Green Box sites in Lincoln County affected in deal to haul trash

Lincoln County officials approved a deal to haul trash for the next two years at a Nov. 13 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.

The agreement with Evergreen Disposal followed several conversations about the drastically higher costs the company was seeking for a new 5-year deal.

The county has begun planning in anticipation of buying its own fleet of garbage trucks. Evergreen agreed to a two-year deal to take care of garbage pickup until the county is ready to take over.

For fiscal year 2024-25, the cost is $400,000 and for fiscal year 2025-26, it is $420,000.

Health Department Director Kathi Hooper said the county’s solid waste and recycling has $292,725 budgeted for the contract in 2024-25. The commissioners approved an additional $70,000 from Payment in Lieu of Taxes funds and eliminated the remote site attendant position in Troy, which will save $45,000.

Hooper said the Green Box sites at Libby Creek, Happy’s Inn, Fisher River, city of Troy ballpark, Hecla, Yaak Hill, Upper Yaak, Glen Lake, Trego, Fortine and West Kootenai will remain open. Rexford will be closed.

But their availability will decrease. Hooper said the county anticipates signing the final deal at next Wednesday’s meeting. Hours of operation will also be known at that time.

The proposed schedule for the Green Box sites follows:

Libby Creek: Thursday-Sunday.

Troy ballpark: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Hecla: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Upper Yaak: Monday through Sunday.

Yaak Hill: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Glen Lake: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fisher River: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Trego: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fortine: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

West Kootenai: Monday through Sunday.

There are no changes at the landfills in Libby, Troy and Eureka. They are open Monday through Saturday.

Hooper also said the county ordered a new roll-off container truck that would arrive at the end of 2026.

District 3 Commissioner Josh Letcher pointed out that the $150 refuse assessment that was approved a year ago pays for landfill operations, not garbage pickup.

Eureka resident Rob Goldman spoke at the Nov. 13 meeting and was extremely concerned that the Glen Lake site may be closed.

“I moved here 15 years ago and I own multiple properties here,” Goldman said. “I’ve invested millions of dollars in this area and my taxes went up 800% on some of my properties. Closing the Glen Lake site would be very detrimental to my properties.

“But if it stays open three days a week, I’m fine with that,” he said.

Noel Duram, who was elected to take over the District 3 commissioner seat at the beginning of next year, asked the commissioners if multiple residences on one property are each paying the $150 refuse fee.

Letcher said they should be, but he added that it’s a matter of getting each residence addressed correctly, which is a work in progress.

District 1 Commissioner Brent Teske said it’s likely the Green Box sites days and hours of operations would be different.

At the Nov. 6 meeting, Hooper said 12 single can sites, which are not owned by the county, will be eliminated. They include schools in Troy, Trego and Fortine (no other schools were included on the previous contract), the Troy city shop and the River Walk Park in Eureka.

Fortine School Principal Laura Pluid and Fortine District School Board member Allen Erhart both raised concerns at the Nov. 6 meeting regarding the matter.

“At 3 p.m. Nov. 1, we were notified of the change,” Pluid said. “Why didn’t we get more notice. Now, we’ll be scrambling without a chance to plan for it.”

Erhart echoed those sentiments, wishing more notice had been given.

Brian Berreman said one remote site attendant wasn’t telling people how to break down cardboard boxes for recycling or disposal and where to take aluminum cans.

“Educating the community on recycling would be helpful,” he said.

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 take 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.