Latah landfill considers center for salvagers

MOSCOW, Idaho – Officials in North Idaho closed the landfill in Latah County to salvagers in 2005 after fights broke out.

But now officials are being pressured to create someplace where thrown-out items headed for the landfill can be picked over by salvagers who miss the days of finding treasure in the trash.

“I just think the time is right – the time of our world and the time of our need,” Roberta Radavich told the Lewiston Tribune. “Reuse is a step above recycling.”

“Everything you reuse is something you don’t have to manufacture again,” said Tim Daulton, Radavich’s husband. “So we’re hoping the City Council will get behind this.”

Officials closed the landfill to salvagers, saying it was too dangerous and there were too many disagreements, even fights, among people looking for items.

So “No Salvaging” signs went up.

Radavich, Latah County Commissioner Loreca Stauber and local artist Gerri Sayler recently asked the Moscow city administrative committee about building a reuse center.

“I guess my feeling is that Moscow has taken a proactive stance on recycling,” Sayler said. “And a reuse center is another feather in the cap.”

Committee members liked the idea because they said Moscow’s “green” approach to growth and development made a reuse center a good fit.

City Manager Gary Riedner said he would try to find a way to push the idea forward.

“I’m going to try and lay some of the groundwork for that,” Riedner said.

“We’d like to start a task force because there are so many questions,” Radavich said. “I think a pooling of ideas would be just right for our community.”

Joe Johnson of Latah Sanitation said he’s heard complaints since the landfill closed to people looking for items they could use. He said a reuse center is a good idea. “I think they have a reasonable chance of getting that done,” Johnson said.