Green box sites up for discussion on Jan. 22
Alert Flathead Valley citizens! Did you know that the Flathead Solid Waste Board is starting to close all of the green box trash collection sites throughout the county? I am writing this letter on behalf of many, many concerned citizens of Flathead County. We strongly believe that green box site closures will negatively impact all county residents.
Once closed, residents who use the green box sites will either have to start paying for curbside pickup or drive to the solid waste landfill (just south of Whitefish) to dispose of their trash and recyclable materials. Please know that this unelected board has final say in this matter; its decisions cannot be overturned by the county commissioners!
The plan to close the sites is based on a 2009 strategic study commissioned by the board. I and several other concerned residents attended the board’s last meeting. We voiced our opinion that the study is flawed and too narrow in its scope. It only looked at ways to reduce the county’s direct solid waste operating costs. It gave no consideration to the impacts these closures would have on the broader financial, economic and environmental issues on the Flathead community, as well as public safety, recycling needs and other critical matters.
Further, closing the sites means a drastic reduction in current solid waste services. There is no compelling financial reason to do so. As shown in the board’s latest year-end financial report, they had nearly $4.5 million in operational cash reserves, plus another $13 million in trust fund accounts.
Yet, closing green box sites will significantly increase your own costs of disposing trash if you have no other alternative but to use green box sites.
For example, private trash collection companies, with very few exceptions, do not drive onto private property, but only to the edge of public roads (curbs) regardless of how far your home is away from the curb. These private companies currently charge $280.20 per year for curbside pickup.
If you live in a rural area and need an animal/bear proof container that’s another $80 per year. If you can convince the truck operators to drive onto your property, they will charge you an additional $200 per year to do so.
All told, you will pay an additional $280.20 to $560.20 per year to dispose of your trash via curbside pickup.
If you can’t afford or qualify for curbside service your only other choice is to pay for the drive to and from the landfill site near Whitefish. Depending on where you live in the county this could amount to several hundred miles a year. We consider both of these alternatives to be a significant and hidden “tax” on our citizens; an unnecessary financial burden placed on you by unelected officials.
Please note that the closure of the Bigfork green box site is on the Solid Waste Board’s Jan. 22 agenda, 3 p.m. at the Solid Waste Boardroom, 4098 Hwy 93 N, halfway between Kalispell and Whitefish. In response to our concerns raised at the last meeting, the board will be entertaining two action items at their 3 p.m. meeting.
First is our request for a three-year moratorium on any further closures of green box sites countywide. During this time we ask that the board, their staff and consultants undertake and complete a countywide and much more comprehensive study of the way the county should collect trash; current and alternative approaches need to be evaluated. And, for each alternative they need to take into consideration the financial and economic pressures that would be placed on our citizens, plus the impact on public safety, recycling efforts and the environment.
The second action item will deal directly with the pending Bigfork green box site closure. We are asking that this site not be closed until a more thorough and balanced study can be prepared and its results publically evaluated.
This is not just a Bigfork issue but one that impacts the entire county. Please let your voice be heard regardless of your position! If you can’t attend the meeting your comments and concerns should be sent to:
Deborah Morine
Flathead County Solid Waste
4098 Hwy 93 N
Kalispell, MT 59901
758-5911 — phone
758-5918 — fax
dmorine@flathead.mt.gov
http://flathead.mt.gov/waste
Paul Mutascio,
Bigfork