Recycling expanded at Whitefish locations

More recyclable materials are now being accepted at Whitefish drop-off locations.

Under the new program, all No. 1 and  No. 2 plastics, aluminum, tin and steel cans go together into one bin. Newspaper, magazines, office paper and junk mail, goes together in the mixed paper bin.

Flattened cardboard, brown paper bags, egg cartons, and paperboard goes in the cardboard bin. Waxed cardboard, pizza boxes or packing materials shousl go in the trash.

New signs indicating how to sort materials have been installed on bins at the three Whitefish drop-off sites.

“The goal of these new signs and sorting guidelines is to make it easier for public to identify what can and what can't be recycled in the Flathead,” said Mayre Flowers, director of Citizens for a Better Flathead. “Putting materials that can't be locally recycled in a recycling bin can make the whole bin of materials essentially trash, as recycling businesses can't afford to re-sort these materials.”

Flowers says one of the biggest sorting mistakes residents make is not looking on plastic containers to identify the number or type of plastic. Plastics Nos. 3-7 should be placed in the trash along with lids from No. 1 and No. 2 plastics.

“Taking the time to correctly sort material for recycling ensures there is a valuable product to help cover those costs, and supports over 50 recycling jobs in the Flathead,” Flowers said.

Glass is only accepted by New World Recycling at 4969 Hwy. 2 in Columbia Falls (257-2574) or at Glacier National Park Lodges Site, 1014 1st Ave W, Columbia Falls, or at the Target Store in Kalispell.

WasteNot Project is launching an outreach campaign called “Right Stuff! Right Bin!” to assist with sorting questions. Contact the WasteNot Project at 756-8993.