County OKs elimination of five green box trash sites
Some of the trouble with Lincoln County green box sites include items such as furniture being dumped at various locations. They are intended to be taken to landfill sites. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Lincoln County officials voted to decrease the amount of green box sites at the July 12 commission meeting.
County Health Department Director Kathi Hooper presented three proposals at the June 28 commission meeting and commissioners Josh Letcher, Brent Teske and Jim Hammons approved the the first option which maintains 11 sites and adds roving site attendants.
While some residents aren’t happy about the new plan, other proposals would have cut green box sites to either six or three locations. Hooper warned of the possibility at a May 10 commission meeting.
Currently there are 16, but according to Hooper, Pinkham Creek, Fourth of July, Savage Lake, Glen Lake and a site directly outside the Eureka landfill will be closed some time in the next few months.
One Yaak resident concerned with the closures said if trash from out-of-state people could be controlled would be very helpful.
Larry Smith, a resident who said he lives near the Idaho border, said people dumping trash when their yard sales were done was also a problem.
Teske also asked if there was an option for dealing with trash from people who don’t live in Lincoln County.
But Hooper, who visited operations in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Flathead County, said the people who ran a site in Moyie Springs said too many Montanans were using their sites and they closed it.
The sites that will remain include Libby Creek, Happy’s Inn, Fisher River, City of Troy, Hecla, Yaak Hill, Upper Yaak, Trego, Fortine, West Kootenai and Rexford.
Dumpsters from the closed sites will be moved to the sites that remain open.
According to Hooper, increased costs and budget constraints along with what she called, “continued and frequent misuse and vandalism at sites, have pushed the county to reevaluate the green box sites.”
One of the problems, Hooper said, are people dumping items at green box sites that are only meant for landfills in Libby, Troy and Eureka.
“Green box sites are for household trash only,” she said. “The landfill takes many other items for no charge, including furniture, appliances, tires and recycling of cardboard.”
Refuse assessments are also increasing $15 to $150 per year to support landfill operations.
Hooper said the last refuse assessment increase was in 2008.
“Costs of fuel, equipment, insurance and other things have increased since then,” she said.
Hooper said the plan chosen by commissioners will increase the solid waste budget by $200,000 annually and more than $100,000 for the initial set-up.
“This budget increase will include personnel, vehicle, maintenance costs and an attendant shack at Libby Creek,” Hooper said. “This is the least increase in cost to taxpayers among the options considered.”
Hooper said if 16 sites were kept open and manned by site monitors, it would cost the county an extra $2 million, doubling the solid waste management budget.
More cameras will also be located at some green box sites. Hooper said cameras have been used to determine who repeatedly break site disposal rules, but the idea of only using cameras and fining offenders doesn’t completely work.
“We have had cameras at multiple sites but have constant issues with vandalism and theft,” Hooper said. “Also, many of the sites are very remote and don’t have internet or cell service to operate cameras.
“Lastly, the time it takes to monitor, review footage and enforce rules takes a toll on staff time, not only at the landfill, but also in the sheriff’s office, county attorney’s office and the courts. The best option is education and proper use of the sites,” Hooper said.
Letcher pointed out that the plan, “has to fit the county’s budget and the public’s needs.”
Hooper said some options for people are recycling, calling waste disposal company Evergreen to see what they are able to pick up and taking trash to a landfill, particularly if it’s not simple household trash.
Landfills in Libby and Eureka are open six days a week and closed on Sunday. The Troy landfill is open five days per week while being closed Sunday and Monday. All are closed on holidays.
The Libby landfill is located at 2501 Pipe Creek Road and its phone number is 293-7146. The Troy landfill is at 273 Dump Road and can be reached at 283-1713. In Eureka, the landfill is at 653 Airport Road and may be reached at 889-5117.
All three landfills accept yard waste, general home waste, used appliances, scrap metal, wood products, concrete and batteries (auto or lead acid). Libby and Eureka accept motor oil and anti freeze, but Troy and Happy’s Inn do not those items.
For asbestos materials, call the Lincoln County Asbestos Resource Program at 291-5335.
For other questions, contact the county Health Department at 283-2442. Information may also be found at lincolncountymt.us/health-department-home/landfill/.
Evergreen Disposal handles trash hauling in the county. In Libby and Troy, the number is 293-3711 and in Eureka, it’s 297-2777.