Talking trash
Photo courtesy of GOOGLE MAPS The Shoshone County Transfer Station transports the garbage collected at the facility to a landfill in Missoula, Mont.
Several locals were recently disturbed to find that someone had been dumping large amounts of trash in an open area off of Hord’s Ranch Road near Wallace.
The discovery of the trash prompted a social media outrage as local residents organized a cleanup effort that took place this past Saturday.
This incident even motivated several readers to call the Shoshone News-Press and tell us about other dump sites in the Silver Valley.
Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence in Shoshone County.
There have been several cases of excessive littering in the more remote places of our beautiful county over the year, whether it be household garbage or outdoor recreation related.
Perhaps the worst part about all of these instances of dumping and littering in the woods is that they can easily be avoided.
Shoshone County Commissioner Mike Fitzgerald would like to remind county residents that they can simply take their garbage to the transfer station, conveniently located at 52619 Silver Valley Road (just east of Kellogg), for free.
“There really isn’t a reason to drive up into the woods to dump your trash,” Fitzgerald said.
“That transfer station is for the people and centrally located.”
Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with the exception of federal holidays), the Shoshone County Transfer station accepts a wide array of waste including garbage, commercial garbage, construction waste, batteries, oil, waste wood, and inert metals.
The Shoshone County Solid Waste Department states on their website that they also “accept recycling items such as newspaper, magazines, car batteries, antifreeze, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and milk jugs, appliances, scrap metal, and cooking oil.”
The best part though is that, barring incredibly large items or a massive amount of items, its totally free for individuals.
“Nine out of ten things that get brought to the transfer station won’t cost a thing,” Fitzgerald explained.
With the convenience the transfer station offers residents, Fitzgerald finds it humorous that so many would dump their trash in the wilderness.
“It takes people longer to drive up into the woods and dump there than it would just to go to the transfer station!”
The station itself is even prepping for new improvements in the future.
The Board of County Commissioners will be holding workshops in July to discuss how to make the transfer station even more accessible.
Topics at the workshop will include staffing levels, hours of operation, the definition of what household waste is, new technology, and the installation of a new payment system that allows customers to pay with a credit card.