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Prior to project approval, request that project information specify which requirements under the Idaho Solid Waste Facilities Act and Idaho's Solid Waste Management Rules apply. Types of waste management facilities and associated rules that cities and counties should be aware of include the following:
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Understand how waste will be managed prior to approving projects. No trash or other solid waste should be buried, burned, or otherwise disposed of at any site that is not permitted. Disposal methods are regulated by various state regulations. Note that solid waste management facilities or landfills can be privately or publicly owned. If a municipal solid waste landfill is privately owned, it is required to apply for review by a site review panel, receive a siting license from DEQ, and pay a site license fee to cover the cost of reviewing the site license application.
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Plan ahead. With the following efforts, local governments can better manage waste:
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Determine the capacity, life expectancy, and expansion limits of your landfill. |
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Reduce waste to increase the life expectancy of your landfill. This can be accomplished by reducing waste at the source, reusing waste, composting, and recycling.
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Recycling, like garbage collection in Idaho, is an optional service provided at the discretion of local governments or by private recycling companies. The level of recycling service (curbside vs. self haul) and the number of commodities collected (paper, aluminum, etc.) differ depending on resources available and a community's geographical location to recycling markets (different commodities may have different markets). Because each community has unique resources, the recycling and diversion solutions for one community may differ from those of another. Determine what works best for your community. See also Recycling in Idaho: Profiles of Community Recycling Programs. |
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Develop a "pay-as-you-throw" program, where citizens pay for each can or bag of trash they set out for disposal rather than pay a flat fee. When households reduce waste at the source by consuming less, reusing waste, or recycling, they dispose of less trash and pay lower trash bills. This can help extend the life of landfills. |
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Implement a green purchasing policy in city and county departments to reduce the toxicity and quantity of items purchased and increase the purchase of products with higher recycling content and durability. |
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Divert green waste from the landfill. Wood and yard waste, which includes lumber, pruned branches, shrubs or bushes, stumps, whole trees, leaves, and grass clippings, can come from construction, demolition, and maintenance of streets, yards, and parks. Such waste represents a significant part of the total amount of solid waste disposed of. Recycling and reuse activities for wood and yard waste include wood chipping to be used for fuel supplements at electricity co-generation plants; mulching to be used for landscaping, compost feedstock, and cattle bedding; and composting to be used as a soil amendment. |
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Develop a reuse and disposal program for household hazardous wastes such as latex and oil-based paint, stain and primer, wood care products, cleaning products, automotive products, and fertilizers. |
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Remember that owners and operators of solid waste management sites have the ultimate say in what they will and will not accept, as long as it does not conflict with applicable state requirements. Such sites may choose to reject, for instance, untreated medical waste, electronic waste, animal waste, and household hazardous waste. Alternative management options should be considered if certain waste streams are not accepted for disposal at the local landfill. Additionally, local governments have the authority to implement ordinances to better manage solid waste beyond federal and state regulations and laws. Determine what is best for the health and welfare of your community. |