Scavenging at solid waste sites not allowed

BONNERS FERRY — Scavenging or salvaging at Boundary County solid waste public collection sites and landfill is not allowed.

“There has been some recent discussion in the community regarding the public being allowed to recover or repurpose items from the landfill,” Boundary County Solid Waste Department Superintendent Richard Jenkins said on April 1 at a county commissioner meeting.

“The Boundary County Municipal solid waste landfill operations plan, specifically states that the removal of any materials, metal, wood, tires, refrigerators, ect. Is conducted by the facility owner, which is the county, or authorized representative and approved recycle contractor and not the public,” he said. 

Per Panhandle Health the removal of materials by the public is considered scavenging and is prohibited. 

Jenkins said to help alleviate any further confusion, he will be adding additional signs against scavenging and salvaging at solid waste locations. 

Jenkins said digging through the dump will be done by an employee not the public. 

He said after talking to Kootenai, Shoshone and Bonner Counties they do not allow visitors to dig through trash either. He added Kootenai county has an ordinance in place which includes a  $1,000 fine for scavenging and salvaging.