Keeping it Green

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures!

Remember a few months ago when the Sanders County Solid Waste Board (with the help of Environmental Health) sent letters to all the food vendors in the county, encouraging them to find better alternatives to Styrofoam for go-boxes, coffee cups, etc.? We have seen some progress! Kudos to those businesses that have made the switch. New York City has recently decided enough was enough: “On January 1, 2019, New York City stores and food-service businesses can no longer offer, sell or possess single-use foam food containers such as foam takeout clamshells, cups, plates, bowls and trays. Additionally, manufacturers and stores may no longer sell or offer for sale loose fill packaging (packing peanuts) in the city. This law was enacted because single-use foam items were found to be not recyclable. These items are collected as trash in the city. There are many recyclable alternative packaging options including paper, plastic, aluminum and compostable products. The ban began January 1, 2019 and there will be a six-month grace period before fines will be imposed.” (Items not covered include raw meat trays.) Source: http://www.nyc.gov/foamban

Reminder: Sanders County recycles what is economically feasible under current market conditions, including:

Clean, Flattened, Corrugated Cardboard: No chipboard such as cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, etc. They are not corrugated, and can be burned or disposed of. (Take to Trout Creek, Thompson Falls and Plains sites.)

Metal: Large items go to the metal pile, tin cans into the bin. (Trout Creek, Thompson Falls and Plains)

Aluminum Beverage Cans: Fully emptied, please. (Thompson Falls and Plains)

All Batteries (Thompson Falls and Plains)

Oil (Thompson Falls and Plains)

Side note: The courthouse has saved 107 plastic bottles from the landfill since installing a water bottle filling station on our drinking fountain! If you are still buying plastic water bottles, they can be taken to Republic Services, 3207 Broadway, in Missoula.