Blue's News

Winter/Spring 2005

Recycled Resolutions

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.

Boise, 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 at 384-3901 or BFI at 345-1265. After-school groups and scouting troops can also schedule this presentation.

America Recycles Day

BFI and Boise City partnered again in 2004 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 150 students participated in the contest, representing 14 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 Talon White, a third grader from Washington Elementary. Talon won a mountain bike, helmet, and lock for his colorful entry. Grade level winners were: Natalie Herceg, 1st grade, Horizon Elementary; Karl Sanborn, 2nd grade, Maranatha Christian School; Alex Martin, 3rd grade, Sacred Heart School; Ryan Rasband, 4th grade, Pepper Ridge Elementary; Rebecca Soelberg, 5th grade, Mountain View Elementary; and Karma French, 6th grade, Rose Hill Montessori. One judges choice prize was also awarded: Kristina Barnett, 4th grade, Pepper Ridge Elementary. Each grade level winner won prize packages including entertainment and food gift cards, donated by BFI.

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

With fall drawn to a close, BFI would like to thank the communities in Ada County that contributed to saving 4,461 cubic yards (or 179 truck loads) of leaves from being dumped into the landfill. Allowing more room for non-recyclable items.

Boise City was responsible for 90 percent of the collection, followed by Eagle with 9 percent and next, Garden City with 1 percent. Recycle the Fall began in Boise in 1992 and started in Garden City in 1998. This was the first year that the program extended to Eagle.

For more information on Recycle the Fall, or curbside recycling programs, contact BFI at (208) 345-1265.

Did you know that recycling not only saves you a $1 on your monthly trash bill, but it could also make you eligible to win $100?

BFI, in conjuction with the City of Boise, created the BLUE BIN BUCKS program in an effort to recognize residents who recycle and to encourage more residents to participate in the collection program. Each week, postcards are randomly distributed to Boise households signed up for the recycling program and properly sorting materials for collection. Residents fill out the card and return it to BFI for a chance to win. A random drawing is conducted each month to select the winner. Certain restrictions do apply.

Boise’s curbside recycling program offers residents the chance to reduce waste by recycling newspaper, mixed paper (including junk mail and cereal boxes), tin and aluminum, plastic (# 1, 2, or 3), magazines and catalogs, and cardboard.

For more information on the program, contact BFI at (208) 345-1265 or Boise City Public Works at (208) 384-3901.

BFI and the City of Boise continue to grow their glass collection program, making it more convenient for residents to drop off their recyclable glass at the many sites around the city. Two new locations were recently added to the list, the Boise Co-Op and 15th and Front Streets. In addition, the location at 16th and State Streets received a new, larger container to keep up with demand.

This season, make the commitment to recycle your glass by dropping it off in the containers at any of the following locations:

• 888 W. Fort St. (Boise Co-Op) - NEW!
• 15th and Front (Fire Station #5) - NEW!
• 1650 W. State St., 16th and State
• 4725 Glenwood (Boise Recycling)
• 11101 W. Executive Dr., west of Five Mile Rd. (BFI Waste Services)
• 2202 Gekeler Ln., off Boise Ave. (Fire Station #3)
• 6933 W. Franklin Rd. (Fire Station #6)
• 4422 Overland Rd. (Fire Station #8)
• 12065 W. McMillan Rd., McMillan and Cloverdale (Fire Station #10)
• 3240 State Hwy 21, north of Federal Way (Fire Station #12)
• 790 Lander St. (Lander Wastewater Treatment Facility)
• 801 Reserve St. (New Heritage Theater)
• 5120 W. Emerald (Pacific Recycling)
• 1990 S. Cole Rd. (Western Recycling)