Waste Diversion & Recycling

How to Recycle Batteries

Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Collect household batteries in the reusable “Household Battery Collection Bag.”

Accepted batteries:

• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCads or rechargeable)
• Lithium
• Lithium Ion
• Button
• Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
• Alkalines can go into the trash
• Auto batteries accepted separately

There is no limit to the number of batteries that can be brought to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at the Ada County Landfill. Learn more about schedule and hours of operation: Ada County Household Hazardous Waste Facility

Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Site
Residents may bring one Household Battery Collection Bag per visit to any Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Site. Learn more about mobile collection dates and locations: Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Sites

This program is free to Ada County residents (incorporated and unincorporated areas) and is sponsored by Ada County, Boise City Public Works, Republic Services and PSC Environmental Services.

The Household Hazardous Waste Material Collection Program is available to all residents of Boise, Eagle, Garden City, Kuna, Meridian, Star and unincorporated areas of Ada County.

Battery Bags are available at the Mobile Collection sites and at the  Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Fridays and Saturdays.

Questions?

Contact:
The Household Hazardous Waste Facility
(208) 577-4736
cschwend@adacounty.id.gov

Boise Public Works
208-384-3901

What does it cost?
Batteries No charge for Ada County Residents

Small quantity business generators should contact the Household Hazardous Waste Facility to determine costs.
The Household Hazardous Waste Material Collection Program is available to all residents of Boise, Eagle, Garden City, Kuna, Meridian, Star and unincorporated areas of Ada County.

Battery Bags are available at the Mobile Collection sites and at the  Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Fridays and Saturdays.

Questions?
Contact:
The Household Hazardous Waste Facility
(208) 577-4736
cschwend@adacount.id.gov

Boise Public Works
208-384-3901

How to Curbside Recycle

Curbside recycling is a contracted service through Republic Services. Learn more about curbside recycling in your community:

Ada County	Boise	Eagle
Garden City	Meridian	Star

With new rules for recycling please take note of the new guidance references.

WHEN IN DOUBT; THROW IT OUT!
If you are unsure of what can go in the bins it is best to simply throw the item in your garbage can.

WHAT GOES IN THE BIN?
Newspapers (including inserts), magazines and catalogs (glossy pages only)

Aluminum and Steel (tin) cans

• Empty cans must be rinsed; labels may remain on cans.
• Aerosol cans must be empty.
• Pesticide and chemical cans are prohibited curbside but can be disposed of at any household hazardous material mobile collection site.

Mixed Paper

• White or pastel paper, non-corrugated boxes (paperboard) with liners removed, cereal and frozen food boxes with liners removed, phonebooks, envelopes with or without windows, paper bags, wrapping paper (no foil), school papers (without glitter/glue), and junk mail. A neon colored paper is not accepted.

Plastics

• All plastics with a number of 1 or 2 on the bottom of the container. These include:
• Plastic Milk Jugs
• Rigid plastic soda and fruit juice bottles
• No filmy plastic, grocery bags, vinyl, or Styrofoam will be accepted.

Corrugated Cardboard

• Break boxes down to no larger than 4′ x 4′ and placed under or next to bin
• For City of Meridian residents and Republic Services customers: Break boxes down to no larger than 2′ x 2′ and placed under or next to the bin.

Used Motor Oil

• Special curbside requirements – Learn more

WHAT DOES NOT GO IN THE BIN?

• Plastics which are lighter in weight and/or have the number 3-7 printed on the bottom
• No filmy plastic, grocery bags, bubble wrap, vinyl, or Styrofoam
• Aluminum (tin) foil has a different makeup than aluminum cans. As with incompatible plastics, incompatible aluminum fouls the recycling process.
• Pizza boxes and foil-lined food containers. Because of the sticky food residue, these items cannot be recycled. They gum up the recycling equipment.
• Paperboard milk cartons or juice cartons. Any paperboard container that has a wax coating cannot be recycled. Like sticky food residue, wax can damage the recycling equipment.
• Paint and other cans with caution words on the label
• Paper plates and cups, tissues, paper towels, and napkins
• Glass

Special Curbside Recycling

Learn more about seasonal or special curbside programs:

• Christmas Tree
• Grasscycling
• Leaves
• Motor Oil

As a waste diversion tactic, curbside SINGLE-STREAM recycling is both popular and effective. Every single family residence in Ada County is eligible to participate in the curbside recycling program.

This program is supplemented by vast amounts of recyclable materials that are taken directly to the area’s recycling centers by people and businesses in Ada County.

The better you understand “What is Waste?” the better you can help curb what is a waste at your curbside. Ada County curbed 1.1 million yards of waste in 2012.

Facts You Should Know

• SINGLE-STREAM recycling eliminates the need to place your recyclable materials in separate bags or bins.
• Placing the wrong items in a recycle bin can contaminate an entire load. It turns recyclable resources into the trash. Please take care when loading your recycle bin

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov

Republic Services
(208) 345-1265

 How to Recycle E-Waste

Items that can go to the E-Waste Recycling Center located at the Ada County Landfill include:

 

Acceptable Materials
COMPUTER SYSTEMS & ACCESSORIES CRT Monitors (Recycle for free) LCD Displays CPUs All-in-Ones Laptops Servers Switches Hubs UPS Systems Keyboards & Mice Speakers Hard Drives Optical Drives Wires & Cables Circuit Boards Docking Stations Routers External Disk Drives Networking Equipment RAM/Memory Server Racks	AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT Televisions (Recycle for free) DVD Players VCRs Stereos Camcorders Cameras Radios Game Systems Speakers iPods/MP3 Players Projectors	OFFICE EQUIPMENT Fax Machines Photo Copiers Printers Scanners Surge Protectors Telephones Typewriters Adding Machines	HANDHELD DEVICES Cell Phones Pagers PDAs Two-Way Radios	MISC. Microwaves Air Cleaners Humidifiers GPS Units Non-Hazardous Medical Equipment Electric Power Tools Answering Machines

How to Recycle Televisions & Computer Monitors

How to Recycle at the Landfill
Though televisions and computer monitors qualify as E-Waste they are their own item. Bring your televisions and computer monitors to the Ada County Landfill (regular hours Monday-Saturday) and they will be processed separately since they contain lead. There is no limit to the number of items that can be recycled, however, an appointment must be made if there are more than ten.

Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Sites
Ada County residents can bring televisions and computer monitors to mobile collection sites free of charge if they contain Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs). TVs must be smaller than 27″ to be accepted at the collection sites. Learn more about mobile collection dates and locations:
Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Sites

Electronics are manufactured with many materials that are recyclable. The Ada County Landfill Recycling Center accepts unwanted electronics.

40,915 units of E-Waste was diverted from landfill ordinary waste in 2012.
Through FY 2013, 12,456,766 pounds of CRTS have been accepted and sent out.

Facts You Should Know

• Older televisions and computer monitors contain as much as 8 pounds of lead!
• A significant threat to human and animal well-being can occur if lead leaches into the ground and water supplies

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov

How to Recycle Glass

Glass is not recycled at the Ada County Landfill. For Boise city residents, collection sites have been established around the City through the efforts of:

• City of Boise
• Ada County Highway District
• Republic Services

Here is a list of convenient locations where Boise City residents may recycle glass:

• Western Recycling- 1990 South Cole Rd., Boise
• Boise Recycling- 4725 Glenwood, Garden City
• Pacific Recycling- 5120 Emerald St., Boise
• Republic Services- 11101 W. Executive Dr., Boise
• Albertson’s at 16th and State Street, Boise
• Boise Fire Station #3- 2202 Gekeler Ln., Boise
• Boise Fire Station #6- 6933 W. Franklin Rd., Boise
• Boise Fire Station #8- 4422 Overland Rd., Boise
• Boise Fire Station #10- 12065 W. McMillan, Boise
• Boise Fire Station #12- 3420 State Hwy. 21, Boise
• Old Amory- 801 Reserve St., Boise

Glass
In this region, recycling glass is problematic. We are long distances from resources that use glass in their manufacturing processes. Because glass is heavy, transportation costs remove profitability in glass recycling. This is one of the major factors causing glass to be listed as an unacceptable item in the curbside recycling bins.

Glass is a recyclable commodity in the right environment. Boise City residents may recycle glass through the cooperative efforts of the City of Boise, the Ada County Highway District, and Republic Services. However, it does not involve your curbside recycling bin or your trash can. It does involve a little effort on your part.
Questions?

For more information regarding glass recycling, contact: Environmental Division
of the City of Boise
Public Works Department
(208) 384-3901

How to Grasscycle By Mowing

• Any lawn mower will work, but a mulching mower works best.
• Don’t remove more than 1 inch or 1/3 of the grass blade. Removing too much reduces nutrient reserves, causing stress and browning.
• Keep mower blades sharp. Sharp blades cut the clippings into smaller pieces. This also provides a cleaner cut and prevents tearing and browning the grass tips.
• Mow frequently. By frequently, this means every 5 to 6 days or 5 times a month during the growing season. This increases grass shoot density which inhibits weed growth. Although you may be mowing more often, by not bagging the clippings, you are still saving time.
• Try not to mow when the grass is too wet. Wet grass clumps and does not scatter easily. If you have clumps, trying mowing a second time to further break up the clumps or bag the clippings for compost or mulch.

Learn more: University of Idaho Extension, Ada County

How to Recycle Grass Clippings Curbside (THIS IS NOT AN ADA COUNTY LANDFILL PROGRAM)
From April – October grass clippings can be recycled. Customers may subscribe to the optional paid service through Republic Services.
Learn more:

• City of Boise
• City of Eagle
• City of Meridian
• Unincorporated Ada County

Tips for a Healthier Lawn

• Fertilize while the grass is actively growing (spring and fall). Fall fertilizing is important for developing strong root systems capable of supporting vigorous leaf growth.
• Use slow-release or water-insoluble fertilizer. Fertilizers that release nitrogen too quickly cause rapid leaf growth at the expense of healthy stem and root growth. Over-fertilizing can pose a threat to ground and surface water.
• Infrequent, long irrigation cycles promote deep root zones more capable of withstanding drought conditions.
• Water at night or early morning to reduce water loss to evaporation.
• Contrary to the myth, clippings do not promote thatch build up. Clippings break down quickly, often in a matter of a few weeks. Thatch is the build-up of roots and stems and is commonly the result of over-fertilizing and excessive watering.

Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn rather than throwing them away where they take up space in the landfill. Studies have shown that Grasscycling makes lawns greener and healthier. Grass clippings are a valuable source of nitrogen needed for healthy lawns.

Sample Reuses

• Grass Silage for Cows

Facts You Should Know

Grasscycling…

• Saves time! Up to 35% of your lawn care time is spent emptying your mower bag, raking up clippings, bagging clippings and dragging them to the curb.
• Saves money since you don’t have to buy clipping bags, and you don’t have to fertilize or water your lawn as often.
• Shelters grass roots from the sun conserve moisture and reduce weeds and the incidences of certain lawn diseases.
• Creates a natural fertilizer. Grass clippings are 80% water. Once cut, the clippings wither, shrink and sift down to the ground. Microorganisms break down the clippings making the nutrients in the clippings available to the lawn.

Questions?

For general information regarding mulching, contact:
University of Idaho Extension, Ada County
(208) 287-5900
ada@uidaho.edu

For information regarding the curbside collection of grass clippings in Meridian, contact:
Republic Services
(208) 345-1265

How to Recycle Leaves
How to Recycle at the Landfill
In the fall Ada County residents can bring their leaves to the landfill at no charge during a six-week period.

Refer to Calendar for leaf recycling collection dates.

How to Recycle Curbside
Each November Republic Services, in partnership with the various municipalities of Ada County, provides for curbside leaf collection.

For curbside collection in your community visit Republic Services:

Ada County	Boise	Eagle
Garden City	Meridian	Star

Date: TBA   Free Leaf Recycling Dates

Sample Reuses

• Compost feedstock (starting materials for composting)
• 5,000 cubic yards of recycled leaves will be used to provide cover for the landfill

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov

How to Recycle Metals
Bring your metals to the Ada County Landfill Recycling Center where they will be separated and shipped to a local metals recycler.

How to Recycle Refrigeration
Bring your EMPTY  refrigerator/freezer or your refrigeration units to the Ada County Landfill Recycling Center where qualified technicians will remove Freon from refrigeration units. The metal cases from the appliances are then shipped to a local metal recycler.

Appliances that use Freon are collected separately at the landfill because they contain Freon. The new Ada County Landfill Recycling Center now takes:

• metal
• aluminum
• steel
• copper
• or any other metal materials

From voluntary drop off, the Ada County Landfill Recycling Center processed approximately
355,000 pounds
of metal in 2012.

Facts You Should Know

• Freon is a greenhouse gas
• Freon would damage the ozone layer of the atmosphere if released from these refrigeration units

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov

How to Recycle Motor Oil
The landfill can accept up to five gallons of used motor oil. Near the Landfill’s active recycling area, Ada County has a 500-gallon tank for used motor oil. The disadvantage to this option is that one must pour the oil from one’s container into the large tank.

Requirements:

• No mixed oils
• No antifreeze
• No other types of oil, motor oil only
• No brake or parts cleaners
• No brake fluid
• No other chemicals of any kind

Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Take up to five gallons to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Special conditions may apply if there are more than five gallons.

Oil – Special Conditions

The Household Hazardous Waste Facility will take more than five gallons of oil, however, questions may be asked to determine if a test needs to be performed. The cost of the test is $15.

There is a $10 fee for disposing of a drum of oil.

How to Recycle Curbside
Republic Services can collect used motor oil curbside in Boise, Meridian, Unincorporated Ada County, Star, and Eagle.

Requirements:

• Set out motor oil for collection curbside on regular trash pick up day
• Limit of two gallons of used motor oil per household per week
• Do not mix with other fluids, such as brake, transmission fluid, gasoline or cooking oil
• Oil must be in a transparent 1-gallon plastic jug clearly marked “Used Motor Oil”
• The container must be set next to (not in) the curbside trash bin
• To save the plastic container for future use, please write “SAVE” on the container

Household Hazardous Waste Mobile collection Sites
You can deliver two gallons of used motor oil to mobile collection sites free of charge for Ada County Residents. Learn more about mobile collection dates and locations:
Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Sites

How to Recycle Through Community Resources
These Ada County businesses accept up to two gallons of used motor oil:

• Jiffy Lubes
• Indian Creek Service in Kuna
• Tates Rents located on Fairview Avenue

Residents should check with their local auto parts stores or other automotive service centers for additional recycling hubs.

How to Recycle Cooking Oil
Take up to two gallons to the Household Hazardous Material Waste Facility open Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

• Label container “Used Cooking Oil”
• Do not mix with motor oil and make sure it does not contain food

Used motor oil presents a host of environmental concerns when it comes to disposal. Various resources are available in Ada County to safely recycle motor oil

81,763 pounds of used motor oil was collected by the Ada County Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Mobile Collection in 2012.

Sample Reuses

• re-refinement into motor oil
• diesel fuel
• bunker fuel
• additive with other fuels

Facts You Should Know

• One gallon of motor oil can foul the taste of 1,000,000 gallons of water.
• One pint of oil can cause an oil slick the size of two football fields on a lake.
• Approximately 42 gallons of crude oil is processed to make 2 1/2 quarts of motor oil. One gallon of refined used motor oil produces an equivalent 2 1/2 quarts of motor oil.

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov

How to Recycle Tires
The Ada County Landfill can accept up to four (4) passenger car size tires (18″ rim diameter or smaller).

Tires delivered to the landfill are recycled through a privately owned company.

3,163 tires were diverted as ordinary waste from the Ada County Landfill in FY 2013 and 2,512 tires were diverted in FY 2012.

Sample Reuses

• Athletic tracks
• Road base
• Fuel in the process of making cement

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov

How to Recycle Wood
What is Acceptable?

Basically, anything that can be turned into wood chips is acceptable in the wood recycling program at the Ada County Landfill.

• Shrubs
• Tree limbs
• Stumps (up to 8 feet in diameter)
• Doors
• Wooden fencing
• Wooden Spools
• Wood lap siding
• Old bark
• Plywood
• Particleboard
• Sawdust
• Clean lumber
• Pallets

What About Nails and Other Fasteners?
There is no need to remove nails, screws, hinges, or other metal fasteners (provided they are not large steel fasteners). Small fasteners pass through the grinding and screening equipment and are picked up by powerful magnets. The metals collected from the wood grinding process are shipped to a metals recycling company.

What is not Recyclable?

• Painted or lacquered wood
• Any wood that has been treated with any chemical

How to Recycle Christmas Trees
After the holiday season, Ada County accepts Christmas trees at no charge. Refer to Calendar for free Christmas tree recycling dates.

• Remove decorations: lights, ornaments, tinsel and stand
• Flocked trees are not accepted (they become ordinary waste)

How to Recycle Curbside
Christmas trees can be set out for collection depending on location. Refer to Calendar for free Christmas tree recycling dates.

• Eagle: First two weeks after Christmas
• Boise: First full week of January
• Garden City: First full week of January
• Meridian: First full week of January
• Star: No curbside Christmas tree collection
• Unincorporated Ada County: First two weeks of January

• Cut to 4-foot lengths or shorter
• Remove decorations: lights, ornaments, tinsel and stand
• Flocked trees are not accepted (they become ordinary waste)

Wood, whether in its natural form, such as tree limbs, shrubs or bushes, or in a processed form, such as lumber, takes up considerable space in landfills. Ada County Landfill partners with a contractor to mulch wood for a variety of reuse purposes.

10,000 cubic yards of wood chips diverted at the landfill monthly.

Facts You Should Know

• One of the largest recycling programs in Idaho is run by the Ada County Landfill. It’s the county’s wood waste recycling program, reclaiming around 150,000 cubic yards of waste each year.

Sample Reuses

• Fuel supplement at electricity co-generation plants
• landscaping
• Compost feedstock (starting materials for composting)
• cattle bedding

Questions?

Ada County Landfill
(208) 577-4725
solidwaste@adacounty.id.gov