County goes backward on recycling
The Flathead County Solid Waste District is taking steps to decrease the number of recycling sites at green-box collection facilities from eight to four. We can’t help but feel this approach is extremely short-sighted.
For years county residents have had easy access to the blue recycling bins placed at most green-box collection sites and at various local businesses. Residents have been encouraged to recycle because it’s the environmentally responsible thing to do.
After the Solid Waste District’s latest plan is completed, blue bins will remain only at the Columbia Falls, Creston, Somers and county landfill waste collection sites. Bigger blue bins and cardboard compactors will be placed at the four sites to make them more cost-effective.
Recycling won’t be an option at the Ashley Lake, Bigfork, Coram or Lakeside green-box sites.
A few months ago the county gave up its contract for blue-bin recycling at Super 1 Foods and Albertsons grocery stores in Kalispell, although Valley Recycling has kept the recycling bins at those locations.
Recycling in rural Montana does cost money, and it seems that’s the driving force behind this latest round of consolidation. Public Works Director Dave Prunty said the county’s recycling program was costing so much “we needed to look at a different way of doing business.”
The Inter Lake has stated before and will reiterate again that the county has an obligation to recycle. Recycling isn’t the only service that costs the county money. It costs big bucks to maintain roads and provide adequate law enforcement, but we wouldn’t think of cutting those services in half.
Recycling has become part of most Americans’ mindset; it’s the right thing to do.
It’s ironic that tourist surveys have indicated visitors to our area want to see enhanced recycling opportunities. Do we now just shrug and admit our local government has taken a giant step backwards?
Another puzzling factor in this quest to cut blue bins is that the county agreed to review the strategic plan for the landfill as it relates to not only green-box consolidation but also recycling options. That review is still underway, so why the push to scale back blue bins without the benefit of hearing what the consultants have to say about long-term recycling for our county?
At a recent meeting about green-box consolidation, many people said they’d be willing to pay a little more for their annual solid waste assessment on their tax bills if it meant keeping the collection sites in their neighborhoods.
It’s time for county officials to put their ears to the ground and hear what their constituents are saying. It’s time for more recycling, not less.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.