs.