Curbside recycling coming to Idaho Falls and Ammon

Idaho Falls and Ammon are about to go a lot more green.

A brand-new curbside recycling program is starting soon in both cities.

The very first curbside recycling containers arrived today in Idaho Falls.

“I think (curbside recycling) is something that the people in Idaho Falls have been wanting to do,” said Craig Stephenson, manager of Western Recycling, the company offering the service.

Western Recycling management hopes to get the program started during the first week of August, but they’re spreading the word now.

They’ll offer twice-a-month pickup on trash day. It will cost $5 a month, but if more people sign up, Western’s management hopes that the price will go down.

“We’re really excited about it,” Stephenson said. “I think it’s gonna go over really well.”

A similar program launched in Pocatello about two years ago. There are so many participants now that the fee was reduced to 50 cents per month. Stephenson said the benefits don’t end there.

“It’s gonna keep that amount of product out of the landfill,” Stephenson said. “It’s gonna bring that amount of jobs. It’s gonna reduce the amount of carbon emission. (Recyclables are) gonna be picked up on a much more efficient basis than it is right now.”

Idaho Falls residents can currently drop off their recycling at sites located throughout the city. The materials get picked up by a truck operated by Idaho Falls. Western Recycling’s management hopes that once curbside recycling catches on, these sites will be phased out, ultimately saving the city money.

Stephenson said that he hopes to launch another curbside recycling program in Blackfoot and Shelley in the near future.

Click here to sign up for curbside recycling, or to learn more about the program.