Blue's News

A Semi-Annual Publication of BFI Waste Services of Idaho

 Each year, most of us make a New Year’s resolution, promising to eat better, exercise more, quit smoking, spend less money or more time…And each year, more than 40% of these resolutions lapse within the first two months of the new year; the majority unraveling within the first six months. 

 This year, make a resolution that you can keep.  Make recycling your New Year’s Resolution.  Recycling conserves valuable resources and saves space in the landfill.  BFI provides the blue bin and picks up the materials.  All you have to do is think before you throw it away – is it reusable or recyclable?  For more information, give us a call – we’ll help you make this a resolution you can keep.

 BFI and Boise City partnered again in 2003 to celebrate America Recycles Day.  A school-age art contest (1st-6th grades) offered prizes ranging from gift certificates to a shiny new bicycle.  Nearly 300 students participated in the contest, representing thirteen public and private elementary schools.

 The theme for this year’s contest was “Make Every Day America Recycles Day”.  Eight winners were chosen for their artistic rendering of that theme.  The grand prize winner this year was Kimmie Kreiter, a sixth grader from Garfield Elementary.  Kimmie won a mountain bike, helmet, and lock for her colorful entry.  Grade level winners were:  Katie Berch, 2nd grade, Joplin Elementary; Megan Landaluce, 3rd grade, Washington Elementary; Hailey Jordan, 4th grade, Foothills School; Isabel Wallace, 5th grade, Summerwind Elementary; and Josh Petty, 6th grade, William Howard Taft Elementary.  Two judges choice prizes were awarded also:  Avery McKee, 3rd grade, Washington Elementary; and Denny Ciaccio, 5th grade, McMillan Elementary Earth Patrol.  These students won prize packages including entertainment and food gift cards, donated by BFI.  All winners received a t-shirt with their artwork reproduced by Kinko’s on the front.

For more information about America Recycles Day and the art contest, contact BFI at 345-1265, or Boise Public Works at 384-3901.

Onlookers witnessed something new during the 2003 Holiday Parade - the first official appearance of the Blue Bin Drill Team.  Braving cold temperatures, the group took to the street to remind residents to recycle during the holiday season.  The drill team, the first of its kind in Idaho, made up mostly of  Boise City employees and supported by BFI.   Participants performed the routine choreographed  with blue recycling bins along the 1.5  mile parade route.

The Blue Bin Drill team is grateful to Boise High School senior Becca Laing for choreographing their drill.  Becca is a member of the BHS dance team and flag team.

With the  first appearance of the Blue Bin Drill Team successfully completed, organizers expect the group to appear at other functions throughout the year. 

Did you know that about 30% of what goes in the landfill could be composted?  Does composting seem like a mystery to you?  Do you imagine a stinky pile of garbage in your back yard?  Would you like to make a free, organic soil amendment for your garden?

Classes are available to de-mystify the compost pile.  If your organization would like a 1-hour, 2-hour, or half-day composting class, contact Boise Public Works at 384-3901.  If you really want to get all the “dirt” on composting, the University of Idaho’s Ada County Extension Office has a Master Composter class that is offered every other year in the fall.  Call 377-2107 for more information about this 28-hour class.

Boise City, BFI, Ada County, Western Recycling and others partner each year to bring recycling education to the classroom.  Presentations are tailored to students, based on age and curriculum needs.  With the help of Inspector Noggin, the star of an entertaining and educational video produced  in Boise, students take a first-hand look at recycling in their town and how their efforts at home can make a difference.  To schedule a presentation, have your teacher contact Boise City Public Works, 384-3901.  After-school groups and scouting troops can also schedule this presentation.  Please call Boise City at 384-3901 or BFI at 345-1265.

More than 5,000 volunteers participated in Rake Up Boise 2003, raking leaves and cleaning up yards (in the rain) for over 650 seniors and disabled Boise residents.  Many teams even went back to rake the yards a second time since the leaves fell later than usual. 

Boise residents were very happy that “Recycle the Fall” was extended for an additional week, giving folks more time to rake and recycle their leaves this year.   BFI drivers made 24,224 residential stops to collect 3,077 compacted cubic yards of leaves!  That means that 154 truckloads of leaves were diverted from the landfill thanks to Recycle the Fall participants!